Hearing Damaged by Noise

Many people have had their hearing damaged as a result of being exposed to high levels of noise for lengthy periods of time. Following a survey it undertook in 1997/98  the UK Medical Research Council estimated that over 500,000 people had suffered harm in the form of noise induced hearing loss.

It is believed that if we all live long enough that we would all lose our sense of hearing because of the way are ears work. Inside the cochlea, an organ in the inner ear, there are thousands of tiny hair cells that send the sound signal to the brain. These cells do not reproduce themselves  and as we age they start to die off resulting in a loss hearing efficiency. Exposure to excessive noise levels over time accelerates this aging process. Noise induced hearing loss is not reversible.

Another conditions that is linked to exposure to excessive noise is tinnitus. This is a condition where the sufferer has a constant ringing or buzzing sensation in their head that is not attributable to an external sound source. It can be a difficult condition to cure. Sufferer may become clinically depressed over time because there is no ‘escape’ from the noise. It is believed that in some instances sufferers have committed suicide.

The law in many countries requires employers to protect employees from excessive noise levels. Ideally exposure to excessive noise levels should be eliminated. Where this is not possible then employers should considers the following to reduce noise level:

• Look at alternative work methods that may be quieter
• Select appropriate work equipment
• Design/layout of work area
• Use of sound absorbing material
• Maintaining equipment – so it doesn’t  get noisy
• Job rotation – reducing the time people are exposed to the noise and as a last resort
• Provide suitable hearing protection