Have you driven a sports convertible out in the open with the hood fully down and you cannot hear anything except for the wind rushing through your ears? If you do this regularly, it can cause permanent ear damage. According to the Journal of Otolaryngology, if you are cruising at speeds of more than 50 to 70mph, your ears are exposed to more noise than a pneumatic drill. As a result, this level of exposure can cause serious damage to your ears.

They tested a whole range of car convertibles and conclude that at speeds of more than 50mph the estimated noise level reached between 88 to 90 decibels.

Here are three simple things you can do to prevent the noise level to be too high:

1. Roll up your windows. This is quite obvious and also the best solution. Rolling up the window can reduce the amount of noise dramatically.

2. Wear ear protection such as earplugs. Although they can be annoying, earplugs is a good way in reducing noise immediately. However, it can be a safety issue because you cannot hear other cars beeping.

3. Drive slowly. The slower you drive, the less noise there is. Furthermore, driving more slowly is safer because you will able to anticipate moves faster and you will have more reaction time. Try to avoid going on highways as they generally have faster speed limits than normal roads.

These three simple ways can protect your ear from being damaged permanently. If you don’t look after it, then the consequences can be severe.