Audiology

Noise induced hearing loss

Exposure to excessive noise in the workplace is second only to aging as the most common cause of hearing loss in adults. The first step toward protecting your hearing is education and understanding which sounds can be detrimental to your hearing.

How Loud is too Loud?

Protect Your Hearing

Harmful noise levels are not an acceptable part of the workplace environment. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board can help workplaces to implement noise control and hearing conservation programs. The WSIB recommends that an effective noise control and hearing conservation program will:

• Reduce or eliminate noise via engineering or administrative controls;
• Provide appropriate hearing protection;
• Provide training and education in the proper use of hearing protection;
• Include annual hearing screenings, and refer for diagnostic services when hearing loss is detected;
• Maintain private records of hearing screening results;
• Ensure that noisy areas have signs to clearly indicate that hearing protection is required.

High noise levels combined with other workplace hazards such as exposure to chemicals, heavy metals, vibration, and extreme heat can cause even greater degrees of hearing loss. There are a variety of hearing protection products available, which are specifically designed for different applications, ears and individual needs. Permanent hearing loss is a high price to pay for a disease that can be prevented easily, economically and effectively.

Symptoms of noise induced hearing loss

Young workers are most at risk for noise induced hearing loss, because the initial effects of harmful exposure are often not noticeable. Hearing loss typically happens gradually, over a period of time. As damage to the inner ear progresses and the hearing loss becomes evident, women's and children's voices will be difficult to hear because the ability to hear high-pitched sounds becomes impaired. Eventually, as the hearing loss progresses, all speech becomes distorted. Hearing loss may also cause ringing or buzzing noises in your ears or head (tinnitus), elevated blood pressure, fatigue, stress, and social isolation at work and at home.