Did you know that hearing loss sometimes has nothing to do with age? If you are suffering from hearing loss and aren’t over 65, it may be due to the noise at your job.
You need to read on if you answered no to either of these questions. Hearing loss is a natural issue that humans deal with as we age. It is an impairment to a person’s ability to hear normally. It can be mild or reach the worst level possible with complete deafness. Hearing loss is often gradual; it is still difficult for people to realize they have a problem for years. The average time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis is seven years. Family members or friends first notice the hearing impairment before the victim. It starts to be more pronounced when patients have difficulty understanding conversations on the phone, hearing high-pitched noises, and comprehending speech in a loud room.
However, most hearing loss happens between the ages of 65-74. It starts with being unable to hear certain frequencies. When we are young, we can listen to various noises. This is why it is important to wear protective hearing gear when you go to loud concerts. Our ears can only sustain listening to loud noises for so long. However, as we age, our hearing starts to deteriorate naturally. If your hearing is declining, then you must discuss with your employer and doctor the consideration that this is resulting in a workplace injury.
Some workers experience hearing loss over an extended time. Employees on construction sites, working in an industrial facility or manufacturing plant, are surrounded by heavy machinery noises daily. Exposure to such high noise levels from engines or equipment can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Even if this hearing loss happens over time, it is still considered a workplace injury. You also want to consider the alternative of experiencing ear trauma from one single incident at work. Explosions, sudden changes in pressure, or a collision involving the head are all isolated events that still result in short-term injury to the ear. In both situations, medical costs are covered by workers’ compensation in California.
Ear injuries are not only associated with workplace injuries but are far more complicated than initial evaluation. The ear and all of its intricate parts can be damaged in more than one way. Each injury requires different treatment compared to the others. The types of ear injuries are blood clots in the outer ear, damage to the eardrum, dislocation of the ossicles, damage to the inner ear, frostbite, tinnitus, fluid or blood in the middle ear, or cauliflower ear.
Hearing Loss Symptoms
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health states that employers cannot expose their workers to noise over 85 decibels over 8 hours. The NIOSH also claims that around 30 million U.S. workers are exposed to noise levels that are higher and for long periods. This means that 30 million workers are in positions that put them at risk for hearing loss. Here are some symptoms of hearing loss (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Requiring people to repeat what they are saying frequently.
- Having difficulty following a conversation in loud places.
- Having TV or Radio turned up too loud for others.
- Experiencing ringing in your ears.
- Feeling stressed from straining to hear people or things.
- Feeling nervous about not hearing what you normally hear.
- Taking medications that can harm hearing.
- Have you been exposed to loud sounds continuously or one single long exposure?
If any of these symptoms are familiar, consider filing a workers’ compensation claim. If you work in a constantly noisy job, you may need to file a worker’s compensation claim. Trust us when we say that you are not alone. There are over 20,000 claims placed every year. You are not alone if you are experiencing hearing loss in your workplace.
Covering the cost of a hearing aid due to a workplace injury can get complex. Injuries to the ear could result in either short or long-term hearing loss. Hearing aids are typically required for those employees suffering from hearing loss to complete their job. Be wary of insurance companies that try to attribute part of the cost of hearing aids to age, even if you suffered ear injuries in the workplace. An insurance company will analyze the injured employee’s medical records, so you need to be prepared for an investigation into any hearing loss before the workplace accident or injury. Some states allow workers’ compensation to cover the cost of hearing aids. It can be intimidating dealing with workers’ compensation, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
This is the time for you to reach out for legal assistance. Our team at JML Law will provide you with the most respected and successful Los Angeles hearing loss attorney to fight for you.
What To Do
Suppose you or a loved one is experiencing hearing loss due to an injury in the workplace. In that case, you need to discuss your situation with our Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys at JML Law, A Professional Law Corporation. Our highly professional and hard-working hearing loss attorneys fight for fair settlements and compensation for any losses incurred from your hearing loss. We believe in providing a free consultation so you can discuss your work injury with us safely and securely. We also don’t believe in getting paid until you win. We do this because we want our clients to know that we are working for them 100%. Call 818-610-8800 or click here to have us start on your case today.
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