The symptom of deafness is obviously hearing loss but there are different kinds of hearing loss. Also, deafness may affect one ear, or both. All patients require audiological tests to establish the type of deafness and extent of hearing loss. The results of tests will classify your hearing loss as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.

Conductive hearing loss generally come from problems with the middle or outer ear or the tympanic membrane. Sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear, part of the brain, or the nerve in the ear, and can happen in an accident or other problem, such as a specific disease or condition, but it can also be something that an individual is born with.

Diagnosis of your deafness to establish the cause may reveal that deafness has resulted from:

• Noise induced trauma
• Ear infection
• Perforation of the tympanic membrane
• Middle ear disease
• Damage to the bones
• Growth of a tumour
• A foreign body lodged in the ear
• Compacted wax

As well as experiencing hearing loss, you may experience vertigo or tinnitus.

Tinnitus

The symptom of tinnitus is hearing an abnormal noise, or noises, within your head including ringing, buzzing, whistles, roaring, humming, and machine type noises. Sometimes the noise pulsates at the same rate as your pulse.

Tinnitus can be either constant or it can come and go. It can vary in loudness and character from time to time. You may hear the noise or noises in one ear, in both ears, or it may be difficult to pinpoint where the noise seems to come from.

The noise is often more prominent when you are in a quiet place or more noticeable when you are tired. Some people with tinnitus are also more sensitive to normal everyday sounds.

Industrial deafness and tinnitus claim advice

If you have been affected by noise levels in your workplace and have suffered tinnitus or industrial deafness as a result, please contact Firststep today. We will guide you through the claims process for industrial deafness and tinnitus and can also offer you help and advice even if there is no claim to be made. Call our free accident compensation helpline today to find out if you have a claim for industrial deafness, or fill in our online claim form.