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Home Workers’ Compensation Attorney Workers’ Comp for Hearing Loss

workers comp for hearing lossHave you noticed your hearing slipping after an extended period working in loud conditions? If so, you could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for hearing loss. North Carolina workers’ comp laws set strict requirements for proving hearing loss, but a knowledgeable attorney can help you prepare a strong claim and pursue the money you need.

The lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. have over 90 years of combined experience handling workers’ comp cases in North Carolina. We can work to connect your hearing test results to your job, push back against unfair denials, and pursue the maximum compensation allowed under the law. Contact us now to arrange your free consultation and discuss how we can help with your claim.

Why Should You Hire a Workers’ Comp Lawyer for Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss claims in North Carolina require strong evidence and detailed knowledge of workers’ compensation law. An experienced lawyer can handle every aspect of your workers’ compensation case while you focus on your recovery. That way, you don’t miss key steps or lose benefits you might qualify for.

Here are some of the ways a North Carolina workers’ comp attorney can help:

  • Reviewing your work history for proof of exposure to harmful noise
  • Ordering and evaluating audiograms from qualified medical providers
  • Gathering medical records that document the extent of your hearing loss
  • Securing medical opinions that connect your hearing loss to your job
  • Collecting evidence that rules out non-work causes of hearing problems
  • Interviewing coworkers who can confirm on-the-job noise conditions
  • Filing all necessary forms with the North Carolina Industrial Commission
  • Calculating the correct value of your weekly wage and benefit rate
  • Challenging employer or insurer claims about preexisting hearing loss
  • Negotiating settlements that reflect the full value of your claim
  • Representing you in hearings before the Industrial Commission, if necessary
  • Handling the appeals process if your claim is denied or undervalued
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Causes of Hearing Loss in the Workplace

Workplace hearing loss typically develops from repeated exposure to loud environments. Here are some common causes of job-related hearing loss:

  • Heavy machinery – Construction, factory, and warehouse jobs often involve equipment that generates sustained loud noise. Extended shifts around this machinery can gradually damage hearing.
  • Aircraft operations – Airport ground crews and some military personnel spend long hours near jet engines. The constant roar creates a high-risk environment for occupational hearing loss.
  • Industrial tools – Power saws and other industrial tools produce bursts of harmful noise. Workers in carpentry, metalworking, and manufacturing often experience repeated daily exposure.
  • Loud music venues – Musicians, stage crews, and staff at clubs or concert halls often work in environments with amplified sound where noise protection is rarely consistent.
  • Explosions and impact noise – Police officers and demolition workers can be exposed to sudden blasts or gunfire noise. Even short-term exposure to these sounds can cause loss of hearing.
  • Agricultural work – The sounds coming from farm equipment, such as tractors and harvesters, can easily exceed safe noise levels. Long days in enclosed cabs or barns can amplify hearing loss risk.

Can You Get Workers’ Comp for Hearing Loss?

In certain cases, North Carolina law recognizes hearing loss from harmful workplace noise as an occupational disease. The condition must result from noises that reach at least 90 decibels and cause permanent sensorineural hearing loss in both ears to qualify.

Loss in only one ear does not meet the standard unless a preexisting condition made your other ear nonfunctional. Workers’ comp for hearing loss also will not cover tinnitus or temporary hearing problems – only long-term damage counts.

If you’re seeking workers’ comp for hearing loss, you must obtain a valid audiogram to confirm the damage. An audiogram is a hearing test that measures how well you can detect sounds at different pitches and volumes. Your lowest recorded audiogram result is used to determine whether you qualify for hearing loss benefits.

Hearing loss evaluations focus on specific sound frequencies, including 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 hertz. Any hearing loss outside the range of 500 to 3,000 hertz does not count for the purposes of workers’ compensation.

You must file your claim at least six months after your last exposure to harmful noise to receive benefits. The last day of exposure is considered your date of disability. If your employer provided hearing protection capable of preventing the damage and you failed to use it, that could disqualify you from receiving benefits.

If you qualify for workers’ compensation, the law says you can receive up to 150 weeks of payments for total hearing loss in both ears. If you have partial occupational hearing loss, you can get a proportional award based on the percentage of the loss. The employer responsible for paying your benefits is the one that was employing you when you were last exposed to harmful noise for at least 90 working days (N.C.G.S. § 97-53(28)).

How to Prove You Got Hearing Loss from Your Job

You’ll need strong evidence that links your hearing loss to your job to get workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina, including:

  • Medical evidence – The most important proof will come from medical evaluations, starting with an audiogram that measures your hearing at specific frequencies and determines the percentage of loss. Medical records from doctors or specialists will also be necessary to document your diagnosis and rule out non-work-related causes of the hearing loss.
  • Employment records – Your employment records will be crucial for your claim, too. These records should document your job duties, how long you were exposed to harmful noise at work, and whether your employer provided protective equipment. Witness statements from your coworkers could also strengthen your claim if they confirm the noise levels or lack of protection you experienced on the job.

A workers’ compensation attorney can gather and present this evidence to your employer’s insurance company or the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) on your behalf. They can work with qualified doctors to obtain the right evaluations, make sure your audiogram tests meet legal standards, and collect proof of your work conditions. They can also push back if your employer argues that your hearing loss is a result of your age, hobbies, or a preexisting condition. On top of that, your lawyer can prepare and present your claim within the applicable deadlines so it doesn’t get denied on a technicality.

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay for Hearing Loss?

Depending on the extent of your occupational hearing loss, there are several types of workers’ comp benefits you may be entitled to, including the following.

Scheduled Benefits

North Carolina law provides scheduled benefits for hearing loss caused by harmful noise at work (N.C.G.S. § 97-31). Scheduled benefits are payments based on a chart that assigns a set number of weeks of compensation for the loss of a specific body part or function, such as hearing.

If evaluations indicate total hearing loss in both ears, you can receive up to 150 weeks of compensation. If you have total hearing loss in one ear, you qualify for up to 70 weeks of payments.

You can also qualify for benefits with partial hearing loss. The law says you can get a proportional share of the maximum number of payment weeks, based on the percentage of your hearing loss. For example, let’s say an audiogram confirms that you have 50 percent hearing loss in both ears. That would entitle you to weekly benefits for 50 percent of the 150-week maximum, which equals 75 weeks of benefits.

The weekly payment amount you receive depends on the average weekly wage you were earning at the time your disability began. Workers’ comp pays two-thirds of that wage per week, subject to statewide maximum amounts set each year by the NCIC. Payments continue for the number of weeks tied to your percentage of hearing loss.

Medical Expenses

Reasonable and necessary medical treatment for work-related hearing loss is also covered. This includes coverage for diagnostic testing, doctor’s visits, and hearing aids if they improve your ability to hear. You can also claim reimbursement for the cost of traveling to medical appointments related to your hearing loss that are more than 20 miles round-trip (N.C.G.S. §§ 97-2, 97-25).

Vocational Rehabilitation

In some cases, vocational rehabilitation benefits could also be available if your hearing loss limits your ability to continue working in your usual role. These benefits can cover the costs of retraining, education, or job placement support (N.C.G.S. § 97-32.2).

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Get in Touch with Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers

Clients trust Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. because our team communicates clearly and delivers real results. We believe our commitment is evident in the long-term relationships we build with the people we serve.  Here’s what one client had to say about working with us:

“We are very grateful with this firm, They have been our lawyers for more than 17 years, always excellent service and good communication, in Spanish or English! Younce, Vtipil, attorneys at Law always fighting for the rights of their clients!! For that reason I give them 5 stars if I could I would give them more!!!!” – Javier Pintos

If you suffered hearing loss at work, the workers’ compensation attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. are here to help you demand the recovery you are owed. We bring more than 90 years of combined experience to the table and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for workers like you (although each case is unique and past results cannot guarantee future outcomes).

When you come to us for help with your workers’ compensation claim, you will work with a team that values clear communication, with staff members who are fluent in both English and Spanish. Call us today at (919) 661-9000 to get started with your free initial consultation and learn more about the personal attention our attorneys can provide.

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