Hearing loss in Grand Prix motorcyclists: occupational hazard or sports injury?

Br J Sports Med. 1994 Mar;28(1):35-7. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.28.1.35.

Abstract

The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in current motorcycle grand prix racers was investigated. A total of 44 riders was randomly recruited and underwent interview, otological examination and pure tone audiometry. The median age was 28 (range 18-37) years and median racing experience was 10 (range 2-21) years. Twenty riders (45%) had hearing losses greater than expected for age matched controls. Not surprisingly this hearing deficit tended to increase with racing experience (r = 0.5, t = 2.51, 19 d.f., P < 0.05). Only 17 riders (39%) were regular users of earplugs and only nine had used them for most of their racing careers. There is a need to raise awareness to this problem and increase the use of earplugs to avoid NIHL in grand prix motorcyclists.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Impedance Tests
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis
  • Athletic Injuries / etiology*
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Ear Protective Devices
  • Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / etiology
  • Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motorcycles*
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Time Factors