Ohio Occupational Hearing Loss: Can I Get Workers’ Comp For Hearing Loss?

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Lately, you’ve been having a harder time hearing things. Sounds seem muffled, and you’ve noticed you have to crank up the TV when others are talking in the room. Your family jokes about you “going deaf” or “getting old,” but this doesn’t feel normal. There’s a constant ringing in your ears, and sometimes a dull pressure you can’t ignore.

You’ll admit you haven’t always worn hearing protection at work. It’s loud—presses, grinders, forklifts, conveyors—and maybe it only seems less loud now because your hearing is slipping.

Then a coworker mentioned something you hadn’t considered: hearing loss can be a work-related injury. That got you thinking. Can I get workers’ comp for hearing loss? And how would I prove an Ohio occupational hearing loss claim?

Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational injuries. It’s typically progressive, very often permanent, and highly underreported. And yes, it can qualify for workers’ compensation in Ohio.

You don’t have to prove your employer did anything wrong—but you do have to show your hearing loss is connected to your job. In some cases, a third party may even be liable, potentially unlocking additional compensation.

Workers at Risk for Hearing Loss

Ohio is home to approximately 14,000 manufacturing companies, and they employ a lot of people—approximately 1 million workers. But they also make a lot of noise. Engines and motors droning. Equipment starting and stopping. Presses and metal parts clanging. Some of the noise is steady and continuous, but at times, the sounds can be sudden and unexpected, like an explosion or blowout.

The Buckeye State is also a top agricultural state, and farming is one of America’s noisiest jobs. Grain handling equipment, diesel tractors, and animal operations routinely exceed safe decibel levels, and some farm chemicals—including certain herbicides and pesticides—are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear.

Nationwide, the CDC estimates 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year, and millions more encounter ototoxic chemicals. Construction, manufacturing, and mining workers are among the most likely to develop noise-related hearing problems.

• More than 245,000 Ohioans, or about 1 in 23 workers, work in the construction industry.
• The state’s booming oil and shale mining industry supports roughly 350,000 jobs.

All industries have hearing risks, however, including some that might not be obviously loud.

• Drivers, bar and nightclub workers, musicians, call center staff, pilots and airport ground crews, and even teachers can be exposed to prolonged or intermittent noise that causes permanent hearing damage.
• Any worker at any job can experience hearing loss due to a single loud event, such as an explosion.
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries from accidents like slip and falls, can also cause hearing loss.

Occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related illness in the country. About 1 in 8 workers has difficulty hearing, and workplace are responsible for an estimated 1 in 4 cases.

Ohio Occupational Hearing Loss and Workers’ Compensation Claims

The BWC treats Ohio occupational hearing loss differently from other work injuries. Hearing damage is slow, progressive, and invisible. It doesn’t show up on an X-ray, and it doesn’t bruise or swell. Symptoms like ringing, muffled sound, or trouble hearing may be brushed off for years. That’s why these claims are frequently challenged.

You Need Medical Proof Your Hearing Loss Is Permanent and Total

Ohio workers’ comp requires evidence of permanent and total loss of hearing in at least one ear to qualify for scheduled-loss benefits.

Temporary or partial hearing loss—especially partial loss in just one ear—usually does not meet the legal standard.

A hearing loss claim typically requires:

• A formal audiogram
• Evaluation from an audiologist or ENT
• Medical documentation tying the hearing loss to workplace exposure

Gradual and cumulative job-related hearing loss is treated as an occupational disease, while sudden loss caused by an explosion or blast at work is treated like an occupational injury. Either way, medical evidence is essential.

You Must Show the Hearing Loss is Work-Related

The hardest part of these claims is proving the hearing loss came from work, not aging or outside noise. Ohio considers factors such as:

• Duration of exposure to loud equipment
• Types of machines and noise levels
• Whether hearing protection was provided and properly enforced
• Non-work noise exposure (firearms, concerts, motorcycles, tools)
• Documented changes in hearing over time

Employers or BWC may argue that age is the primary cause. But noise-induced hearing loss typically shows a distinct pattern on audiograms. Qualified specialists can help distinguish occupational damage from natural aging.

Strict Legal Standards Apply

Under Ohio law, only permanent and total hearing loss in one or both ears qualifies for scheduled-loss compensation. Still, workers who don’t meet this standard may be eligible for:

• Medical evaluations
• Hearing aids
• Ongoing monitoring
• Future compensation if the loss progresses

Even when the medical evidence is strong, claims can be challenged. Employers may argue the loss is not severe enough, not related to the current job, or stems from non-work activities.

Many denials rely on independent medical exam (IME) opinions that blame aging or hobbies. These opinions can be challenged through workers’ compensation appeals, but doing so requires documentation.

Common Challenges in Ohio Hearing Loss Claims

Hearing loss claims are among the most frequently disputed because the injury isn’t visible and usually develops over years. Workers may face challenges such as:

No Baseline Hearing Test. Most workers were never given a pre-employment audiogram. Without a baseline, employers may argue the hearing loss existed before the worker was hired or came from another job.

Long Time Periods Between Exposure and Diagnosis. Noise-induced hearing loss develops slowly. A worker may not seek testing for 10–20 years, giving BWC room to argue:

• The hearing loss isn’t new
• It didn’t happen at the current job
• The timing of the damage can’t be determined

Age-Related Hearing Loss Arguments. Employers frequently blame aging, even when the audiogram pattern clearly shows noise-related damage.

Inconsistent Use of Hearing Protection. Workers worry that admitting they didn’t always wear earplugs will destroy their case. But Ohio’s system is no-fault—benefits don’t depend on perfect PPE use. However, employers may argue that noise levels weren’t dangerous or that hearing protection “should have been enough,” even if enforcement was lax or equipment was inadequate.

Employer Pushback and IME Opinions. Many denials hinge on IME doctors attributing hearing loss to aging or personal habits. Workers can challenge IME findings with independent evaluations and stronger medical evidence.

How Ohio Workers Can Strengthen an Occupational Hearing Loss Claim

If your hearing has started to slip, gathering evidence early can significantly improve your chances of a successful workers’ compensation claim.

Get a Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation. Seek an audiogram from:

• An ENT
• A certified audiologist
• A provider familiar with occupational hearing loss

Ask for documentation that identifies:

• The type and pattern of hearing loss
• Whether it is consistent with noise exposure
• Likely duration of exposure needed to cause the damage

Provide a Clear Work History. A detailed timeline of noisy jobs helps establish cumulative exposure, especially for workers who have held multiple positions in high-risk fields like manufacturing, construction, or agriculture.

Document Workplace Noise. Keep notes on:

• Machines used
• Approximate noise levels
• How often hearing protection was provided or used
• Any loud events (explosions, blowouts, air-line ruptures)

Coworker statements can also support your claim.

Be Honest About Non-Work Noise. Hunting, concerts, motorcycles, loud hobbies—all of it should be disclosed. Transparency can contextualize these exposures against years of daily workplace noise and show work noise was the dominant cause.

Talk to an Attorney Before Filing. Workers’ comp hearing-loss claims are technical, medical-heavy, and may be initially denied. A workers’ comp attorney can coordinate independent testing, challenge weak IME opinions, strengthen causation arguments, and ensure the claim meets Ohio’s legal standards.

Identify When a Third Party May Be Liable. Most work-related hearing-loss claims go through workers’ compensation, but some situations allow for separate personal injury claims. These claims can provide compensation workers’ comp does not, including pain and suffering damages and full lost wages. A third party may be liable when hearing loss is caused or worsened by:

• Defective machinery or equipment
• Outside contractors who create dangerous noise conditions
• Maintenance companies responsible for a pressure release or explosion
• Faulty hearing protection
• Property owners who ignore hazardous noise levels

These claims require a case- and fact-specific investigation into the equipment, maintenance records, and parties operating at the worksite.

Hard of Hearing? We Make the Claims Process Easy

Ohio workers who have permanent hearing loss from a traumatic event or years of noise exposure may qualify for workers’ compensation. But you might have to speak up and demand to be heard to get your claim approved.

Contact us for help filing or appealing a workers’ compensation hearing loss claim.