Finding answers to the world’s biggest occupational risk - NIHL

NIHL is the world’s most common and costly occupational illness and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) its incidence is on the increase. It is incurable, and most importantly, preventable. NIHL is the name given to varying levels of hearing loss suffered as a result of noise exposure. While most commonly caused by industrial noise, the illness can result from excessive noise from any source including amplified sounds in pubs, niteclubs, concerts and major events. In 2006 legislation was passed in the EU to make hearing protection compulsory for any worker exposed to 85dB(A) or above, not just industrial workers. Sensear’s technology has the ability to eliminate NIHL and is the only technology effective in enabling speech communication to be clearly audible above 85 dB(A). Sensear’s product range can prevent new cases of NIHL by enabling face to face, mobile phone and two-way radio communication in high noise without the wearer having to remove hearing protection. This is where traditional forms of hearing protection have failed. They do not allow effective communication.

The Sensear range also has market potential as assisted listening technology, a market that has been traditionally served by hearing aids. Sensear’s earplug products provide an unobtrusive, hi-tech assisted listening solution for people with mild to moderate hearing loss who find hearing aids ineffective in background noise or feel stigmatised by the social perception of disability often associated with hearing aids.

Health hazards arising from noise may cause NIHL and are usually associated with noise sources in manufacturing, transportation, military, aviation and recreation. However any noise loud enough to interfere with conversation has the potential to cause hearing loss. There are three general classes of noise hazard: Impact noise (such as gunshot or explosion); Continuous noise (machinery running constantly); and Intermittent noise (such as a passing heavy vehicle). Traditional hearing protection products serve particular classes of noise and often a number of hearing protectors have been needed for different noise hazards.

One of the most significant benefits of Sensear’s SENS®technology (Speech Enhancing Noise Suppression) is its universal effectiveness across all three classes of noise hazard, meaning that now only one product is needed to do the job in a wide range of high noise situations.