Noise induced hearing loss in Great Britain

More information on Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Great Britain

There is limited information available on work-related noise induced hearing loss.  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is HSE’s preferred data source and the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme is a furher source of information.  These sources present very different estimates. The LFS provides the estimated number of workers who self-report work-related ‘hearing problems’, including both new and longstanding cases. The IIDB figures include only annual new claims and these are based on a much stricter definition of ‘deafness’ in which claimants must have a substantial measured loss of hearing in both ears (greater than 50 dB).

The IIDB scheme will also tend to underestimate annual incidence for other reasons, including:

• Cases arising from circumstances other than those covered by the terms of the prescription;
• Individuals being unaware of the possible occupational origin of their disease;
• A lack of knowledge regarding the availability of compensation; and
• The scheme not including self-employed workers.

Hence, the LFS is the preferred source to judge the overall scale of the condition.

More information on the strengths and limitations of the LFS and IIDB as data sources is available on the HSE statistics website.

More information:

• Data sources
• Index of tables
• Tables for hearing problems from the Labour Force Survey (LFS):
• Types of illness (LFSILLTYP): Prevalence (annual, three-year average) – for people working in the last 12 months
• Tables for occupational deafness from the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme (IIDB):
• IIDB02: New cases of non-lung diseases in England, Wales and Scotland
• IIDB04: New cases of non-lung diseases by award status
• IIDB05: New cases by disease and industry, 3 year average for the latest years