Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Claims: Interpreting Audiograms, Distinguishing Presbycusis, and Applying Noise Exposure Metrics to Causation, Breach and Quantum

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Practice notes

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This Practice Note is currently undergoing routine quality control to uphold accuracy and reliability. An audiogram is a chart displaying the sounds an individual can hear and, in noise‑induced hearing loss (NIHL) claims, it is used to assess a claimant’s hearing capability. It is a key diagnostic tool for identifying hearing loss. Practitioners should also review the claimant’s medical and employment records to consider whether alternative causes, such as medication, hobbies or medical conditions, might account for any loss.

Basic pointers on audiograms

Competence in reading and interpreting audiograms is vital for both claimant and defendant practitioners in NIHL cases. Where an audiogram does not indicate NIHL, the claimant’s solicitor should make clear that no claim can be pursued. The claimant will usually have had an audiogram conducted by their GP, their employer, or both. An audiogram typically comprises one or two sheets in graph form, produced by an expert who plots hearing ability at various frequencies...

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Mussadak Mirza

Barrister, 3 Hare Court

Mussadak is a senior London-based barrister, with over 20 years’ experience in litigation and advisory work across the UK and the Gulf. His domestic practice focuses on industrial disease litigation, with particular expertise in noise-induced hearing loss claims arising from the coal mining, steel, rail, shipbuilding and construction sectors. He is nationally recognised for his work in military claims, having acted for hundreds of former and serving personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. In addition to his domestic practice, Mussadak has a growing international arbitration and offshore practice in Gulf jurisdictions. He is increasingly involved in matters governed by English law with an international element, and advises on merits, strategy, and dispute resolution. He is a visiting lecturer at Bait Al Qanoon (BQ) in Oman, and visits the Sultanate regularly to deliver knowledge transfer, professional development, and...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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