This Tinnitus Awareness Week, we emphasise the importance of prioritising hearing health in the workplace, advocating for support for employees with hearing loss or tinnitus.
If you feel your hearing has been affected by your job, please know that you don’t have to navigate it alone; you may be entitled to compensation for the impact on your life. Follow this guide for your road to justice and your employment rights in the future.
A Landmark Collaboration: The HSE and RNID Webinar
On 29 January, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) partnered with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and industry leaders to deliver a pivotal online seminar: ‘Supporting workers with hearing loss’.
The event saw an incredible turnout of over 550 attendees, highlighting a massive demand for practical guidance.
Dr Rachel van Besouw, HSE’s Specialist Inspector (Noise and Vibration), opened the session by detailing the safety risks associated with hearing loss and how “reasonable adjustments” can mitigate them.
The session also saw the launch of new RNID resources designed to help occupational health professionals foster more inclusive environments.
These tools complement the HSE’s Working Minds campaign, which links good work design, including acoustic comfort, to reduced workplace stress.
Action Plan for Employers: 5 Steps to Better Hearing Health
The online seminar reinforced that proactive management is key. Here is what employers can do right now:
- Review Risk Assessments: Ensure noise controls are still effective, especially if your work environment or shift patterns have changed.
- Foster Open Dialogue: Create a culture where workers feel safe reporting tinnitus or hearing loss early, without fear of stigma.
- Implement Reasonable Adjustments: Small changes—like improving room acoustics, installing visual alerts, or using speech-to-text apps—can make a world of difference.
- Utilise Trusted Resources: Combine HSE’s technical guidance with RNID’s practical workplace tools.
- Focus on Prevention: Remember that protecting hearing is a long-term investment in staff retention and mental health.
Perspective from a Staff Member at Oakwood Solicitors suffering with Tinnitus:
“Working at Oakwood Solicitors actually helped me identify my own Tinnitus, after learning that not everyone experiences hearing what I was hearing.
I live with a constant thudding in my left ear and intermittent high-pitched ringing in my right. It often worsens with stress, though staying active and engaged at work provides a necessary distraction. I have not experienced silence in many years.
While medical investigations like CT and MRI scans couldn’t find a physical cause, I’ve learned to manage it through masking techniques, like using one AirPod on difficult days.
To anyone else experiencing this: you aren’t alone, and while it’s important to see a GP to rule out underlying causes, it is something that can be managed.”
Focus: Hearing Health in the Armed Forces
While the HSE focuses on general workplace safety, certain sectors, specifically the Military, face extreme auditory challenges.
Exposure to firearms, heavy machinery, and explosives makes noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus a significant risk for service members.
Understanding the Impact
- Tinnitus: The perception of ringing or buzzing without an external source. It can disrupt sleep, concentration, and mental health.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): Permanent damage caused by high-decibel exposure. It is often progressive, meaning the full impact might not be felt until years after service.
These conditions can have lasting consequences, including:
- Difficulty in communication: Hearing loss and tinnitus can make it challenging to understand conversations or follow instructions.
- Mental health issues: Constant ringing in the ears or the frustration from hearing loss can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Career limitations: In severe cases, hearing issues may limit military career progression or force early retirement.
Seeking Justice: Military Compensation Claims
If you have served in the MOD at any time after 1987 and are now struggling with hearing issues, you may be entitled to support. Oakwood Solicitors specialises in helping veterans and active personnel navigate the complexities of NIHL claims.
Frequently asked questions:
Am I Eligible to Make a Claim?
If you have been employed by the MOD any time after 1987, then you may be able to claim if you have suffered from hearing loss.
We will need to determine the circumstances of your employment with them and whether you will have had sufficient exposure to noise. All of this can be considered and determined in a discussion with you.
We will also need to determine whether your hearing has been affected by the noise you have been exposed to, and this can be determined by a simple, quick, and painless hearing test.
We would always encourage anyone who has potentially been exposed to noise with their employer to contact us sooner rather than later, as there are certain time bars to bring claims which we also need to consider.
Common causes of noise-induced hearing loss in the Military
We often see Military Personnel suffering with noise induced hearing loss after being exposed to the following situations:
- Exposure to loud noises during combat or training exercises.
- Lack of adequate hearing protection or failure to provide effective protective gear.
- Regular proximity to noisy machinery, weapons, aircraft, or other sources of excessive noise.
Can I still claim if I have left the Military?
You don’t have to still be serving in the military to file a claim.
Veterans who have since retired from service can also seek compensation if their hearing damage stems from their time in the military.
Compensation for Tinnitus and NIHL
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to depends on the severity of your condition and its impact on your life. Compensation can cover:
- Loss of earnings
- Medical expenses, including hearing aids or therapy.
- Pain and suffering
- Impact on your daily life and employment prospects
Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors?
Oakwood Solicitors has a proven track record of success in helping military personnel and veterans secure compensation for tinnitus and NIHL. We pride ourselves on our client-centred approach, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that your rights are protected.
With our expert team by your side, you can be confident that your claim is in capable hands. Oakwood Solicitors is committed to supporting Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and reservists, whether they are still serving or have entered civilian life.
Having signed the Armed Forces Covenant, Oakwood Solicitors is passionate about supporting and seeking justice for those who have served our country. With a proven track record of success and a commitment to protecting your rights, Oakwood Solicitors is the trusted choice for military personnel seeking justice.
Contact Oakwood Solicitors today to discuss your Military compensation claim and how we can assist you.
Further information:
Tinnitus week (2nd-9th February 2026).
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus for Military Personnel.
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
If you feel your hearing has been affected by your job, please know that you don’t have to navigate it alone; get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
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Chloe Mason joined Oakwood Solicitors in October 2023. Chloe graduated from Northumbria University in July 2022 with a 1:1 integrated Master in Law exempting with the Legal Practice Course.
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