symptoms causes hearing loss tinnitus

Symptoms And Causes Of Hearing Loss And Tinnitus And Hearing Loss

In this article we discuss the common symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus together with the likely causes. Should you hearing damage relate to noise exposure at work – we describe how to claim from a past or present employer.

Table of Contents

What are the symptoms of hearing loss?

The symptoms of hearing loss are generally first noticed by friends and family. Comments are often made that the TV or radio is turned up too loud and that you are missing what people are saying.

The most common symptoms you might experience, include:

  1. Family members tell you that you are missing the doorbell or the telephone ringing
  2. Complaints that the TV or radio in the family home is regularly being turned up too high.
  3. Missing conversation when you are at family or social gatherings or other events. Noticeably, when there is some form of background noise.
  4. Difficulties in knowing the direction of sound which you can hear. For example – trying to find your mobile phone when it is ringing.

What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a type of hearing problem resulting in buzzing, hissing or whistling sound in the ears.

Generally the symptoms of tinnitus develop gradually – starting as an occasional buzzing in one ear, moving to the other ear and ending with a continuous buzzing sound.

Tinnitus is graded from mild to severe.

Mild tinnitus

Mild tinnitus being occasional or a low level buzzing sound (most noticeable in bed at night).

Severe tinnitus

Severe tinnitus being a loud buzzing sound in both ears affecting you all day and night and hampering your ability to function correctly.

What are the causes of hearing loss and tinnitus?

Your ear is made up of three main parts:

  1. The inner ear – cochlea and the auditory nerve to the brain,
  2. The middle ear – bones known as ossicles, the anvil and the stirrup.
  3. The outer ear – the ear itself and the eardrum.

Damage or malfunction can affect any of these parts, which in turn can cause your hearing loss and tinnitus.

The most common ways hearing loss and tinnitus can be caused include:

Getting older

As you get older your hearing becomes worse.

Accident or trauma

Accidents (such as road traffic accidents) can causes ear damage with associated hearing loss and tinnitus.

Ear infection

Ear infection can lead to total deafness and can come about very quickly.

Exposure to constant excessive work noise or single extremely loud noises

You may work or have previously worked in a noisy work environment.

For example, working in mines, factories, assembly lines, mills, etc. There is a good chance are you will have been exposed to loud machines and tools.

Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are progressive conditions. Therefore – the longer you are exposed the more damage is likely to have been caused.

Single explosive events, such as at: construction sites, demolition sites or aeronautical workplaces can lead to instantaneous hearing damage.

Unknown causes

Hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms can on occasion just occur without any obvious known cause.

What should you do if you are suffering symptoms of hearing loss?

noise induced hearing loss test
Noise Induced Hearing Loss Test

Seek medical assistance

If you are suffering symptoms of hearing loss you should inform your GP and have your hearing tested.

Speak to a solicitor

If you work or have worked in a noisy environment – it is possible you will be entitled to claim compensation from your current or past employer.

It is important that you contact a solicitor as soon as possible as the limitation period to make a claim may be about to expire.

How do you claim compensation if your hearing damage was due to work noise?

The process for claiming compensation from the employers who have caused your industrial deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus is extremely complex.

You should contact a specialist solicitor immediately. A careful analyses of your work history will be necessary to establish what may have caused your hearing loss symptoms which you are suffering.

Also – your solicitor will need to assess if you are still in time to claim.

Can you claim compensation from an employer who is no longer in business?

“Yes” – even if your former employers are no longer in business a solicitor can trace the insurance which was in place at the time you worked at the company and make a claim for compensation on your behalf.

A claim for compensation can be made from all of the employers who exposed you to excessive noise.

See our specialist solicitor free legal help options. You can ask a question, have your claim assessed or arrange a solicitor callback.

SUMMARY

You now know the symptoms you will experience if you are suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus; the likely causes of those symptoms; how to claim compensation from an employer or past employer for excessive noise exposure and how to still claim when an employer is no longer in business.

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