Is Industrial deafness a disability? It's a matter of opinion.

Many people who are not deaf consider somebody who is congenitally deaf or slightly deaf to have a disability. They think this is common sense.

Whether or not somebody has a disability when they have developed industrial deafness is often considered to be less certain. These people are more likely to be considered to have "hearing loss".

So what is the definition of a disability and how does this impact somebody who has industrial deafness? A disability is defined as a limitation of function because of an impairment. Deaf people are limited in some functions because of an impairment of hearing.

French philosopher Michael Foucault (1980) showed that "bodies are the battlefield" and that political and economic forces in the history of the Western world have fought for control of the human body and its functions.

Nearly 70,000 people in the UK say they have a hearing problem
Despite the fact that many people whose hearing is impaired through industrial deafness are considered to be disabled, a lot of people can continue to have a normal life and maintain near-normal hearing levels with the use of products like cochlear implants.

In 2005/6, an estimated 68,000 people in the UK believed they were suffering from a hearing problem caused or made worse by their current or past work situation.

There has to be at least 50 decibels of hearing loss in order to qualify for benefit under the Industrial Injuries Scheme, the degree of disability being calculated from the hearing loss in such a way that 50 decibels in both ears equates to 20 % disability.

Industrial deafness compensation claim
Losing your hearing can put you out of touch with the world around you and make communication difficult. You may find you are losing your enjoyment of simple things in life, including music, films and conversation.

If you are suffering from hearing loss as the result of a work-related hazard, your employer may be at fault. It could be possible that health and safety steps were not taken to adequately protect you in a noisy work environment.

If this is the case, we may be able to help you make an industrial deafness claim for compensation. Call us now on 0800 10 757 95 and we will explain how the claims process works and let you know whether you are entitled to make a claim. Your concerns will be dealt with sympathetically by our team, who deal with personal injury cases successfully on a daily basis.

You won't be charged a penny at any time and you can also keep 100 % of any compensation that is awarded. Our panel of specialist personal injury solicitors are experts in the field of industrial deafness compensation claim and can help you win damages in a no win, no fee claim. So discuss your claim live on e-chat or pick up the phone and call us free on 0800 10 757 95.