Noise-Induced hearing loss

There are over 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK, out of an estimated population of 65 million.

While the overwhelming cause is age-related hearing loss, a considerable portion is linked to noise-induced hearing loss.

So what is noise-induced hearing loss and how can UK businesses and individuals reduce its effects.

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What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss:

Commonly abbreviated to ‘NIHL’, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is caused due to prolonged exposure to high-intensity sounds over a long duration.

NIHL can affect people from all walks of life.

The human ear has three main areas. Firstly the outer ear is the bit that we can see along with the earcanal;

then the middle ear and finally the inner ear where sound is processed and transmitted to the auditory cortex in the brain for interpretation.

Within the inner ear are thousands of tiny hair cells which can be damaged by loud noise;

the damage can cause hearing loss and ringing in the ears (referred to as tinnitus).

The impact of NIHL will differ from one person to the next as it will depend on.

The volume of the noise source – The louder and closer the source is, the more likely it is to cause hearing loss.

The duration the ear was exposed to the loud noise.

How To Prevent and Reduce Noise-Induced Hearing Loss:

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of only limited hearing loss causes which is preventable.

There are government regulations in place to help protect people in the workplace.

Based on the Noise Regulations of 2005, businesses have a duty to prevent or reduce risks to employees from exposure to noise at work.

These regulations involve employers assessing their environments and then taking action if sound levels are above certain limits.

To reduce the risk of hearing loss noise exposure, the following steps should be taken.

Perform noise assessments - Sounds exceeding 85db in areas where work is carried out should be the target of noise reduction controls.

Regular noise assessments should be undertaken with appropriate equipment.

Take proactive steps to reduce noise – These can involve moving to quieter processes and/or quieter equipment, together with setting compulsory hearing protection policies which employees should follow and managers lead by example.

Offer compulsory hearing protection – Where necessary, employees should be given hearing protection – e.g. in the shape of earplugs, earmuffs, ear defenders.

Employees must be trained on how to use these effectively.

Listen to your employees and encourage feedback – Sound environments may change. A quiet environment today may turn into a noisy one tomorrow.

If people feel that they are placed in a noisy environment without protection or without any health and safety training, you should encourage them to voice their concerns immediately.

Offer hearing tests - Employers should be encouraged to provide access to hearing health professionals as required by law and by their staff.

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Article by Joan McKechnie BSc Hons Audiology & Speech Pathology.

Joan works for hearing aids vendor Hearing Direct and regularly maintains a blog with useful information on the hearing.

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