Dan is a regular at events like the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix and protects his own hearing with specialist equipment provided by Hidden Hearing. Now he is calling on fellow racers, riders and fans to make sure they do the same.

The racer from the Isle of Man explained: 

‘I started wearing hearing protection moulds from Hidden Hearing in 2011, and now they are so much part of my racing I can’t ride without them. A main benefit when you are competing is that they help make it easier to concentrate, taking away the wind and engine noise.

‘However, I want to make sure I still have my hearing when I’m older so that’s another very good thing about using the moulds from Hidden Hearing, they are protecting my hearing. I think anyone who races or just rides a motorbike should think about hearing protection. It helps reduce the noise, which makes your riding more comfortable and, importantly, helps ensure you don’t do long-term damage to your ears.’

Mar-Train Yamaha rider Dan, who claimed a podium at this year’s Ulster GP, added: 

‘It’s not just the riders who need to think about their hearing, fans at races should be careful too. Motorsport can be very loud so ear defenders are a good idea, especially for kids. It’s really a must for them, so they are not damaging their hearing from a young age.’

Hidden Hearing, a leading specialist provider of hearing tests and high-quality hearing aid technology, provides Dan with specially-fitted Elacin Drives for when he rides.

Audiologist Elaine Norris said: 

‘We’re pleased Dan has benefitted from using our hearing protection moulds, and would endorse his comments about the importance of looking after your hearing. Repeated exposure to loud noises, like the sound of bike engines, can cause damage and, as Dan says, protecting your hearing can be very simple.

‘If anyone would like advice on looking after their hearing, we’d urge them to get in touch for a free consultation.’






Photograph: Dan Kneen with Hidden Hearing's Elaine Norris (left) and Suzanne Tucker