Greensboro Hearing Loss Attorney

Workplaces can expose their workers to various risks, including occupational hearing loss. According to the CDC, hearing loss increases when people are exposed to loud sounds over time. Aside from not being able to hear well, hearing loss can also contribute to stress, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.

Don’t wait to contact an attorney if you have significant hearing loss because you work in a noisy environment. At Ward Black Law, we help injured people in North Carolina pursue the maximum benefits they deserve for the traumatic hearing loss they’ve suffered due to hazardous noise levels on the job.

Contact us today for a free workers’ compensation case review with an attorney at our law firm.

Why You Need Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers for Your Hearing Loss Claim

Work-related hearing loss is an occupational disability in North Carolina, and you can seek compensation to cover related costs. To receive these benefits, you must prove your permanent hearing loss by getting an audiogram. You must also prove this loss was caused by exposure to loud noise in the workplace. This can be an extensive, time-consuming process requiring documentation. If you’re already dealing with the consequences of occupational hearing loss, proving your hearing loss claim is another stressor.

Our workers’ compensation lawyers have experience dealing with job-related hearing loss claims. Our lawyers can help you:

• Manage the claims process – Our North Carolina occupational hearing loss attorneys can help you meet specific state requirements, as outlined in North Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Act, to prove your disability and its impact on your life. We can help you organize doctor’s appointments and follow-ups and track all the paperwork required for your claim.
• Negotiate a settlement – Our Greensboro workers’ compensation lawyers can help you seek occupational hearing loss compensation and negotiate a workers’ compensation hearing loss settlement if that is appropriate in your situation.
• Handle any appeals – Appealing a denied or undervalued claim is less intimidating with a skilled lawyer on your side. We know how to combat a denial or undervaluation and refocus our efforts to pursue the full benefits you deserve.
• Reduce your stress – Having a dedicated legal advocate on your side can give you peace of mind. Let us handle the details while you focus on your health and your future.

What Causes Hearing Loss in the Workplace?

There are a few root causes of work-related hearing loss. Recognizing the sources of these hazards can increase your preparedness. They include:

• Loud noise – North Carolina defines harmful noise as sounds above 90 decibels. If exposed to loud noise for extended periods without hearing protection, it can cause hearing loss. Roughly 22 million workers face work-related noise hazards annually.
• Ototoxic chemicals – Exposure to specific chemicals, such as solvents, can damage your ears, which increases sensitivity to loud noises and can cause hearing loss over time. Approximately 10 million workers encounter solvents at work.

Examples of ototoxic chemicals include:

• Pesticides
• Cleaning agents that contain Toluene and Xylene
• Carbon monoxide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a few other factors influence hearing loss and its severity. These factors include:

• Exposure frequency – Regular exposure to loud noises in the workplace, such as machinery, power tools, or equipment, can gradually damage hearing.
• Proximity to the noise source – Workers near machinery or equipment generating high noise levels may have a higher risk of hearing loss.
• Intermittent or continuous noise – Continuous loud noise or sporadic loud bursts can affect the ears differently, and both scenarios contribute to the overall risk of hearing damage.

Hearing loss may develop slowly over long-term exposure, making it difficult to pinpoint precisely when hearing worsens.

Some warning signs of hearing loss include:

• Loss of hearing that doesn’t return after leaving work
• Constant ringing in your ears (tinnitus) even after work
• Difficulty hearing others who are near you
• Needing others to repeat themselves frequently
• Hearing others’ words as mumbling sounds
• Persistent ear pain

See a doctor for a hearing test and medical care if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms for long periods, as they can indicate potentially permanent hearing loss. Hearing aids or other devices might be necessary if you have suffered hearing loss that impairs your ability to work and handle tasks of daily living. Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids, but you can purchase them over-the-counter.

How Common Is Occupational Hearing Loss in Greensboro?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 50,000 Greensboro-High Point employees worked in manufacturing, and roughly 17,000 worked in mining, logging, or construction. With thousands of Greensboro workers employed in high-risk industries for occupational hearing loss, the potential for hearing loss is significant.

However, hearing loss is not limited to high-risk jobs like manufacturing and construction. Workers in many other occupational settings can also experience conditions that lead to work-related hearing loss.

What Kinds of Workers Are at the Greatest Risk of Hearing Loss?

While numerous jobs expose workers to hazardous workplace noise, some occupations encounter it frequently, which can result in long-term health issues. Employers must mitigate hearing loss risks by providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and working to reduce or eliminate overall sound levels over a 90-decibel level average during an eight-hour workday.

Workers at high risk for hearing loss include:

• Manufacturing employees – Heavy machinery generating constant noise is an occupational hazard for manufacturing workers.
• Construction workers – Construction site clanging, beeping, and buzzing can lead to long-term ear damage.
• Miners – Drilling and possible explosive blasts in or around mines can leave workers with potentially permanent hearing loss.
• Airport ground staff – Aircraft engines and ground vehicles can create noise on airport tarmacs.
• Dental hygienists – Suction tools, scalers, polishers, and other dental equipment can create continuous, hazardous noise in small spaces.
• Carpenters – Power tools like saws produce high-pitched noise that can increase the risk of permanent hearing loss for woodworkers.
• Nightlife employees – Loud music and crowd noise are common hazards for bartenders, servers, security personnel, musicians, and other entertainment or service industry employees.

Can I Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Hearing Loss in Greensboro?

You could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits for permanent hearing loss that resulted from exposure to noise in your work environment. You can receive compensation for hearing loss in both ears, according to the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Under the terms of the occupational disease section of the Act, you could be entitled to compensation if:

• You were exposed to noise of at least 90 decibels.
• You lost hearing in both ears because of prolonged exposure to harmful noise at work.
• Your hearing loss is permanent.
• Your hearing loss is evident in the range between 500 and 3,000 cycles per second.

A formula will be used to calculate the percentage of your hearing loss. For complete hearing loss in both ears, an injured worker can receive 150 weeks of compensation at their average weekly wage, computed on the prior 52 weeks’ wages.