Making a hearing loss claim

If you think you may have work-related hearing loss, you should see an audiologist. Audiologists or hearing instrument specialists can perform tests to check your hearing. Talk to your doctor about your hearing or visit an audiologist.

If you have had a hearing test and/or have been diagnosed with hearing loss that may have been caused by working in one or more noisy Ontario workplaces, you should report it to us by submitting a claim for work related, noise-induced hearing loss online.

The easiest way to make a claim is to use our online services. If you need help to make your claim you could also ask your union representative or a family member. Or you can contact us. Your employer, doctor or health care provider can also get your claim started, but you will still need to fill out your own form.

To make a claim for work-related hearing loss, start with our online services.

If your employer submits the claim on your behalf, they can download and complete the necessary forms for your type of hearing loss.

You can contact us for help.

Noise-induced hearing loss is gradual and develops slowly over time due to prolonged exposure to consistent excessive level noise.  

Traumatic hearing loss happens suddenly from a traumatic event, like an explosion, sudden noise blast, physical injury or direct head trauma, or chemical exposure at work. 

We’ll review the information you provided and contact you for any additional information we may need to make a decision about your claim.

The information we receive from you, your employer(s) and your health care provider will be considered, and we’ll make a decision for your entitlement to WSIB benefits. You can use our online services to view important claim updates and send us messages.

We will work with you, your employer and your health care provider to collect any information we need to make a decision on your claim. It’s helpful if you can: 

• Describe your symptoms and when you first became aware of your hearing problems  
• Provide the names and addresses of all doctors, audiologists and hearing clinic(s) you have seen for your hearing loss, and the dates of all visits

For noise-induced hearing loss claims: 

We need you to provide us with information about noise exposure in your workplace(s) and your medical diagnosis of hearing loss. We require the earliest hearing assessment with the clinic's contact information.

You will need to provide detailed information about your previous jobs and employers, including dates of employment, how long you worked at the job and the types of tasks you did on the job. We may also ask you for the one or more of the following documents confirming your past employment, especially if your employer is no longer in business:  

• T4 slip(s), tax return(s), pay stub(s), pension statement, record of employment (ROE) 
• Union records 
• Awards 
• Letters of service or recognition with an employer letterhead

For traumatic hearing loss claims:

• We need you to provide:
• An assessment of your hearing impairment 
• Work accident history 
• Medical reports and documentation

With this information, we will then complete our review and decide if your claim is approved.

It’s important we have the earliest audiogram that is closest to your working years for noise-induced hearing loss or your injury incident for traumatic hearing loss.

If pre-injury hearing tests are not available, and you are over 60 years of age, we apply a factor for age-related hearing loss by:

• determining the average decibel (dB) hearing loss at four frequencies (500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz), and
• subtracting one-half (0.5) dB from the post-injury permanent hearing loss for every year your age is more than 60

We understand that talking on the phone may not be the best option for you. We offer alternatives to make communicating easier. You can:

• use our online services to view important claim updates, send us messages and submit documents/forms
• a family member or a friend can assist you with communicating over the telephone (you must be present to grant permission for your family member or friend)
• send us information in writing by mail or fax

Provide as much information as you have available and if you are unable to find all the information we ask for, we can give you advice about how to find it. Decision-makers on claims try to make the best decisions with the information we have on the claim.

If you are making your own claim, our online services provide information on what documents you need.

Once you submit your claim, you can send additional information and documents by logging into your online services account with us. If you don’t have an account with us, sign up to get started.

Yes, after you submit your claim and we register it, you will have access to your claim number and personal identification number. You can create an account and add your claim number to see updates.

You can also send messages to us if you have questions.

You can log in to your online services account to submit documents.

Hearing loss happens gradually over time, we need to gather your employment history and medical documentation. We’ll contact you when your claim is registered to get more information if needed, provide next steps and give you an approximate time to decision.

If we make a decision that you do not agree with, the first step would be to discuss the decision with the Noise-induced Hearing Loss adjudicator who made the decision. You can also learn more about our appeals process.

We want you to get quality health care services and the right devices for your hearing loss to help improve your quality of life. For allowed hearing loss claims, your benefits may include:

• Health care devices and services, including hearing aids every five years, repairs, ongoing maintenance, batteries and hearing assistive technologies
• Loss-of-earnings benefits, and/or help getting back to work
• Non-economic loss or permanent disability benefits

See our policy on hearing devices for more information.

We generally consider one request to replace a lost, stolen or damaged hearing aid beyond repair every five-year cycle. We make the decision after reviewing the unique facts and circumstances of each request.

You must complete and submit a declaration of lost, stolen or damaged hearing device. Please provide details on the lost device, or the circumstances of how they are damaged beyond repair

Your hearing provider must complete and submit a hearing aid replacement and/or clinical exception request form. You will need to review and sign this form.

See the replacement of hearing aid(s) guidelines for more details.

You will need to visit the hearing aid clinic at least four times while they are fitting your hearing aid. This will include fitting, checkup and adjustments, as needed.  

You will try out your new hearing aids for 30 to 90 days. If you find they do not meet your needs, please return them to your hearing aid clinic and discuss your options.

If you have any concerns about your hearing aids at any time, call your clinic to discuss. 

Hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases, and one of the most preventable. Learn more about noise hazards in the workplace and find health and safety resources for Ontario workplaces.

There are organizations that provide hearing loss information, programs, services and resources:

• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
• Canadian Hearing Society
• Hearing Loss Association of North America
• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care