What is NIHL, or Noise Induced Hearing Loss? Our team answers three of the most common questions about Noise induced Hearing Loss, its symptoms, and whether your employer could be responsible in the event of a legal claim.
What is Noise Induced Hearing Loss, or NIHL?
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (often shortened to NIHL) is a hearing impairment which can be brought about by prolonged exposure to loud noises over a long period of time – often many years, with inadequate protection against it.
Many people suffering from Noise Induced Hearing Loss also suffer from tinnitus, which is identified as a ringing or buzzing sound within the ears or head. Tinnitus can be very debilitating, as well as distressing.
Noise at work and subsequent overexposure is a common issue, especially in manufacturing and heavy industry, like steelworks and construction sites, highway maintenance, factories and production lines.
What are the symptoms of Noise Induced Hearing Loss?
- Not hearing what people say, needing to ask people to repeat questions
- Missing out on what others are saying in wider conversations
- Issues with background noise or lots of people talking at once
- Having to turn the television or phone volume up much higher than an average person would require.
Tinnitus sufferers may experience a ringing, buzzing, whistling or whooshing sound within the ear.
Could my employer be liable?
Your employer is under a duty of care to ensure that workers are protected from exposure to noise as much as is practically possible.
If you have worked in noisy working environments and you believe that this may have been the cause of your hearing loss, current and past employers could be liable for potential claims.
Further reading
Noise Induced Hearing Loss claims – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
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 with your enquiry.
Liam Hill is a Solicitor and Deputy Head of the Industrial Disease Team, having trained and qualified at Oakwood Solicitors. Liam joined us in 2013 after successfully completing the Legal Practice C…
We would love to hear your comments or feedback
Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus – Frequently Asked Questions
Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus are conditions that can be the result of many years of exposure to loud noise. Here we answer some frequently asked questions about claims made for these tw…
View
Hazardous Substances at Work – What protection should you be provided with?
The law requires employers to provide adequate health and safety measures in the workplace under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
This includes personal p…
View
What is RSI? Repetitive Strain Injury – Symptoms, potential causes and treatments
Although thought of as a modern condition, RSI (repetitive Strain Injury) has long been documented in medical literature.
The Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini (Often consider…
View
