What is occupational deafness?

Occupational deafness is a type of hearing loss that affects people who work in loud environments.¹

In Québec, more than 400,000 workers are exposed to excessive noise levels at work. What’s more, according to Statistics Canada², 42% of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 79 are working or have worked in a noisy environment. Of those, only 22% frequently use hearing protectors, while 39% never do.

Symptoms

Here are some of the symptoms of occupational deafness:

• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
• Turning up the volume on the TV
• Trouble understanding speech in noise or when in a group
• Trouble hearing certain sounds (e.g. a phone ringing, birds chirping)
• Replying vaguely or incorrectly during a conversation

Cause

Naturally, working in a loud environment where there is prolonged noise exposure is the leading cause of occupational deafness.

Effects of noise exposure

People working in loud environments may develop auditory symptoms like tinnitus, hyperacusis (increased sensitivity to loud noises) and hearing loss.

The type and severity of symptoms depend on the volume (intensity) of the noise and the duration of exposure, and also on personal predisposition.

Most noise-related hearing loss is permanent. It can cause problems understanding speech, which in turn can affect communication and social interaction.

Prevention

Workers in noisy environments should wear hearing protectors to prevent loud noises from affecting their hearing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), half of all workplace hearing loss can be avoided by using preventive measures.³ Noise reduction at the source should also be considered. It is suggested that companies take the necessary means to, among other things, reduce the noise of machinery (absorbent materials, rigorous machine maintenance, etc.).

It is also recommended that workers at risk for hearing loss have their hearing assessed.

With a full hearing assessment, the audiologist can determine how the noise is affecting hearing and suggest measures to take to reduce the effects of noise or help with the recognition of occupational deafness. If needed, they may recommend hearing aids.

In Québec, a person exposed to significant noise can file a report with the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) to have their occupational deafness recognized.