If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Get urgent care right away for sudden hearing loss, especially in one ear, or call 911 if it comes with face drooping, weakness or trouble speaking.
- 2Write down what you're noticing: muffled sounds, ringing, trouble hearing in crowds, and when it started.
- 3List the noise sources at work — machinery, power tools, engines, aircraft, blasting, compressors — and how many hours a day you're around them.
- 4Note what hearing protection you were given and how often you could wear it.
- 5Tell your employer in writing that you believe your hearing problems are from work noise. Keep a copy.
- 6Ask for copies of any hearing tests your employer has done on you over the years.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Many noisy workplaces do periodic hearing tests. Those results can show changes over time. Ask your employer for copies of your test history, and keep them with your records.
Because noise-related hearing loss builds gradually, there's often no single injury date. You may be asked when you first noticed it or when a clinician first linked it to work. Write down how you decided on that date.
States handle occupational hearing loss differently, and deadlines vary. Some have specific rules for hearing claims. Check with your state's workers' compensation agency as soon as possible.
If you worked in noisy jobs for several employers, write a work history listing each employer, the years and the noise. Also note noisy hobbies honestly — it helps your clinician and your credibility.
Getting medical care
Occupational medicine or your primary care clinician can start an evaluation and may refer you for hearing testing or to an ear specialist. A licensed clinician decides what testing and care are appropriate.
Bring your noise history, your employer's past hearing tests if you have them, and a list of symptoms. Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first, so ask your employer or adjuster.
If you're prescribed medication or hearing devices, ask the pharmacy, supplier and adjuster how work-related prescriptions and devices are handled. Some items can be delivered to your home.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- Your claim is denied because the hearing loss is called age-related.
- You worked for several employers and it's unclear which is responsible.
- You weren't given hearing protection or hearing tests.
- There are disputes about hearing aids or specialist care.
- Ringing in your ears affects your sleep, concentration or mood and your claim doesn't address it.
- You're treated differently after raising the issue.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Noise-related hearing loss usually doesn't reverse, but protecting your hearing from here on can help keep it from getting worse. Ask your clinician what makes sense.
Ask your employer about better-fitting protection, quieter equipment, or rotation away from the loudest areas. Ask your doctor whether you need restrictions on noise exposure.
Ringing and hearing loss can be isolating. Tell your clinician if they affect sleep or mood. Keep your employer and adjuster updated.
Questions to ask
- Doctor: Is my hearing loss consistent with noise exposure?
- Doctor: What can I do to protect the hearing I have?
- Employer: Can I have copies of my past hearing tests?
- Employer: What noise levels are in my work area, and what protection is required?
- Adjuster: How does my state handle hearing loss claims?
- Adjuster: Are hearing devices handled under my claim?
- Attorney: I worked for several noisy employers. Where does my claim belong?
Frequently asked questions
Can hearing loss from noise at work be a workers' comp claim?
It may be, depending on your state and the evidence connecting it to your job. Many states have rules for occupational hearing loss. Report it in writing and check with your state's agency.
What jobs commonly cause hearing loss?
Manufacturing, construction, mining, airport ramp work and other jobs around loud machinery and tools often come up. A clinician can evaluate whether work noise is a factor for you. Bring your noise history.
Is ringing in the ears from work noise a work injury?
Ringing, often called tinnitus, can be connected to noise exposure, and some states consider it in claims. Tell your clinician and note when it started. Check your state's rules.
What if my employer says my hearing loss is from aging?
A clinician's evaluation and your hearing test history can help sort out the causes. Ask for copies of past tests. Many people talk with an attorney if a claim is denied for that reason.
Do I need a specific date for a hearing loss claim?
Usually there's no single accident date, but you'll be asked when you noticed it or when it was linked to work. Rules vary by state. Write down how you chose the date.
What should I do about sudden hearing loss?
Get urgent medical care right away, and call 911 if it comes with weakness, face drooping or trouble speaking. Sudden hearing loss is different from gradual noise damage. Don't wait.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).