Professor Eric Healy was featured in a story on National Public Radio's All Things Considered.  The story involved hearing damage potentially caused by wind noise during motorcycle riding.  Measurements done by Healy and his students indicated that wind noise experienced by riders can be very intense.  During a court case, Healy testified that their measurements matched closely those in early literature and that the levels observed are far above those known to produce hearing damage.  He also testified that earplugs could potentially mitigate this damage.  Data also suggest that earplugs actually make it easier to hear sounds of interest at moderate and higher speeds.  Lawmakers are now considering changes to laws governing earplug use during motorcycle riding as a result of this case.

See and hear more here:  http://www.ideastream.org/news/earplugs-helpful-illegal-ohio-motorcyclists

and here:  http://www.wnyc.org/story/motorcyclists-challenge-state-laws-banning-use-of-earplugs/