There will be 14.5 million people with hearing loss in the UK by 2031, according to a recent estimate by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). Of the 10 million people in the UK who currently suffer some form of hearing disability, over 800,000 have severe or profound impairment or industrial deafness.

Studies have found that it can take, on average, ten years for an individual to recognise and take action to address noise induced hearing loss. Many working men, now in their 60s or 70s would have retired in the last ten to twenty years from a lifetime of regularly working in workplaces with excessive noise levels ( of 85dB or above) without adequate ear protection, such as in printing works, textile mills, metal presses or wood working shops, foundries, etc.

Despite 1.1 million people estimated as being at risk of being exposed to potentially damaging noise levels in the workplace, still an overwhelming majority of compensation claims are made by men or around retirement age who only belatedly realise that they have hearing damage rather than assuming age-related hearing loss. It is finally noticed when they either have to constantly ask for words to be repeated or family members point out the television volume is too loud.

Unfortunately, the risk of noise induced hearing loss is not the only serious health threat that can be inflicted by exposure to excessive noise levels. Research conducted over five years involving around 6,000 workers has revealed that there could be a two or threefold increased risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

It has been well known that exposure to excessive noise over a continuous time period can cause stress leading to fatigue, irritability, dizziness or headaches and a possible affect on the sense of balance. Even just a slightly higher level of noise can still raise anxiety and most significantly, blood pressure.

Chronic exposure to occupational noise is also related to increased susceptibility to other heart-related conditions such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, CHD and isolated diastolic hypertension.

While it is also known that many affected workers also tended to be younger males who smoked and were overweight, the very clear associations of noise exposure to raised blood pressure and heart attack symptoms were particularly evident for those aged 50 years and over, male and current smokers.