| Occupational
Hearing Loss.. |
Medical
practitioners may be prepared to treat the health consequences
of work related conditions, but they are most often unable
to speak to issues of causation. Therefore,
a legal
practitioner
practicing in this field must rely on medical experts trained
in providing evidence-based testimony to determine whether
such a link exists.
As
a result of our extensive and specialized experience in
areas of medicine and law, we can identify whether a causal
link between exposure and disease exists. Contact
us for assistance in reviewing your legal
matter.
About
Occupational Hearing Loss
The most common cause of occupational hearing loss
is acoustic trauma from loud noise. The determination of hearing
impairment
is often based upon the American Academy of Otolaryngology
1979 equation. There are many other different equations which
can be used to calculate hearing impairment. They vary between
federal agencies, states, and countries. Most USA courts now
recognize the AAO 1979 formula, and its use has been successfully
argued in many legal settings (Byrum v. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry
Dock Co., 14 B.R.B.S. 833 [1982]).
Hearing
loss caused by exposure to recreational and occupational
noise can result in devastating disability that is virtually
100 percent preventable. Noise-induced hearing loss is
the second most common form of sensorineural hearing
deficit, after presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).
Shearing forces caused by any sound have an impact on
the stereocilia of the hair cells of the basilar membrane
of the cochlea; when excessive, these forces can cause
cell death. Avoiding noise exposure stops further progression
of the damage. Noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented
by avoiding excessive noise and using hearing protection
such as earplugs and earmuffs.
Other
topics of interest in this area are:
- Association
between noise-induced hearing loss and cardiovascular
disease.
- Hazards
of noise exposure on fetal hearing.
- High
blood pressure in older noise-exposed populations.
- Hypercholesterolaemia
and noise-induced hearing loss.
Contact
us for assistance in reviewing your legal
matter.
|
