In our society, noise is a normal part of everyday life. It is also well known that that noise can cause permanent hearing loss. What is less well known is that there are many environments in which noise is a hazard. These may include use of noisy equipment in the open (such as pneumatic drills or similar machinery) and evenso-called ‘social noise’ such as personal stereos or overloud PA systems. Hobbies, such as shooting without appropriate ear defences can also cause deafness. Loss of hearing due to noise is so common, it has been called the 'hodden epidemic'.

By far the most common cause of noise-induced hearing loss in adults, however, is exposure to noise at work and if you have lost hearing as a result of noise at work, you may be entitled to compensation.

The characteristics of noise induced hearing loss are:
The loss is centred on the frequencies most necessary for understanding speech – you can hear what is said, but it is difficult to understand.;
It is often accompanied by a general hearing loss, so that the quietest sound you can hear is louder than before – for example you may not be able to hear a whisper ; and
It is often accompanied by a decrease in the loudest sound you can tolerate – so loud noises become painful.

If this sounds like a problem you are having, or you are having trouble with your hearing, an experienced audiologist will be able to identify whether your hearing loss is due to nose – the ‘audiogram’ is quite characteristic.

If the problem has arisen as a result of exposure at work whether you will be entitled to compensation not will depend on several factors, such as whether ear protection was offered and whether you wore it, the time you spent at work and whether this was before or January 1990, when the legislation on noise with which employers are required to comply. If it was incurred as a result of war service, you may be entitled to a war pension as a result.

‘Clubbers’ and users of personal stereos should be aware of the advice from HearingConcern (see http://www.hearingconcern.com/NOISEDAMAGETOHEARING.doc ) on limiting exposure. It is quite likely that noise induced hearing loss will become increasingly common with the increased use of high volume sound systems as personal stereos.

If you find that your ears ‘ring’ or you suffer temporary loss of hearing after leaving work, listening to music or any other noisy activity, you are probably suffering from exposure to excessive noise.