From hairdressers to binmen and cleaners to paramedics – the 13 jobs most likely to leave you deaf.. are you at risk?

THE 13 jobs most likely to leave you deaf have been revealed – and some involve working for the NHS.

New research has uncovered the noisiest jobs which put workers’ ear health at risk.

Unsurprisingly, the jobs that came out on top include positions in the emergency services.  This is due to the loud sirens often used.

When it comes to noise levels, consistently being exposed to anything measuring more than 70 dB (decibels) can start to cause damage to hearing after two hours of constant noise.

And listening to any sound measuring more than 120 dB can cause immediate hearing issues.

To put that into content, the average conversation is around 60 dB.

Experts at Boots Hearingcare who carried out the data analysis, found emergency service vehicle sirens measured at 114 dB when tested.

Emergency workers exposed to this for long periods of time are most at risk of damaged hearing, compared to those in other jobs.

Police officer, nightclub staff and a tree surgeon came second, third and fourth respectively, when it comes to the noisiest professions.

The data provided by the University of Michigan, US, suggested a ambulance worker, farmer, electrician, iron worker, welder, gardener and bin man or woman come follow next on the list.

Nick Higginson, CEO of Phoenix Health and Safety, said: “A construction site is a very loud workplace, with all manner of noises caused by machinery, movement of materials and communication between workers.”

More surprisingly, cleaners and hairdressers were also considered to be professions that could be bad for your hearing, coming twelfth and thirteenth on the dangerous job list.

Nick added: “Whilst you wouldn’t typically see an immediate negative impact to your hearing from running a vacuum cleaner or hairdryer on, over long periods of time this can take it’s toll and increase the risk the likelihood of ear damage such as tinnitus, so it’s important to be careful when working in these jobs.”

Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, rather than from an outside source.

If you work in one of the industries listed, fear not, there are ways you can protect yourself from hearing loss.

Feraz Ashraf, an audiologist at Boots Hearingcare, said: “If you’re consistently working in a loud environment and you’re worried about the impact it’s having on your ear health, speak to your employer about protective equipment.

“Whilst many of the perhaps more obvious industries such as construction provide hearing protection tools like ear defenders or ear plugs for their workers, some of the lesser known jobs on the list may not provide this without being asked. 

“As an employer, they have a duty of care to ensure that your well being needs are met in the workplace, so they should take your request seriously.”

Worried about your hearing?

If you’re concerned about hearing loss, one of the best things to do is book a hearing test to see what condition your ears are in.

According to the WHO, 1.5 billion people globally are currently experiencing some form of hearing loss. 

“A test will be able to pick up whether there’s cause for concern, and experts can provide you with all the information and tools to help prevent any further damage and support with safe guarding,” Feraz explained.