NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS

(NIHL)
Introduction to NIHL is defined by National Code of
Practice (2004) as hearing impairment
NOISE INDUCED arising from exposure to excessive noise at

HEARING LOSS work, and is also commonly known as

industrial deafness.
(NIHL)
NIHL is entirely preventable but once
acquired it is irreversible

Most recent data (2006) suggests that the

number of NIHL represents 19% of all of all
disease-related

claims made and 3.2% of the total disease

and injury related claims.
Causes of NOISE Continuous Noise exposure

INDUCED HEARING The extent of hearing loss increases with

time of exposure, and also increases with
LOSS (NIHL) increasing the intensity of sound levels to
which an employee is exposed.

Most scientific evidence suggests that the

hearing loss does not progress once
exposure to noise has discontinued

National Occupational Health and Safety

Commission (NOHSC) standard identifies a
continuous exposure level of 85dB(A) over
8 hrs and a maximum peak exposure level
140 dB(C)
 Impulsive Noise
Causes of NOISE
Eg Explosions and Gunfire
INDUCED HEARING
LOSS (NIHL) Very high sound level eg > 140dB ©

Can result in asymmetrical loss

Ototoxicity

Damage usually associated with

combination of ototoxins and noise

Eg butanol, toluene, carbon monoxide,

solvent mixtures and certain types of
medications eg cancer therapy drugs and
asprins
Causes of NOISE Compounding factors

INDUCED HEARING Non-work related

LOSS (NIHL) Eg Congenital factors and recreational

noise

Role of cofactors remains poorly

understood

Eg cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and

neurodegenerative diseases
Interpreting Audiograms represent the softest sound a
person can hear.
Audiograms
Conductive loss–outer or middle ear.

Sensorineural loss –inner ear or neural

pathway. Permanent. Often age or noise
related.

Liability usually based upon sensorineural

only

X = left ear. O = Right ear[ or ] denotes bone

conduction
 NIHLs commonly appear as a sloping loss
Effect of NOISE that is most prominent in the higher

INDUCED HEARING frequencies (4k)

LOSS (NIHL) Effects speech perception by reducing

perception of consonant sounds (p,b,k,s,z etc)
needed for speech clarity.

Vowels usually remain intact as there is often

good residual hearing throughout the lower
frequencies.

Result = clients report that they can hear

people speaking but not understand them –
the vowels come through clearly but the
important consonants are distorted.
Progression of
NOISE INDUCED
HEARING LOSS Moderate to Profound high
(NIHL, 25 + years)
frequency loss

= 67.4% (40yo), 62.5% (70yo)

Calculation of Procedure for determine PHL

percentage hearing 1. Establish hearing threshold levels at

defined frequencies: 500Hz, 1000hz, 1500
loss (PHL) Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000Hz, 4000Hz

2. Go to look up tables (NAL Report No 118)

for each of the frequencies to determine
percentage hearing loss (PLH) for each
frequency (PLH500, PLH1000…..);

3. Add up all the percentage hearing losses

to give an overall figure

4. Appropriate deductions (if any) made

Effect of NOISE NIHLs commonly appear as a sloping loss
that is most prominent in the higher
INDUCED HEARING frequencies (4k)

LOSS (NIHL) Effects speech perception by reducing

perception of consonant sounds (p,b,k,s,z
etc) needed for speech clarity.

Vowels usually remain intact as there is

often good residual hearing throughout the
lower frequencies.

Result = clients report that they can hear

people speaking but not understand them –
the vowels come through clearly but the
important consonants are distorted.
Statistics of NOISE The average cost of workers compensation
claims for NIHL in 2001/2 was calculated to
INDUCED HEARING be $6711.

LOSS (NIHL) The average cost of workers compensation

claims claims for NIHL in 2001/2 was calculated to
be $6711.

This figure does not include Hearing Aid

fittings
 Noise Control and Hearing Loss Prevention
Program
Prevention NOISE
INDUCED HEARING Actions to reduce noise exposure eg. Noise
insulation, ear protection
LOSS (NIHL) Actions to monitor the health of employees eg,
annual hearing screening programs

Establishing a noise control policy and

program

noise control policy and program will enable a

systematic

approach to hearing conservation in a company eg

purchasing policy on equipment noise levels,
mandatory ear protection, training programs for
employees
References https://www.hearingsol.com/help/hear
ing-loss/noise/

https://www.hearingsol.com/