Loss of senses, such as hearing, can be severe life changing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that over 10 million Americans suffer a form of hearing loss. Hearing loss is a common problem among workers. It’s usually because of their jobs and unsafe conditions. Workplace injuries are not always apparent and are sometimes not reported.
Exposure to loud noises without proper protection, such as earplugs, causes hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss usually occurs over time. But workers often report feeling the effects of the damage right away.
If you are experiencing hearing loss due to loud noises at the workplace, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. The compensation covers the cost of treatment or a part of it.
Also, if you get injured at work, including hearing loss, you get unemployment benefits too.
Given below are a few types of Hearing Loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs due to damage to the eardrum and middle ear structures. It is possible to correct this hearing loss with surgery or medication.
Deafening sounds can rupture the eardrum and damage the ossicles. A loud, sudden sound may damage the ear before triggering the auditory reflex. E.g., the explosion can damage or dislodge the bones in the middle ear, causing conductive hearing loss.
Hearing damage can occur over time due to exposure to high-intensity noise. For example, if a veteran suffered from piercing sounds of mortars, small arms, and other weapons while on duty for many years. He may now suffer from tinnitus and hearing loss.
Veterans may also experience tinnitus. Tinnitus is a noise you hear in your ears, such as a bell or ring tone. It can cause a muffled effect in the sounds someone hears.
According to the Center for Hearing Excellence, most people find hearing aids to relieve tinnitus symptoms.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the permanent damage to the inner ear and auditory nerve. But hearing aids can help sometimes. Sensorineural hearing loss results from exposure to loud noises, mainly if the noise damages the hair fibers in the cochlea. The brain handles deciphering the sounds you hear, which means that any neurosensory damage due to hearing loss can lead to an inability to process sounds and lead to deafness.
It is beyond repair when someone gets exposed to noise in a workplace such as an industrial site and loses hearing. Hearing loss remains a significant problem in some noisy sectors. Especially manufacturing, federal data shows that the average level of work-related hearing loss among private-sector workers has declined in recent years.
There is a third type of Hearing Loss called Mixed Hearing Loss. As the name implies, this type of loss is a mixture of Sensorineural and Conductive Hearing Loss.
How to Prevent Hearing Loss at Workplace
Occupational hearing loss is preventable and treatable. Although Hearing loss is irreversible, it is preventable. Wearing hearing protection devices in high-noise areas like construction sites can reduce your chances of hearing loss. Workers face a high risk of hearing loss due to power tools, heavy machinery, and other loud noise sources. On average, one in every five workers in the US has some hearing loss.
The first step to keep your employees safe is to place a hearing loss prevention program for all workers. Every job should have a risk assessment procedure. This procedure can help to identify the potential hazards in that position and prevent them.
How to get your Deserved compensation.
Noisy work environments can cause hearing loss, which gets compensated under state and federal workers’ compensation laws. If you or your loved ones suffer hearing loss due to your respective occupation. Immediately consult a Hearing Loss Attorney.
If you get diagnosed with Hearing loss, immediately report your diagnosis to your employer. The employer will then provide you with the required paperwork. However, keep in mind that a statute of limitation is held in place. If you claim after 30- days of your diagnosis that can make it challenging to get your compensation covered.
Hearing Loss Compensation claims are a bit different from others. The goal of other compensation is to help your injury get better, primarily through rehab or correction surgeries. So, unlike, say, Back Injury, Hearing Loss one loss cannot be reserved. This factor dramatically adds to the complexity of Hearing Loss cases.
At San Gabriel, we understand that losing your senses is overwhelming and complicated. Hence, we deal with the legal matter wholly. We help with evidence, medical reports, etc. All you need to do is to focus on your healing process.
Contact experienced Hearing Loss Attorneys from San Gabriel Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you and your claim.
Call 626-602-9483 to book a free evaluation.
Loss of senses, such as hearing, can be severe life changing. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that over 10 million Americans suffer a form of hearing loss. Hearing loss is a common problem among workers. It’s usually because of their jobs and unsafe conditions. Workplace injuries are not always apparent and are sometimes not reported.
Exposure to loud noises without proper protection, such as earplugs, causes hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss usually occurs over time. But workers often report feeling the effects of the damage right away.
If you are experiencing hearing loss due to loud noises at the workplace, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. The compensation covers the cost of treatment or a part of it.
Also, if you get injured at work, including hearing loss, you get unemployment benefits too.
Given below are a few types of Hearing Loss:
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs due to damage to the eardrum and middle ear structures. It is possible to correct this hearing loss with surgery or medication.
Deafening sounds can rupture the eardrum and damage the ossicles. A loud, sudden sound may damage the ear before triggering the auditory reflex. E.g., the explosion can damage or dislodge the bones in the middle ear, causing conductive hearing loss.
Hearing damage can occur over time due to exposure to high-intensity noise. For example, if a veteran suffered from piercing sounds of mortars, small arms, and other weapons while on duty for many years. He may now suffer from tinnitus and hearing loss.
Veterans may also experience tinnitus. Tinnitus is a noise you hear in your ears, such as a bell or ring tone. It can cause a muffled effect in the sounds someone hears.
According to the Center for Hearing Excellence, most people find hearing aids to relieve tinnitus symptoms.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the permanent damage to the inner ear and auditory nerve. But hearing aids can help sometimes. Sensorineural hearing loss results from exposure to loud noises, mainly if the noise damages the hair fibers in the cochlea. The brain handles deciphering the sounds you hear, which means that any neurosensory damage due to hearing loss can lead to an inability to process sounds and lead to deafness.
It is beyond repair when someone gets exposed to noise in a workplace such as an industrial site and loses hearing. Occupational Hearing loss remains a significant problem in some noisy sectors. Especially manufacturing, federal data shows that the average level of work-related hearing loss among private-sector workers has declined in recent years.
There is a third type of Hearing Loss called Mixed Hearing Loss. As the name implies, this type of loss is a mixture of Sensorineural and Conductive Hearing Loss.
How to Prevent Hearing Loss at Workplace
Occupational hearing loss is preventable and treatable. Although Hearing loss is irreversible, it is preventable. Wearing hearing protection devices in high-noise areas like construction sites can reduce your chances of hearing loss. Workers face a high risk of hearing loss due to power tools, heavy machinery, and other loud noise sources. On average, one in every five workers in the US has some hearing loss.
The first step to keep your employees safe is to place a hearing loss prevention program for all workers. Every job should have a risk assessment procedure. This procedure can help to identify the potential hazards in that position and prevent them.
How to get your Deserved compensation.
Noisy work environments can cause hearing loss, which gets compensated under state and federal workers’ compensation laws. If you or your loved ones suffer hearing loss due to your respective occupation. Immediately consult a Hearing Loss Attorney.
If you get diagnosed with Hearing loss, immediately report your diagnosis to your employer. The employer will then provide you with the required paperwork. However, keep in mind that a statute of limitation is held in place. If you claim after 30- days of your diagnosis that can make it challenging to get your compensation covered.
Hearing Loss Compensation claims are a bit different from others. The goal of other compensation is to help your injury get better, primarily through rehab or correction surgeries. So, unlike, say, Back Injury, Hearing Loss one loss cannot be reserved. This factor dramatically adds to the complexity of Hearing Loss cases.
At San Gabriel, we understand that losing your senses is overwhelming and complicated. Hence, we deal with the legal matter wholly. We help with evidence, medical reports, etc. All you need to do is to focus on your healing process.
Contact experienced Hearing Loss Attorneys from San Gabriel Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you and your claim.
Call 626-602-9483 to book a free evaluation.