Hearing loss: The silent workplace injury

Maybe you were one of those Texas workers who diligently wore ear protection on the job. Maybe you thought you could handle the noise or even work better without the encumbrance of the earmuffs or plugs. Or you were somewhere in between, wearing the protection when the noise level rose and leaving it in your locker or truck on other days. Now you may regret your choices.

If you are suffering from hearing loss or other symptoms of auditory damage, you are among the nearly 22 million workers who risk their hearing on the job every day. Most of these people work in mining industries, construction and manufacturing.

The danger is more common than many realize

Many who advocate for workplace safety say that the noise levels allowed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are too high. They believe the safety regulations OSHA requires are outdated and do not account for the high level of noise you may experience in everyday life, such as restaurants, sporting events and traffic.

University studies have shown that, if you work in an industry where noise is at a moderate level, you are more likely to experience auditory damage since you may be less concerned about wearing safety equipment. Many believe it is past time for OSHA and high-risk industries to take advantage of technology to improve the safety of workers.

What you may be going through

Meanwhile, you may be struggling to get doctors and loved ones to understand what you are suffering. Auditory damage is not just a frustration. In addition to noticeable hearing loss, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Pressure in your ears
• Tinnitus
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity to noise
• Piercing pain in your inner ear

This pain and sensitivity may make it unbearable for you to be around any kind of noise at all, even traffic, the noises of nature or human conversation. You may also feel anxious or depressed.

Someone to speak up for you

Like others, you may be discovering the difficulties in getting others to recognize your symptoms. In fact, Social Security does not list hearing loss among the medical conditions that it considers disabling. This may make it impossible to claim the compensation you need to sustain your quality of life.

If you are weary of fighting the system for benefits due to you because of your hearing loss, it may be time to let someone else fight for you. A workers’ compensation attorney understands the bureaucracy involved in the process of claiming benefits. There is no reason for you to suffer in silence when you can rely on the experience and determination of an attorney to help you seek the maximum benefits you deserve.