Hi. I know better than to ask medical questions, so I guess I’m just sharing. I have a list of Drs in front of me & I’m going to leave a message on the machine of one as soon as I’m done. But yes, for the past 2-3 weeks, I’ve had almost constant ringing in my ears. To me, it sounds a lot like the whine of a jet engine you might hear while on a flight somewhere.
The Internet says its possibly stress but there are other things. Where I work, I’m forced to wear a headset and every call must be recorded. I’ve been told that I ‘speak too softly’ and it seems like the inbound calls are now blaring in my ears. I’ve turned down every possible volume control that it is possible for me to turn down, but the sounds blast through like the loudest setting on an Ipod. I sent an email to my Direct Report Supervisor 3 weeks ago saying that the call volume was making my ears ring & asking for it to be adjusted; I even sent a bcc home. But nothing has changed.
First, I’m scared, because they have not given any benefits in the 20+ months I’ve been there. If I have to take time off from work, I’m screwed with the job. Second, what if I’m now temporarily or even permanently disabled? Then I can’t do Any job in this field, or a Lot of others, and I’d be really screwed. Lastly, what if it is how they rigged the equipment, to get everything loud enough to record properly, that has hurt or disabled me? Because that would mean they damaged my ears just to satisfy some stupid reporting requirement. These are all questions which are buzzing through my mind at the moment (Ah, it is to laugh… ) and its messing with me. I mean, depending on what the Dr says, I might need a lawyer, right? I know that there are a lot of people who read this with Call Center experiance, so maybe someone else has some insight on this?
No call centre experience here, but hearing loss experience. Short term solution - earplugs under the earpieces of the headset. Long term solution - you need to be able to control your own volume.
I know nothing about your jurisdiction, so I can only tell you what might go on here in Ontario. If you saw an audiologist who examined you for hearing loss, and that audiologist expressed the opinion that you were suffering tinnitus or other hearing damage because of your work, that could be the basis of a claim under Worker’s Compensation. That’s the sort of thing that gets businesses on the hop, because the government does not like paying out money when a workplace is not up to standards. If I were you, I would investigate what similar situations or groups exist in your jurisdiction.
Bottom line - look after your hearing!
Is another job a possibility?
Count Blucher, you need a physical. I’ve had tinnitis for as long as I can remember (it’s an artifact of having tons of ear infections and treatments for them a toddler) and I wouldn’t describe the noise as being nearly as loud as you’re saying; it’s annoying but doesn’t drown other things out. You need to have your blood pressure checked at the very least given that this has come on suddenly.
Put something between your headset and your ears! Some folded cloth, some light flexible leather, some dense foam rubber, some felt. Or put earplugs in.
This will protect your hearing and probably make you speak louder too. From the point of view of the headphones and your employer, you’re modifying your own ears to make them more like they apparently expect them to be.
I just perused (in the sense of skimmed) the wikipedia article on tinnitus, and it sounds like it can be caused by everything under the sun and the same sense goes for its severity. Hie thee to a doctor! Wishing you the best of luck in what sounds like a shitty situation.
) and its messing with me. I mean, depending on what the Dr says, I might need a lawyer, right? I know that there are a lot of people who read this with Call Center experiance, so maybe someone else has some insight on this?