A Guide to Workers' Compensation Hearing Loss Settlements in Illinois

Treating Industrial & Occupational Hearing Loss

While some cases of OHL may require minor treatment, such as the removal of wax blockage, other, more serious types of hearing loss may entail certain surgical procedures to treat abnormalities of the bones in the ear or eardrum. Other types of treatment may include hearing aids and cochlear implants for more severe hearing loss.

How to File a Hearing Loss Workers’ Compensation Claim in Illinois

Filing a workers’ compensation claim for hearing loss in Illinois involves several key steps to ensure you receive the benefits you deserve. Whether your hearing loss developed gradually from ongoing exposure to loud noise or resulted from a single workplace incident, it’s important to follow the proper procedures to protect your rights. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the claims process:

1. Report the Injury to Your Employer: Notify your employer as soon as you notice signs of hearing loss. In Illinois, you must report the injury within 45 days of discovering it, or you risk losing your right to benefits.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Get a professional medical evaluation to document the extent and possible causes of your hearing loss.
3. Document Exposure and Symptoms: Keep a detailed record of your work environment, noise exposure, protective equipment (if any), and how your symptoms have progressed. This can support your claim and show that the hearing loss is work-related.
4. File a Claim with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC): While your employer should notify their insurer, you can also file an official claim with the IWCC to protect your rights and ensure your case is on record.
5. Consult a Workers’ Comp Attorney: Consider hiring a workers’ compensation attorney experienced with hearing loss claims. They can guide you through the process, help gather evidence, and represent your interests in negotiations or hearings.
6. Attend Any Required Hearings or Evaluations: If your claim is disputed, you may need to attend a hearing before an arbitrator. Be prepared to present medical records, workplace evidence, and witness testimony if needed.
7. Receive Benefits: If your claim is accepted, you may receive compensation for medical treatment, temporary or permanent disability, hearing aids, and wage loss, depending on the severity of your condition.

Workplace Hearing Loss Compensation You May Be Entitled to

If your hearing loss is determined to be work-related, you may be eligible for several types of compensation through the Illinois workers’ compensation system. The specific benefits you receive will depend on the severity of your hearing loss, how it impacts your ability to work, and the cost of your treatment.

Common types of compensation include:

• Medical Expenses – Coverage for doctor visits, audiology exams, hearing aids, medications, and other treatments related to your hearing loss.
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD) – Wage replacement if you are unable to work while recovering from your injury or undergoing treatment.
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) – Compensation for permanent hearing loss, calculated based on the percentage of hearing lost and its impact on your ability to work.
• Vocational Rehabilitation – If your hearing loss prevents you from returning to your previous job, you may be eligible for job retraining or placement assistance.
• Hearing Aid and Assistive Device Costs – Ongoing compensation for hearing aids or assistive devices required as a result of the work-related injury.

What Is the Average Workers’ Comp Settlement for Hearing Loss?

The average workers’ compensation settlement for hearing loss can vary widely based on the extent of the damage, whether one or both ears are affected, and how the condition impacts your ability to work. In Illinois, hearing loss settlements can range from tens of thousands to over $100,000.

For partial hearing loss in one ear, compensation may be lower, particularly if it doesn't interfere significantly with your job duties. On the other hand, permanent and total hearing loss—especially in both ears—can result in much higher payouts due to the long-term impact on your quality of life and earning potential.

Dependable & Knowledgeable Hearing Loss Injury Workers’ Comp Attorneys

Whether you sustain OHL either immediately because of an incident in the workplace or over a period of time because of hazardous noise levels or ototoxic chemical exposure, you may have some concerns, including:

• When you will be able to return to work
• How you will be able to support yourself and your family without steady income while out of work
• The amount of compensation you are eligible to recover for your injury via a workers’ comp claim
• When you’ll be able to cover your medical expenses

At Vasilatos Injury Law, we’ll work with you to successfully file your workers’ comp claim, and our team of reliable attorneys will be able to provide some of the best representation for you in any negotiations taking place out of court. We can also represent you in court, if needed. Our attorneys understand how important it is for our clients to be able to restore their lives to the way they were before the injury, and will work with you to get the most favorable settlement.

We can help you determine how your hearing loss has affected your well-being, including the ability to work and your overall financial situation, and we’ll help you recover the damages. We’ll work with you to reach a settlement that helps cover all medical bills along with any lost income accumulating from time taken off from work for treatment.

Our team has worked with many clients who have sustained hearing loss along with many other types of injuries in the workplace or anywhere else on the job. We understand how detrimental these injuries can be to your life and wellbeing, which is why we do everything we can to help restore our clients’ lives to the way they were before the injury occurred.

How an Attorney Can Help with Your Workers’ Compensation Hearing Loss Settlement

Navigating a workers’ compensation claim for hearing loss can be challenging—especially when your injury develops over time or your employer disputes its connection to your job. 

Here’s how an attorney can help:

• Prove Work-Related Injury – Gather medical records, audiograms, and expert opinions to show your hearing loss is connected to your job duties or environment.
• Ensure Timely Filing – Help you meet all deadlines for reporting your injury and submitting formal claims to avoid denial.
• Calculate Full Compensation – Accurately assess the value of your claim, including medical costs, lost wages, permanent impairment, and future care needs.
• Handle Denials and Disputes – Represent you in appeals or hearings before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission if your claim is challenged.
• Negotiate a Fair Settlement – Advocate on your behalf to ensure you receive the maximum benefits you’re entitled to under Illinois law.
• Reduce Stress and Confusion – Manage the legal process so you can focus on recovery, not paperwork or insurance company pushback.