Top Causes of Industrial Deafness
What can you do to prevent occupational hearing loss?
Many people are unaware that their work environment can contribute significantly to hearing loss. Industrial deafness which is technically known as Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is most common in industries where workers are exposed to loud, prolonged noise above 90 decibels or where exposure to ototoxic chemicals play a part in the day to day roles.
A 2016 study into Occupational Hearing Loss (OHL) conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the USA found that people who have experienced occupational hearing loss are most likely to belong one of three industries which are:
- Mining & Resources - 17%
- Construction - 16%
- Manufacturing - 14%
There are also certain tools and machinery used in the workplace that are more likely to cause industrial deafness:
- Multi-headed grinder
- Pedestal grinder
- Pneumatic transfer systems
- Hammer mills
- Hydraulic power packs
- Sand burners
- Bench grinders
- Breakpad grinders
- Cold cutting circular saws
- Concrete vibrators
Are Industrial Hearing Loss Statistics Improving?
Thankfully, in 2021 the overall occurrence of occupational hearing loss, when compared to even 10 to 15 years ago has moderately declined. This can be attributed partially to a greater level of focus being placed on occupation health and safety, especially in the above-mentioned industries, however, despite better practices being implemented with regards to personal protective equipment (PPE), our team still see a high number of clients presenting with hearing loss due to environmental factors in their workplace.
What can you do to prevent occupational hearing loss?
Regardless of your industry, occupational hearing loss can affect you. Ensuring that you are always following your company’s and work safety leading practices when it comes to protecting your hearing is vital to minimising the risk of OHL either now, or in the future. Hearing protection devices such as earmuffs or earplugs can greatly reduce the level of impact that loud noise can have on your hearing over a prolonged period. However, you need to ensure that you are consistently using this protective equipment and that they are correctly fitted as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The Victorian Government has adopted NIOSH’s Hierarchy of Controls to provide employers and workers with a framework for reducing the risk of occupational deafness in the workplace.
In summary, the Hierarchy of Controls suggests that the following methods of prevention should be considered and implemented where possible.
Elimination
Eliminating dangerous levels of noise in the workplace offers the highest level of protection and the most effective control’s when it comes to minimising the risk of occupational hearing loss. To successfully implement this control, a workplace would take steps to completely remove the source of the dangerous levels of noise.
Substitution
In some cases, it may be possible for employers to substitute existing equipment that is producing a dangerous level of noise with more modern equipment that has been designed in a way that reduces noise.
Engineering Controls
Where substitution and elimination are not possible, employers should consider implementing engineering controls that aim to reduce the amount of noise present in the workplace. Some examples of engineering controls may include installation of noise reduction equipment or soundproofing certain areas of your facilities.
Administrative Controls
Administrative controls concerning the Hierarchy of Controls refers to actions being taken to improve procedures to reduce the amount of exposure team members have to dangerous levels of noise. Examples of administrative controls include optimising team task scheduling to limit exposure or improving processes for using equipment that would minimise the overall level of noise produced.
Personal Protection
The final control is that of personal protective equipment and devices. Employers must provide their team members with access to appropriate PPE to ensure that they can conduct their duties in a safe way as possible. It is also imperative that workers receive comprehensive training on the correct way to use PPE.
Industrial Deafness Symptoms
Industrial hearing loss can come in many forms including:
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is the result of a physical condition that has affected the proper working of a component of the outer or middle ear which is stopping or interfering with sound reaching the inner ear and eventually the hearing centres of the brain. Common causes of conductive hearing loss can include but are not limited to a blockage in the outer ear canal such as wax or another obstruction, an ear infection which is causing swelling or an excess of fluid in the outer ear or any other malformation of the outer ear canal. Conductive hearing loss in most cases can be treated with medication or medical procedures and in cases where this is not possible, patients often find that their hearing can be significantly improved with the use of hearing aids or other hearing devices.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss, (sometimes referred to as SHL) is most often the result of a problem that is stopping the cochlea from functioning properly. This can either be from genetic conditions which have caused a malformation of the cochlea itself, or as a result of damage to the cochlea which can be caused by physical damage, or infections such as meningitis. For people who have SHL, hearing can often be improved through the use of various hearing devices, including hearing aids, middle ear implants or cochlear implants. The type of treatment that would be recommended is dependent on the cause and severity of the patient's condition.
Mixed Hearing Loss
As previously mentioned hearing loss can be the result of multiple problems with the ear structure. Mixed hearing loss occurs when a combination of conductive and sensorineural factors are impacting the patient. Again, the recommended treatment can change depending on the cause and severity of the problem.
The most common symptoms that our local Melbourne audiologist clients report include:
- Loss or complete lack of hearing in one or both ears
- Missing part or full sentences in conversations in both quiet and noisy surroundings.
- Struggling to hear speech when there are high levels of background noise
- Having to turn the television or radio up to a particularly high volume that is annoying to those around them.
- Hearing a constant ringing, buzzing or whistling in either one or both ears
What should you do if you suspect that you are suffering from industrial hearing loss?
If you are concerned that either yourself or a loved one is at risk of industrial hearing loss then you should reach out to your doctor or local audiologist and arrange an initial hearing health consultation.
At Abi Hearing, we offer our clients trusted and independent advice and can conduct a wide range of hearing tests to help diagnose and treat many hearing health conditions including industrial deafness.
Please reach out to our team to book your appointment and start the journey to better hearing health for life. Contact Us On (03) 9326 5334 or email us at info@abihearing.com.au.
Schedule An Appointment With Our Hearing Health Experts Today!
There are a few different types of Bulk Billed Hearing Tests. The most common type is an audio diagnostic test, which is used to screen for hearing loss. This type of test usually takes around 30 minutes to complete.
If you are interested in getting a Bulk Billed Hearing Test, talk to the team at Abi Hearing. They will be able to tell you if you are eligible for a test and book your appointment at our Bundoora Audiologist Clinic.
The entire team at Abi Hearing looks forward to meeting you. We are ready to answer your questions, fully understand your hearing challenges, and introduce you to exciting new technologies that can give you the excellent hearing you've been wanting.
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Email: info@abihearing.com.au
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Phone: (03) 9326 5334
Email: info@abihearing.com.au
Abi Hearing is a private independent audiology practice supported by ENT surgeons.