Hearing loss, industrial deafness & tinnitus compensation claims

Hearing loss is a reduced ability to hear sounds. This could mean you find it hard to hear other people clearly while having a conversation or have to watch the TV at a higher volume than others. It's more common in older people but environmental and genetic factors can cause hearing loss at any age.

There are ways to help you communicate with others if you're hard of hearing. This includes learning to lipread and moving to a space with less background noise. Sometimes, hearing loss can be treated. Otherwise, it can result in life-altering consequences.

People who are considered 'deaf' have profound hearing loss, where they have little to no capacity left. Causes can include hereditary factors, viral infections, trauma to the ear and more. It's common for deaf people to use sign language to communicate.

You may have hearing loss if you experience any of the following for no other reason:

• Missing parts of conversations
• Asking people to repeat themselves
• Having to turn up the television louder to hear it
• Lack of hearing in one or both ears
• Temporary or permanent hearing problems
• Ringing, buzzing or hissing noises (a sign of tinnitus)
• Struggling to hear people if there is background noise

These symptoms are likely to cause difficulties in your everyday life and you may even have had to leave work if your hearing loss disrupted your safety or performance.

Industrial deafness refers to damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations in the workplace. It's also known as 'occupational deafness' or 'noise-induced hearing loss' (NIHL). This is usually the result of workplace noise going beyond the safe decibel level.

Working in these surroundings for a prolonged period without proper protective equipment can result in long-term or permanent hearing damage. This tends to happen gradually, so you might not notice it at first. However, it can also be caused by acoustic shock, where a sudden loud noise exceeds the safe decibel level.

Workplaces where noise levels may cause hearing damage could include:

• Bars and nightclubs
• Construction sites
• Warehouses
• Military training sites
• Factories
• Farms
• Industrial settings with machinery
• Oil rigs and other offshore environments

If you suffer from hearing loss because of your work, you may be eligible for a no win no fee industrial hearing loss claim. Call us on or fill out our callback form to start the process with one of our friendly helpline advisors.

You may have tinnitus if you hear noises that don't come from an outside source. Again, the severity ranges. Some people experience symptoms temporarily, while others experience them for the rest of their lives. Symptoms can be experienced in one or both ears. These might include:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Whooshing
• Throbbing
• Humming

Tinnitus can be caused by traumatic injuries, such as those suffered in a car accident, exposure to loud noises or other underlying health conditions. If yours was caused by someone else's action or inaction, you may be eligible for tinnitus compensation.

Our hearing claim solicitors can still help because tinnitus is considered a type of hearing loss.

Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). According to the RNID, prolonged or repeated exposure to 85dB and above can cause hearing loss and deafness over time.

Generally, sounds under 85dB are safer to listen to without the need for hearing protection. However, if noise levels at work reach 80dB, your employer should assess the risk to your hearing and provide you with the relevant information.

There are laws in place to make sure that at-risk workers are protected in workplaces with high noise levels. Employers should take steps to meet the terms of The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. These include:

• Assessing the risks to staff from noise at work
• Taking action to reduce the noise exposure
• Providing staff with hearing protection if the noise exposure can't be reduced enough
• Making sure legal limitson noise exposure aren't exceeded

The levels of noise exposure that should not be exceeded (called the exposure limit values) are daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB and peak sound pressure of 140 dB.

If your employer failed to uphold their duty of care or meet any of the expectations outlined above, you could be entitled to start an NIHL claim for your suffering. We're here to help make things right.

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that 11,000 workers in Great Britain suffered from work-related hearing problems from 2020/21 to 2022/23. This estimation was made from responses to the Labour Force Survey and includes both new and longstanding cases.

National charity the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) says that exposure to loud noise is the second-biggest cause of hearing loss. As a result, compensation for hearing loss is awarded in the UK more often than you might expect.

While noise-induced hearing loss unfortunately can't be cured, many people who have suffered from it find wearing a hearing aid helpful. RNID offers support and useful advice for those who are living with hearing loss, including advice on hearing therapy and lipreading classes.

If you've experienced hearing loss because of exposure to high levels of noise in the workplace, you may be able to make an occupational hearing loss claim. We know it's not an easy process to understand but that's where we can help.

The best way to find out if you can make a deafness or tinnitus claim is to talk to us. We'll ask about your work and symptoms to understand more about what you've been experiencing and what may have led to your hearing loss. If you've spoken to a medical professional about your hearing, we'll also talk through the details of that consultation.

We understand that your hearing loss may make you feel wary of picking up the phone to talk to us but please don't worry. We speak to lots of people in your situation and all of our calls are handled at your pace. We'll never rush you.

If you've suffered or continue to suffer from hearing loss, we're here to advise you on hearing claims. Our friendly helpline advisors understand how difficult things must be and are ready to listen to your story. They're available on when you're ready.

If you're still unsure about picking up the phone, you can also talk to us through live chat. 

Proving noise-induced hearing loss claims means establishing fault across four main factors, including:

• Duty: The other side must have owed you a legal duty of care in the circumstances. Example: Your employer must take the necessary precautions to keep you safe at work. This is fundamental to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• Breach: The other side must have committed a breach of that duty by acting (or not acting) in the appropriate way.
  Example: Your employer didn't carry out the necessary risk assessments or provide sufficient hearing protection for you while on the job.
• Causation: The other side's actions (or lack of them) must have caused your hearing loss or made it worse.
  Example: Prolonged work in a noisy environment without the appropriate ear protection was damaging your ears but you had no reason to expect it would cause long-term hearing loss.
• Damages: You must be demonstrably impacted by the other side's actions or inaction.
  Example: You've partially or entirely lost your hearing because of your profession and you can provide evidence, such as medical records, to prove it.

Making a hearing damage claim may feel like a daunting process but we have the experience to make the process as smooth as possible. Hearing loss compensation may not get you the apology you deserve but it can help you cover any costs and suffering you've faced.

The hearing claim solicitors in our nationwide panel are experts in this area and will take all of the impacts of your hearing loss into consideration. For example, if you've needed to take time off work or find a new job, your compensation can cover the expenses this may have caused.

Hearing loss can be very frustrating and make social situations difficult. Some people are left feeling low and depressed because of it. Your legal team will make every effort to understand exactly how your injury has affected you so you can receive the amount of industrial hearing compensation that accurately reflects your circumstances.

There's no simple answer to this. The amount of noise-induced hearing loss compensation awarded varies from case to case. This is because every claim is unique and has its own specific set of circumstances. Any settlement amount will take into account factors such as:

• The severity of your hearing loss and the length of time you'll be affected
• Any medical expenses and travel costs you've had to pay
• Any lost earnings from time off work and your ability to work in the future
• Any lifestyle or career changes you've had to make because of your hearing loss
• Any ongoing care needs you have

Your legal team should be able to give you a better idea of payout amounts once they're up to speed with your case. In the meantime, try our hearing loss compensation calculator to get an idea of what you could be entitled to.

The calculator figures, and the ones in the payout table below, are determined by the latest edition of the Judicial College guidelines. The Judicial College is part of the Ministry of Justice and it sets the ranges of compensation for all types of accidents and injuries, including NIHL and tinnitus claims in the UK.

Any compensation from a hearing damage claim is split into two categories, known as general and special damages. General damages cover the suffering caused by your hearing loss and the direct impacts it's had on your lifestyle. Special damages cover any financial losses you've faced, whether that's lost income or medical bills.

In most cases, you have three years from when you first noticed your hearing loss to make an industrial hearing claim and issue court proceedings. If it was a particular accident that caused it, the three-year limitation period may start from that date. If you're nearing the deadline, don't hesitate to call us on to discuss your options.

There are some exceptions to the usual limitation period that may be relevant for an occupational deafness claim like yours. These include:

• If you worked on a ship: You usually have two years from the date you left the vessel or when you first noticed your hearing loss.
• If you worked abroad: Time limits vary by country, so it's best to talk to us if you're looking for specific information about industrial deafness compensation for when you worked outside of the UK.

No, you can't. By law, the way your employer treats you can't change because of an occupational deafness compensation claim brought against them.

• If they attempt to terminate your employment for making or considering a compensation claim, you may have a case for unfair dismissal.
• Equally, if you're treated unfairly at work because of your claim and you have no choice but to leave, you may have a case for constructive dismissal.

We know it's never easy to start a claim against your employer but that doesn't mean you shouldn't receive the hearing loss compensation you deserve. We're here to support you with every step.

If it's time to make things right about your damaged hearing, we're here to support you and help secure the occupational hearing loss compensation you deserve.

Starting your claim with us means following these steps:

1. Contact us for a free consultation on or start your claim online. We'll take some details about your situation and answer any questions you may have.
2. If you're eligible, we'll match you with one of our expert partner solicitors specialising in tinnitus and hearing loss compensation here in the UK. They'll explain the whole process and the next steps.
3. Your legal team will handle everything from gathering evidence to negotiating compensation on your behalf. If you've any questions, they'll be sure to answer them for you.

We'll never rush or pressure you into starting a claim. We're here to help you get the information you need to decide what's best for you. Our call centre for hearing loss compensation is open seven days a week and you can ask us to call you back if you'd prefer.

It's never easy knowing who to turn to when you've been done wrong but we're here to make things right. You can trust us with your hearing damage claim because:

• We're registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority, meaning we and the Authority hold our work to the highest possible standards.
• Our nationwide panel of expert solicitors are regulated by The Law Society in England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland.
• Our 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot and thousands of 5-star reviews underscore the success we've had with many cases like yours.

Losing your hearing can be scary and confusing. If you lost yours because of your employer's negligence, we're here to help. Speaking with us is free and there's no obligation to proceed with a claim if you don't want to.

When you're ready, call us on or fill in our callback form to arrange a time that suits you.