Hearing loss claims

swingaloo

Just a general question out of curiosity. Im not thinking of claiming! I just get annoyed at the compensation culture we seem to keep pushing.

I keep seeing these ads on TV for people who have worked in noisy environments being able to claim. They say you can claim even if it was years ago that you worked somewhere noisy.

Given that the majority of people have a hearing defect eventually anyway due to age, how on earth could they prove that the work environment contributed after many years?

SkintGypsy

You can tell. It's all very dull, but old age hearing loss looks different on a chart to noise related hearing loss. It's all about the frequency of the noise and the range of hearing loss on the chart.

Georgiegirl256

Very easily I should imagine.

Hearing loss is both a devastating and isolating experience for the person who has it. I know this for a fact as my Dad has two hearing aids, and his hearing loss is very substantial.

He first of all worked in a noisy steel foundry, but then moved on to be an industrial radiographer, which was a very noisy job, and back then they got no ear protectors whatsoever....something that I would imagine (and hope) wouldn't happen today.

He got contacted by one of these companies offering compensation, went along to one of their open days, but didn't hear anything back. I think if he had of took it further and got legal advice he might have had a case, and IMO that's what he should have done, but then again, he might not have got anywhere with it, and it might have cost a lot, so it's maybe not worth it unless you have a group of people being represented all at once?

Alot of people (not the majority) of people do have a hearing defect anyway, but there is a world of difference between a hearing defect and near total deafness and tinnitus etc caused by industrial negligence. To suggest otherwise is very disrespectful.

houseimprover

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Very easily I should imagine.

Hearing loss is both a devastating and isolating experience for the person who has it. I know this for a fact as my Dad has two hearing aids, and his hearing loss is very substantial.

He first of all worked in a noisy steel foundry, but then moved on to be an industrial radiographer, which was a very noisy job, and back then they got no ear protectors whatsoever....something that I would imagine (and hope) wouldn't happen today.

He got contacted by one of these companies offering compensation, went along to one of their open days, but didn't hear anything back. I think if he had of took it further and got legal advice he might have had a case, and IMO that's what he should have done, but then again, he might not have got anywhere with it, and it might have cost a lot, so it's maybe not worth it unless you have a group of people being represented all at once?

Alot of people (not the majority) of people do have a hearing defect anyway, but there is a world of difference between a hearing defect and near total deafness and tinnitus etc caused by industrial negligence. To suggest otherwise is very disrespectful.

I don't think the OP was really doing it in a disrespectful manner to be fair

swingaloo

No I absolutely wasn't to be honest but on here there are always people ready to have a go even when not necessary.

I was just asking the question in general terms. There are so many of these companies advertising to get people to claim and a lot of them are just agents after commission rather than 'trying to help people' as they claim.

I was simply asking how it would be possible to tell. My own father who has now passed away suffered terribly from tinnitus for several years and my partner the same so I am very sympathetic to sufferers as I know the misery it causes.

Im note sure how my post was considered disrespectful- but there you go!

Georgiegirl256

houseimprover wrote: »

I don't think the OP was really doing it in a disrespectful manner to be fair

No I didn't really think so either tbh, it's more a case of get your facts straight before posting such drivel. There is a world of difference between natural and industrial hearing loss.

It isn't a case of 'compensation culture', although, I don't believe these company's are to be trusted either. If people want to go down that route, they should go through the proper channels.

Georgiegirl256

swingaloo wrote: »

No I absolutely wasn't to be honest but on here there are always people ready to have a go even when not necessary.

I was just asking the question in general terms. There are so many of these companies advertising to get people to claim and a lot of them are just agents after commission rather than 'trying to help people' as they claim.

I was simply asking how it would be possible to tell. My own father who has now passed away suffered terribly from tinnitus for several years and my partner the same so I am very sympathetic to sufferers as I know the misery it causes.

Im note sure how my post was considered disrespectful- but there you go!

Wasn't having a go, just thought it would be pretty obvious that they could tell the difference tbh.

Macca83_2

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

No I didn't really think so either tbh, it's more a case of get your facts straight before posting such drivel.

And wasn't that the point of the original post? To get their facts straight?

houseimprover

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Wasn't having a go, just thought it would be pretty obvious that they could tell the difference tbh.

Is it though? I think you'd find a good % of people wouldn't have thought of different symptoms in loss of hearing, it was a valid question and you are being a bit abrupt.

Georgiegirl256

Macca83 wrote: »

And wasn't that the point of the original post? To get their facts straight?

Whatever you say Macca.

I think the point that niggled me was the comment about 'compensation culture'. I totally agree how stupid it is in the example of say the police woman who sued because she tripped over a kerb while chasing someone....that is stupid and a case of suing at the drop of a hat. But in the case of things such as the topic in hand or with people who get lung diseases etc through their work (that could gave been avoided with the use of proper equipment) then they should be able to claim compensation....and that, is not 'Compensation Culture'. So that is what I meant by get your facts straight.

Georgiegirl256

houseimprover wrote: »

Is it though? I think you'd find a good % of people wouldn't have thought of different symptoms in loss of hearing, it was a valid question and you are being a bit abrupt.

If I'm coming across as abrupt then I apologise.