• Claim
  Calculator
• Types of
  Accident
• Types of
  Claim
• How to
  Make a Claim
• No Win
  No Fee

Industrial Deafness - The Facts.

Industrial deafness is caused by exposure to noise.  Different people react differently to the same levels of noise.  Some people can be substantially damaged by only 2 years exposure whilst others can suffer no damage ever after years of working in loud noise.  Noise only damages part of the hearing. It can take many years, with sufferers often in their retirement, before significant hearing problems are noticed by the sufferers. Many people put their problems down to general ageing, rather than making the link with their work many years before. Hearing loss is generally irreversible and hearing aids are usually the only way to help with the condition.

Acoustic Shock is the term used for hearing related problems caused by high frequency, high intensity sounds through a telephone headset. For example, people who work in UK call centres where the volume on their headsets is turned up too loud; can suffer from hearing loss, Tinnitus and a range of physiological and psychological health issues.

Employers have a duty of care to protect staff from noise induced hearing loss and acoustic shock in the workplace. Compensation for either condition can be claimed against the employer’s liability insurance company.

The first symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss include:

• missing parts of a conversation
• not being able to hear conversation where there is background noise
• having to turn the television up loud
• Female family members complaining they’re being ignored. 
• Gentlemen, please take note that your wife’s voice will resonate more closely to the damaged zone so if your partner/daughter is complaining you are selectively deaf because you can hear your brother/son/male work colleagues but ignore her, then you are probably suffering from noise induced hearing loss.
• Ladies, please note your partner may not be ignoring you, he may genuinely be affected by his previous employment.  Encourage him to contact us for a free assessment.

Noise-induced tinnitus can be the result of damage caused by excessive noise.  The tinnitus can be in the form of whistling, buzzing, whooshing or ringing noises and may not appear to be constant. In bad cases, the tinnitus is constant and can even make sleeping difficult. Tinnitus can also have emotional impacts such as anxiety or depression. Tinnitus can affect quality of life, enjoyment of hobbies and leisure activities such as reading, listening to music. There’s no cure for tinnitus, but very bad cases can be helped by using a ‘masking’ device which lessens the intensity of the buzzing.

If you suspect your hearing is damaged and you have previously worked in a noisy environment, contact us for a free hearing test arranged locally to you regardless of location.  We’re waiting to help and regularly obtain a minimum of 4 figure settlements for our clients.

Go back to news