Are You At Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Original article published by NSCA Foundation

Over 5% of the world’s population – around 466 million people – suffer from disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Australia, a study by Curtin University found that almost one in five Australian working men experienced noise above the recommended occupational limit on their most recent working day.

Hearing loss – ranging from mild difficulty in hearing conversational speech to profound deafness – is influenced by factors like genetics, certain diseases and medicines, and aging, but also by a factor well within our control – excessive exposure to loud noise, resulting in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

How do you recognize NIHL?

1.    It is permanent and progressive
2.    It is usually bilateral (affects both ears)
3.    It typically causes no pain
4.    It leaves no visible trauma
5.    It is often unnoticeable in its early stages and may take years to realize
6.    It accumulates with each over-exposure

Its global economic impact for businesses is estimated at US$ 750 billion. But there are localized, and personal costs associated with NIHL as well. Hearing aids, while beneficial, can be expensive. Untreated hearing loss can lead to social withdrawal and depression, physical and psychological stress, resulting in reduced worker productivity and efficiency, and other associated chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases.

Hearing loss in the workplace also increases the risk of accidental injuries. According to one study, respondents with hearing troubles were twice as likely to experience an accidental injury than those with good hearing.

NIHL occurs across a wide spectrum of industries, but workers in some industries are more exposed to dangerous levels of noise. These industries are manufacturing, construction, mining, transportation and logistics, agriculture, and utilities.

Signs that noise may be a problem in your workplace:

1.    Employees hear ringing or humming after exposure to loud sounds.
2.    Noise is impeding communication so that employees must shout to be heard by a co-worker an arm’s length away.
3.    Employees experience temporary loss of hearing after leaving work.

If you observe any of the symptoms above, it’s time to measure environmental noise. To learn more about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), click here to view a whitepaper.

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