Portland Workers’ Compensation for Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is one of the most common work-related injuries in Oregon and across the United States. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), each year, about 22 million workers nationwide are exposed to potentially damaging noise levels at work. Losing some or all of your hearing can have a major impact on your quality of life, as well as your ability to work.
If you’ve suffered hearing loss because of your job, you may be able to claim workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries. Jodie Anne Phillips Polich is a Portland workers’ compensation lawyer with more than 20 years of experience helping injured workers. She knows how vital workers’ compensation benefits can be to injured workers and their families, which is why she is relentless in defending her clients’ rights.
To learn more, contact the Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., for a free initial consultation.
How Does My Job Affect My Hearing?
Your chances of sustaining severe hearing damage on the job depending on what kind of work you do. Anyone could potentially suffer hearing impairment on the job under certain circumstances.
There are three main causes of hearing damage on the job. The first and most common is being around loud noises. The second is being exposed to certain chemicals that either directly damage the ear or make you more susceptible to damage from loud noises. Finally, head trauma can also cause hearing damage.
There are also three broad types of hearing damage, depending on what causes your injury. They are:
- Sensorineural — This type of hearing loss occurs when something damages the nerves that deliver sound signals to your brain. Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include aging, exposure to loud noises, side effects of certain medications, auditory tumors resulting from cancer, and being near some kind of loud explosion or blast.
- Conductive — This type of hearing loss occurs when something damages the structures in your ear that help you hear. Common causes of conductive hearing loss include fluids building up in the ear, foreign objects penetrating the ear, certain allergies, sustaining a ruptured eardrum, and impacted earwax.
- Mixed — This type of hearing loss is a blend of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. Common causes of mixed hearing loss include head trauma, certain infections, and certain genetic disorders.
Can I Get Workers’ Compensation for Hearing Loss?
According to information from the Oregon government, employees who sustain work-related hearing loss can receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, getting these benefits is not easy. Getting help from a workers’ compensation lawyer will make obtaining these benefits much more straightforward.
How Does a Person Qualify for Workers’ Comp Because of Hearing Loss?
Oregon’s workers’ compensation rules state that for an injured worker to receive benefits for job-related hearing loss, a worker’s attending doctor must supply certain information to the state. That information includes:
- A written statement accounting for how the worker sustained their hearing loss
- The patient’s medical history
- Examination and diagnosis records
- A statement from another physician with a background in hearing disorders showing whether the patient’s medical condition could improve with treatment or the passage of time.
The state says workers are eligible for benefits for any loss of normal hearing resulting from compensable injuries. However, any hearing loss that occurred before the compensable injury does not count when determining whether someone can receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Common Industries That Cause Hearing Loss Issues
Hearing loss can occur in virtually any line of work. Some of the industries where hearing loss issues are the most common include:
- Construction — Construction workers spend a lot of time around heavy vehicles and industrial equipment that can be loud enough to cause hearing loss.
- Manufacturing — Manufacturing plants often use heavy equipment that can damage workers’ hearing.
- Refineries — Workers in oil refineries and similar jobs must work around loud machinery that can damage their hearing over time.
- Airlines — Jet engines can be deafening, which is why airline workers who spend a lot of time around planes must wear protective gear. However, this may not be enough to prevent work-related hearing loss.
- Carpentry jobs — Carpentry jobs frequently entail working around other people using loud tools to build homes and other structures.
- Mines — In addition to working around heavy machinery, workers in the mining industry might suffer hearing loss due to a blast or explosion caused by a work-related accident.
- Automotive manufacturing, car testing, and racing — Car engines can generate extremely loud noises that can damage the hearing of those standing or working nearby. Automotive manufacturing plants also use heavy equipment that can be quite loud.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Hearing Loss
For most job-related injuries, workers’ compensation benefits cover a portion of your missed wages along with the cost of the treatment you need to reach “maximum medical improvement” (meaning you won’t get any better with additional treatment).
Assuming your claim is approved, your workers’ compensation benefits will cover the cost of hearing aids and any treatment you may need to try to prevent your hearing from getting worse. If you cannot work because of your hearing loss, you may also receive wage-replacement benefits. Wage-replacement benefits are typically equal to two-thirds of your average wages before your injury, up to limits set by state law.
How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
The first step in any workers’ compensation claim is to notify your manager or an HR representative of your injury. Next, you’ll need to see a doctor or audiologist so they can diagnose your hearing loss. An attorney can then help you fill out the paperwork you’ll need to send to your employer’s workers’ compensation provider.
Once your claim has been received, it will be evaluated, at which point you’ll either start receiving benefits or you’ll be informed why your claim was denied. If your claim is denied or undervalued, you have an opportunity to appeal. Working with an experienced Oregon workers’ compensation lawyer is particularly critical at this stage.
Contact the Workers Compensation Lawyer at Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C., for Help
Hearing loss is a significant and life-altering injury, and you deserve compensation if you’ve suffered hearing loss because of your job. Contact the experts at Jodie Anne Phillips Polich today for a free initial consultation if you’re having trouble getting your workers’ compensation benefits for hearing loss.