210 individuals (210 males) qualified as new cases of noise-induced deafness under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme (IIDB) (Table IIDB02) in 2005/06. This has fallen from 255 individuals in 2004/05.
The estimated number of individuals with hearing loss seen for the first time in 2005 by Audiologists and Occupational Physicians in the OPRA/OSSA reporting schemes was 280 a fall from 340 cases in 2005 (THORH01).
The industry groups with the highest average annual incidence rates of new cases qualifying for IIDB (based on 2004-06 figures) were extraction energy and water supply, manufacturing and construction (Table IIDB10). According to OSSA (based on 2004-2006 figures) manufacturing and construction reported the highest number of cases of work related hearing loss (Table THORH05)
Occupations with high incidence rates based on OSSA reports in 2003-05 included skilled trades and process, plant and machine operatives (THORH04)
A Medical Research Council survey in 1997-98 gave a prevalence estimate of 509 000 people in Great Britain suffering from hearing difficulties as a result of exposure to noise at work.
