Hearing loss is irreversible. Staying away from loud noise is vital to prevent noise-induced deafness, but if you cannot avoid it, learn how to protect your hearing.
Do you experience ringing in the ears? Or find it challenging to follow conversations among friends and colleagues especially in a noisy environment, or struggling to distinguish ‘s’ and ‘f’ sounds when they speak?
If you are encountering any of these issues, you may have noise-induced hearing loss or noise-induced deafness (NID). Chances are even higher that you have this issue if you work in industries such as metalworking, petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical, printing, and factories that produce rubber and plastic goods. According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s Workplace Safety and Health Report 2020, these industries are identified as the noisiest places to work in.
In 2023, The Straits Times reported that 624 out of 1,052 — that’s close to 60%! — cases of reported occupational diseases in 2022 were related to NID. Following NID, the second most common condition involved work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
“NID refers to hearing loss that gradually develops over an extended period of time as the result of exposure to continuous or intermittent loud noise,” explains Dr Joshua Wong Head and Consultant, Department of Occupational Medicine, Sengkang General Hospital.
Hearing loss can significantly impact one’s quality of life. According to Dr Wong, hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, increased risk of accidents, depression, and social isolation.
He adds that, besides the common symptoms mentioned above, NID is typically bilateral (occurs in both ears) and symmetrical (the degree of hearing loss is about equal in both ears). If you are wondering what he means by loud, “exposure to equivalent sound pressure level of 85dB or more over an eight-hour workday is considered excessive and can lead to hearing damage”, he states.
Dr Wong reveals that hearing loss is permanent and cannot be fully treated. “But it is completely preventable,” he is quick to add. “Prevention includes avoidance of exposure to excessive noise levels, wearing appropriate hearing protection, and regular screening for those at risk.”
For people living with hearing loss, hearing aids may be prescribed, particularly when their quality of life is affected. “In rare cases where hearing aids are not effective, cochlear implants may be recommended,” says Dr Wong. These devices bypass damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. To maintain whatever remaining level of hearing you have, stay away from loud noises.
Another piece of advice that Dr Wong has is for people to be aware of the damage that earphones and headphones can do to one’s hearing.
“Due to the proximity to the ears, the effective noise output of modern personal audio devices can be just as damaging as listening to music from speakers,” he advises. “A sound level of 65–85dB is considered a safe range. For ease of reference, personal audio devices should not be set higher than 60% of the maximum volume.”
According to the MOM, occupational diseases are harder to detect. Unlike injuries from accidents, most occupational diseases such as hearing loss only develop after prolonged periods of exposure.
If you work in a noisy industry, NID can be prevented by avoiding exposure to excessive noise levels and always using hearing protection (e.g. earplugs, earmuffs) when entering areas where the noise level exceeds 85dB. “Not all hearing protection equipment is equal, so ensure that yours provides sufficient noise reduction, fits well, is well maintained, and is replaced at appropriate intervals,” says Dr Wong. He also advises that you sign up for annual audiometric screenings if you are exposed to excessive noise levels as part of your job.
Companies that have high noise levels need to implement a comprehensive Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) as part of their workplace safety and health (WSH) programme. The components of a HCP include:
SKH’s Department of Occupational Medicine offers services that can assist employers in managing excessive noise at work.
As part of assessing a workplace environment for potential health and safety hazards, SKH takes a step-wise approach, applying the hierarchy of controls — from elimination, substitution and engineering controls to administrative controls, and personal protection — to advise employers on what they should do to control excessive noise at work.
“We can also develop and implement occupational health programmes, such as a Hearing Conservation Programme, for organisations to ensure that workers are educated on prevention, the proper use of hearing protection devices, as well as periodic audiometry examinations to screen for any early signs of hearing abnormalities,” shares Dr Wong.
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