A study conducted in the last several years describes how hearing loss can be caused or exacerbated by the operation of convertible automobiles. The persistent and high-volume exposure to whipping wind and the sound of the highway can wear away at an individual’s hearing over time. It is an established fact in medical research that hearing loss results from exposure to volumes above 85 dB. The average volume experienced by the driver of a convertible is just over that, generally between 88 and 90 dB, with a high of 99 dB.
Doctors have recommended a solution that may seem to diminish the aesthetic that convertible drivers enjoy, but one that may save them from medical problems down the line: earplugs. They stress that hearing loss should not be viewed as an isolated problem. Diminished hearing has been linked to high blood pressure, stress, lack of sleep, and other complications.
Men are found to be 2.5 times more likely than women to experience Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and would be well-advised to be more moderate in the volume of the music that they listen to and loud equipment to which they are closely exposed, even so far as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and other loud personal equipment.