And here I was blaming it on age. Has anyone noticed anything yet?

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dr...2/1?csp=usat.me

 

Nah, I thought I was having problems before driving the S. I know it's "selective". My doc checked my hearing and confirmed it.

 

Huh? What?

 

Generally, on the highway, we do drive with windows up, top down. I'm not too worried about the hearing yet, but boy the eyesight is failing, FAST!

Can't read a thing unless I grab reading glasses.

 

First off, I've been driving convert's all my life. I think I was without a sports car for just 7 months since I turned 16. I have no hearing issues at all. Secondly, the S2000 reduces wind noise SO MUCH more than any other sports car I ever owned it's sometimes hard to tell I'm actually in a convert. And, I'm not talking about when the windows are up. Certainly it can reach much higher speeds than any I've owned before but really.... how often and for how long do any of you drive in triple digits? One night at rock concert probably does more damage than a lifetime of sports cars.

 

Go for the Crystlens.....cures all.

 

Aging and hearing loss go hand-in-hand. I also think that convertibles contribute to the problem, much like lots of motorcycle riding. It is mostly the hours of droning sounds and wind noise, rather than the now and then peak noise of higher decibels. On the other hand, much of the loss is on the more subtle lower end of the spectrum, according to the audiologist. We lose much of this lower end with aging and without really realizing it is happening. It's much like that immediate difference noted once you get your first pair of reading glasses. Racers wear ear plugs because the constant peak decibels have much faster and more serious hearing loss effects.
That said, I don't think the normal convertible experience is an additive deterioration of hearing hazzard.

 

Having spent a year or so next to the drone of jet engines (without ear protection), it's a wonder I can hear anything! (My +1 says I have very selective hearing, but that can't be so, can it?)

 

I took my sound level meter with me this afternoon in the S2K. The highest reading I got, windows down in 2nd gear at 7800 rpm, was 81 dBA. We have nothing to worry about.

We could be exposed to 85dBA for 8 hours every day of the week for 20 years and not run the risk of environmentally caused hearing loss.

Since this is the Vintage group, most members over 65 years of age will probably already have some signs of presbyacousis (age related hearing loss.)

 

I've heard others report readings as high as 87 but even then I can't imagine that level being long enough to cause harm.