Tinnitus: Noise Nuisance Could Signal Industrial Deafness

One of the many advantages to living on the outskirts of Cambridge is that I benefit from both the laid back lifestyle and picturesque views of the countryside as well as city-style perks like great restaurants, clubs and bars.

Another of those city-style perks is getting to see big-name bands play locally, as I did the other week. It's not something I get to do very often and perhaps that's just as well - my ears were ringing for days afterward! 

For many people, that ringing in the ears is gone by the time the taxi arrives to take them home, but for others it’s not until breakfast the following morning that normal hearing returns.

However for some, this ringing (also known as Tinnitus), can remain much longer and perhaps even become permanent. Although usually the result of prolonged exposure to excessive noise, Tinnitus does have other causes.

Some people, often those living in urban areas, don't realise the extent of the Tinnitis they are experiencing until they are in a quiet environment as the ringing can often be masked by other ambient sound.

Up until a year or so ago, I would spend my evenings at the weekends DJing in Clubs across east-anglia and would spend hours on the decks in clubs right next to blaring speakers. I’d often spend the rest of the weekend suffering with a high-pitched buzzing in my ears, but never really considered the permanent damage the regular exposure to extreme volume levels may have on my hearing - until a friend of mine and fellow DJ, began suffering permanent Tinnitus.

"Industrial Deafness"

Any kind of damage to hearing through work can be referred to as Industrial Deafness or Occupational Deafness and is most often experienced by those working with heavy industrial machinery.

Severity can range from minor hearing loss in one ear to complete hearing loss in both with symptoms including a ringing in the ears, being unable to hear high-pitched sounds, or a loss in clarity of hearing. Acoustic Trauma - where the eardrum is perforated or has other physical damage - occurs immediately after a sudden extremely loud noise, such as an explosion.

Common working environments with a high risk of damaged hearing include; agriculture and farm workers, bodyshop workers, butchers, call centre workers, car manufacturers, coal mining, construction, Demolition, Engineering, Farming, Ferry workers, Firefighers, Fitters, Forestry, Foundary workers, machine operators, metal manufacturing, ministry of defence and the armed forces, steel workers, textiles workers, utility industry workers and welders.

What Should I Do if I Have Damaged My Hearing at Work?

If you suffer from any of the above symptoms and have worked in a noisy environment either without ear protection, with inadequate protection or your employer has not enforced the use of the protection then you may entitled to make an industrial deafness claim for compensation.

These injuries are preventable, and are often the result of an employer’s negligence. Your employer has a duty of care to you, which means they must take reasonable steps to do all they can to keep you safe at work. The risk of industrial deafness can often be reduced if your employer provides and enforces the wearing of correct ear protection. If they fail to do this then you have the right to make an Industrial Deafness Claim for Compensation (sometimes also called an Industrial Injury / Illness Claim).  Our specialist advisers are on hand to talk to you, there is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.

If you have a genuine claim, contact a genuine company.

May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770 

If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.

http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/293991/Tinnitus-Noise-Nuisance-Could-Signal-Industrial-Deafness 

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