TECHNICAL AND AUDIOLOGICAL FACTORS IN OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS CLAIMS

Abstract

This chapter reviews some of the technical and audio logical factors in occupational hearing loss claims. There must be a reasonable statistical probability that the alleged noise exposure has caused the loss of hearing. This involves not only assessing the noise hazard but also eliminating other possible causes by taking an occupational and medical history and by employing appropriate audiological tests. The claimant may have suffered noise exposure outside his workplace. The potentially most hazardous nonoccupational noise source is probably the 12-bore shot gun. A number of audiometric and clinical criteria must be satisfied before a diagnosis of noise-induced hearing loss can be made with sufficient confidence for medical–legal purposes. The more severe noise-induced hearing losses are likely to have been caused by the more severe noise exposures. For a claim to succeed, there should be no other competing diagnostic possibility. It is important, therefore, that an adequate medical examination should be performed.