Industrial deafness (sometimes called occupational deafness or occupational hearing loss) is a type of hearing impairment that can result from prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels in the workplace. This noise exposure can cause damage to hair cells that send sound signals to the brain in the inner ear (the cochlea specifically). In many cases, this damage is permanent and can cause complete or partial deafness.
As a result, industrial deafness can have a massive impact on the injured party’s social and family life. It can also prevent them from being able to work in the same way as they did before diagnosis.
Different Types Of Industrial Deafness
As with most other afflictions, there are varying degrees of severity of industrial deafness. They may range from temporary loss of hearing to more severe conditions such as tinnitus, acoustic shock syndrome and permanent loss of hearing. There are also several different manifestations and varying degrees of hearing loss within each of these conditions. Some workers may suffer loss of hearing in only one ear, while others may lose their hearing in both ears to varying degrees.
Temporary Loss Of Hearing
This is also known as threshold shift and is experienced when a person is exposed to sounds ranging from 75 dB to 80 dB for several hours continuously. A certain amount of hearing loss is evident immediately, sometimes within a couple of hours of exposure. Once out of the noisy environment, sounds may appear muffled or dull and the person may have to increase the volume of the TV or radio.
In the case of temporary hearing loss, hearing typically comes back to normal levels after getting some rest in a quiet environment for a few hours.
Permanent Loss Of Hearing
Permanent loss of hearing occurs when a person is exposed to loud noises for a long duration (typically several years), without proper protection. Permanent hearing loss occurs when the hair cells within the ear deteriorate over time and are no longer replenished. People suffering from this condition will find it very difficult to follow conversations and can only pick up certain frequencies. In most cases, the use of a hearing aid may help people to overcome this disability. However, in severe cases, even hearing aids cannot help and sufferers may have to resort to lip reading and sign language to communicate with others.
Acoustic Trauma
This is usually seen when someone is exposed to sudden loud noises such as high-decibel shouting, explosions, loud feedback from headphones or gunshots. Depending upon the severity of the conditions, the noise may even cause the eardrum to perforate resulting in irreparable hearing damage.
There has been a marked increase in call centre employees suffering from this condition in recent years. Even though most major earphone manufacturers limit the sound from headphones to 118 dB, some cheaper headphones do not have this feature. Internet phone headsets do not always have this feature either, exposing the user to a higher risk of acoustic trauma.
We have an acoustic shock claims advice page here for your reference.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually caused due to continuous exposure to loud sounds. It is characterised by ringing, droning, buzzing or whistling noises even when there are none.
It can cause difficulty in concentrating, disturb sleep and cause problems in hearing certain types of noises as well. Some cases can be managed with a device which emits a similar frequency as the buzzing or ringing and tricks the ear into not hearing it.
We also have a tinnitus claims advice page here for your reference.
How Much Noise Is Too Much?
In the UK, guidelines under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 stipulate that noise levels regularly exceeding 85 decibels (dB) pose a risk of hearing damage over time. At 80 dB(A), employers are required to provide information and training about noise risks.
While most people don’t carry equipment to measure noise levels, there are simple ways to estimate if noise levels might be too high:
- If you need to shout to be heard by a colleague standing 2 meters away, the noise level is likely above 85 dB(A).
- If you need to shout when standing just 1 meter apart, the noise level is likely above 90 dB(A).
Additionally, if you work near tools such as angle grinders, pneumatic drills, impact guns, or high-powered machine presses, you’re likely exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dB(A), even with short durations of use.
Typically, industries such as construction, quarrying, mining, engineering, call centres and the music industry are exposed to higher noise levels than other industries.
What Are The Symptoms Of Industrial Deafness?
If you believe that your workplace is very loud and may have affected your hearing, you will most probably have some symptoms associated with industrial deafness. The following are a few indications that you may be suffering from industrial deafness:
- You struggle to hear someone speaking when there is a certain amount of background noise present.
- You tend to miss certain words or even large parts of conversations that are held nearby. If everyone else seems to follow without any issues, the odds are high you are having trouble hearing.
- You have to turn up the volume on the TV, radio or music systems to levels that often seem way too loud to others around you.
- You have problems following conversations on the phone, even if the speaker volume is turned up.
- You can hear constant buzzing, ringing, droning, hissing, ticking or roaring noises regularly, even when you are in different places and nobody else around you can seem to hear any sounds at all.
- You have difficulty hearing certain frequencies of sound, especially those that correspond closely to the ones you are exposed to at your workplace.
- You cannot hear too well in one or both ears.
Industrial deafness can be managed if it is detected in the early stages, while certain conditions are irreversible. However, the main challenge lies in being aware of the changes occurring in your hearing and being able to detect the above symptoms early before the damage becomes so extensive that your life is hampered.
Diagnosis & Testing For Industrial Deafness
The first step in diagnosing industrial deafness is usually a hearing test. Your GP may examine your ears and perform basic tests but you may be referred to a hearing specialist for enhanced tests. These can help to diagnose the level of hearing loss you have experienced.
During your tests, medical professionals may conduct a thorough medical evaluation to rule out any more serious conditions that are contributing to your hearing loss such as genetic disorders and infections.
Finally, your doctor will need to confirm that your hearing loss is work-related if they’re to diagnose industrial deafness. Therefore, they may ask questions about your roles over the years and examine your working history to try and identify the cause of your hearing loss.
Preventing Industrial Deafness
In most cases, industrial deafness can be prevented through a combination of proactive measures by both employers and employees.
By law, employers in the UK are required to take steps to protect workers from the risks of industrial injuries, including hearing damage. This involves conducting noise risk assessments, implementing noise-reduction strategies (such as using quieter equipment, soundproofing, or maintaining machinery), and providing hearing protection (like earplugs or earmuffs) when noise exposure exceeds safe limits.
As an employee, it’s important to use any hearing protection provided and report any concerns about noise levels or inadequate safety measures to your employer. If you’re not provided with hearing protection despite being in a noisy environment, you should request it immediately and wear it consistently.
If you believe your employer has failed to protect you from the risk of industrial deafness, you may wish to learn more about your options by referring to our page on industrial deafness claims.