How to Make a Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Claim
Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors
If you worked in a noisy environment without adequate hearing protection and have since developed hearing loss or tinnitus, you may be entitled to claim compensation. The limitation period for industrial hearing loss claims runs from the date you knew (or should have known) that your hearing loss was work-related — not from when the exposure took place.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Key Points
- Hearing loss from work noise is compensable — employers had a duty to protect hearing
- Three-year limit runs from date of knowledge, not date of exposure
- Tinnitus is compensable alongside hearing loss and increases the claim value
- Claims can succeed even where the employer has closed — via EL insurer tracing
- Audiometric testing and expert ENT evidence is required to substantiate the claim
What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent damage to the inner ear caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise. Unlike age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), NIHL can begin at any age and is caused by the destruction of the sensitive hair cells in the cochlea that convert sound into nerve signals. Once destroyed, these cells do not regenerate.
NIHL most commonly affects the ability to hear high-frequency sounds first — making speech in background noise particularly difficult — before progressing to broader hearing impairment.
When Is an Employer Liable?
An employer is potentially liable for noise-induced hearing loss where:
- You were exposed to noise levels at or above 85dB(A) averaged over a working day (the upper action value under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005)
- The employer knew, or ought to have known, that the noise levels posed a risk to hearing
- The employer failed to take adequate steps to reduce the noise or provide and enforce the use of adequate hearing protection
For exposure before 2005, earlier regulations apply — including the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and, for older cases, the general duty of care in negligence and the Factories Act.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Claim
Step 1 — Get an Audiogram
The starting point is an audiometric test (hearing test). Your GP can refer you to audiology, or you can see a private audiologist. The audiogram maps your hearing threshold at different frequencies and is the core medical evidence in any NIHL claim.
Step 2 — Obtain a Medical Report
Your solicitor will instruct a specialist ENT consultant or audiologist to review your audiogram, take a detailed employment and noise exposure history, and provide an opinion on: the degree of hearing loss, whether it is consistent with noise-induced damage, any contribution from age-related loss or other causes, and any tinnitus.
Step 3 — Establish Employment History
Your solicitor will need to identify your former employers during the relevant exposure period. HMRC can provide a schedule of historic employment. See our guide on claiming when an employer has closed for more on how to trace former employers and their insurers.
Step 4 — Pre-Action Protocol
Employers' Liability disease claims are subject to a pre-action protocol. Your solicitor will send a letter of claim to each former employer (or their traced insurer), who then has a set period to investigate and respond. Many claims settle at this stage without court proceedings.
Step 5 — Settlement or Proceedings
If liability is admitted, the claim is valued based on the degree of hearing loss, any tinnitus, and special damages (including hearing aids if required). If liability is denied, court proceedings may be necessary.
What Compensation Can I Expect?
Compensation in NIHL claims depends on the degree of loss and the presence of tinnitus. Using the Judicial College Guidelines:
- Slight/moderate noise-induced loss with tinnitus: £14,900 – £29,710
- Moderate hearing loss in both ears: £29,710 – £45,540
- Severe hearing loss: £45,540 – £90,750
- Tinnitus alone (moderate): £14,900 – £29,710
Special damages including the cost of hearing aids (which can be significant over a lifetime) are claimed separately.
Contact EA Personal Injury Solicitors for a free initial enquiry if you believe you may have a noise-induced hearing loss claim. We will assess your circumstances and advise on the strength of your case.