Loud Jobs Take Toll on Man's Hearing

BRISTOL, Wis. -- Working in construction since the age of 14, Tim Paramski has been constantly exposed to the high decibel levels of revving trucks, roaring lawn mowers and rumbling tractors. Now, at 45, Paramski's hearing isn't as good as it once was.

"There's a lot of times when you're younger you do stuff you don't realize is going to affect you," said the Antioch resident.

Paramski performs various maintenance jobs from fixing pipes to cutting grass at Rainbow Lake Manor in Bristol, Wis., a trailer home community owned by his father and brother. Paramski said he's exposed to loud noises for about 30 hours a week, and his bad hearing has gotten to the point where it's affecting his life.

When watching television, for example, he must raise the volume to levels that are uncomfortable for his three children. He has the phone in the kitchen set to ring at a piercingly loud volume, and he has difficulty maintaining conversations in noisy environments.

Paramski said hearing problems occur in those who have worked in construction as long as he has because of lax regulations on safety equipment on the job site.

"I think construction companies have gotten better with safety precautions," he said. "Years back, hearing protection wasn't required. At one time when I was younger, it was available, but it wasn't pushed."

Nowadays, he said, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration requires workers to wear noise-reducing earmuffs when operating loud machinery, and manufacturers of construction equipment have begun to sell their equipment with earmuffs.

Despite his hearing difficulties, though, Paramski has never seen a doctor for his condition "Now, it's beyond the point where I can help it," he said. "My hearing is so bad now, what difference does it make?"

However, while he might be reluctant to seek treatment, Paramski said he now always remembers to wear earmuffs on the job.