Most people expect to deal with hearing loss as they get older in life. It’s one of the various things that happen to our bodies as we age, but non-age-related hearing loss is equally common. You can sort of accept age-related hearing loss as part of life, but it’s much harder to come to terms with when you struggle to hear in your 30s, 40s, 50s, etc.
While many external factors cause hearing loss in younger people, there’s one thing that may be the source of your issues: work. Could your job be the reason you’re no longer able to hear clearly? A forensic audiologist may be able to help determine if that’s the case, which is important, as they’ll also be able to help you claim compensation against your employer. With that in mind, here are some signs your work has caused permanent hearing loss.
You get tinnitus after your shifts
Tinnitus is one of life’s hearing issues that can be extremely aggravating. It causes a ringing, buzzing, or whistling sensation that you can’t unhear – and it is most likely caused by exposure to loud noises or hearing loss. So, if you finish your shift at work and realize that you always have tinnitus, then that’s a fairly big sign that your job is having a negative impact on your hearing health. It won’t automatically mean that you have hearing loss or that your job is absolutely the cause, but it’s certainly a big hint that this might be the case.
You’re exposed to loud noises without proper ear protection
Does your job involve being around loud noises or environments? If so, then your employer should provide adequate ear protection to prevent hearing loss. This is especially important for any sort of job that involves construction or heavy-duty equipment. But if you work at a concert venue or are in a very loud shopping mall, then your job could expose you to dangerously loud noises throughout the day, too. It’s jobs like this that don’t seem like they expose you to loud noises that end up being the worst. One thing you could do is bring a decibel reader to your place of work and record the noise level throughout the day. If it’s consistently above the dangerous reading, then you should absolutely wear ear protection.
Your hearing has gotten excessively worse since starting the job
While this might be circumstantial, it’s always good to think about your hearing before starting your job. Maybe you had perfect hearing with no symptoms at all before moving to your new job. Within months, you start noticing the telltale signs of hearing loss. It’s reasonable to assume that your job caused this, particularly if nothing else in your life has changed.
So, if you always get tinnitus after shifts, are exposed to loud noises without receiving ear protection, or notice that your hearing got worse after starting a new job, then there’s a very strong chance that your line of work is causing permanent hearing loss. As devastating as that is, you will be able to take legal action to gain compensation that can cover the cost of hearing loss treatment. It’s always worth looking into as you shouldn’t just accept that hearing loss is part of a job!
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 