Hearing Loss: The Most Common Work-Related Injury in the US

Do you work in a noisy workplace, such as construction, agriculture, mining, manufacturing or even a nightclub? You may love your job but working with noise comes with risks. Of the estimated 37.5 million people in the United States who experience hearing loss, 22 million are exposed to hazardous levels of occupational noise.

The Serious Nature of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common condition and is often underestimated in its devastating effects to emotional, mental, and physical health. While we collect sound with our ear, hearing happens in the brain. The auditory system’s job is to send sound to the brain, a job which becomes impeded as hearing loss develops. What starts as a slight hearing loss progresses gradually and undetected overtime and can make conversations exhausting, put strains on even your closest relationships, cause chronic depression, anxiety and loneliness, lead to cognitive decline leading to a higher risk of dementia and increase the risk of accidents and falls leading to hospitalization -particularly for older adults. However hearing loss can occur to anyone at any age. In fact, exposure to noise at work in one of the greatest factors affecting the hearing of people across generations.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

There are several causes of hearing loss including exposure to airborne environmental toxins, certain medications, impact to the head and long-term health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, one of the leading causes of hearing loss is caused by noise. Noise induced hearing loss occurs when sound passes a safe listening threshold, causing damage to the tiny hair-like cells of the inner ear. These cells are the sole transport for sound to the brain and once they become damaged, they cannot be repaired. This leaves millions of Americans with lifelong hearing loss. According to the World Health Organization, “nearly 50% of persons aged 12-35 years could be exposed to unsafe levels of sound from the use of personal audio devices. Around 40% of persons in that age range could be exposed to potentially damaging levels of sound at entertainment venues.

Protecting Your Hearing In the Workplace

Meanwhile millions of US workers have no choice when they are exposed to noise in the workplace. They must choose between being able to pay the bills against being exposed to dangerous levels of noise. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your ears from noise at work. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace and mandates that all employers must provide hearing protection to all workers exposed to noise. These limits are based on a worker's time weighted average over an 8-hour day. The volume or loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dBA). With noise, OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dBA for all workers for an 8-hour day. Meanwhile the threshold for safe listening without protection is below 85 dBA. This means that foam earplugs, custom fitted ear protection or protective earmuffs are essential in many job sites.

An Unassuming Risk

A recent article published by USA Today examined statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine that hearing loss is the most common injury that occurs in the workplace. The article pointed to increased awareness around hearing safety. While people who work in typically loud environments are often prepared for loud noise with adequate hearing protection, its medium-level noisy workplace environments which may pose the greatest risk.  In positions that involve moderate-noise, people are less likely to be aware of the risks posed by continuous exposure to noise and do not take the necessary measures to protect hearing. This is alarming because of the permanent nature of noise induce hearing loss.

Being Proactive around Hearing Loss

If you do suspect that you are experiencing even a slight degree of hearing loss it’s important that you get your hearing tested immediately. Hearing loss is a condition which effect people regardless of age, but with treatment you can continue to hear clear, keeping you and your co-workers safe. The first step is to schedule a hearing exam with us today. We can diagnose your hearing and find the best solution for your hearing needs.