Tinnitus: OSHA? We Have a Problem

In the United States OSHA has established a noise threshold level of 85 decibels for an eight hour period for workers. However, that is only for people who do not already have auditory system damage. The OSHA threshold exists to prevent healthy ears from damage. It does not exist to protect already damaged ears from more damage.

What about people who already have auditory system damage (e.g. cochlear cell damage that causes tinnitus or hyperacusis)? Our ears are much more sensitive and, in reality, our threshold is less than 85 decibels because of the hypersensitivity to certain noise specific to the unique damage to our auditory system.  

This scenario can happen: A person with tinnitus works in an open office. He or she notices that the tinnitus is getting worse while at work. Certain noises in the office cause flare ups. He or she notifies the occupational safety officer who tests the office equipment and industrial noise at less than 85 decibels. In the mind of the safety officer, the office environment is well within OSHA standards and therefore nothing needs to be done. The safety officer offers a pair of ear plugs in an attempt to remedy the situation.

Ear plugs and other standard hearing protection will not work with people who have tinnitus because it makes the tinnitus even more noticeable. 

I suggest that OSHA broaden the standard to allow for accommodations for people who already have auditory system damage that causes hypersensitivity to sounds at less than 85 decibels and at less than eight hours duration.

For someone with severe chronic tinnitus, a noise exposure that causes a flare up for any duration at any decibel level is intolerable. The employee, with tinnitus, has to be separated from the cause of the flare up. By separated, I don't mean punitively. It has been proven that continued exposure to certain sounds over time can lead to even more auditory system damage.

According the American Tinnitus Association there are 50 million people in the United States afflicted with some form of tinnitus. Over 12 million of those people have severe tinnitus like mine. My guess is that most of those 12 million people are hypersensitive to certain sounds at less than 85 decibels for less than eight hours a day. 

OSHA standards link:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/