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annoying, it is not considered hazardous to hearing. The noise level is similar to a typical
office environment or that of average conversation and would not be unique to that
particular work environment. In other words, it is likely that acoustic events at work and
outside of work could potentially trigger the worker’s migraines.

Based on the evidence on file, the main driving factors of the worker’s complaints are likely
his pre-existing and non-occupational conditions of migraines and noise sensitivity, rather
than the incident itself.

References:

1.

10.

11.

Alberti, P. (1998). Traumatic sensorineural hearing loss. In H. Ludman & T. Wright (Eds.), Diseases of the
Ear. (pp. 483-494). New York: Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1963)

Axelsson, A., & Hamernik, R. P. (1987). Acute acoustic trauma. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh), 104: 225-233.
Dobie, R. A. (1995). Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss. Archives of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck
Surgery, 124, 385-391.

Kirchner, D., Evenson, E., Dobie, R., Rabinowitz, P., Crawford, J., Kopke, R., & Hudson, T. (2012).
Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. ACOEM Task Force on Occupational Hearing Loss. Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 54, 106-108.

McFerran, D., Baguley, D. (2007). Acoustic shock. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, (121) p. 301-305.
Melnick, W. (1998). Hearing loss from noise exposure. In C. Harris, (Ed.), Handbook of Acoustical
Measurements and Noise Control. (pp.18.1-18.19). Woodbury NY: Acoustical Society of America (Original
work published 1957).

Milhinch, J. (2002). Acoustic shock injury: real or imaginary? Retrieved August 6, 2002 from www.audiology
online.com

Parker, W., Parker, V., Parker, G. & Parker, A. (2014) ‘Acoustic shock’: A new occupational disease?
Observations from clinical and medico-legal practice. /nternational Journal of Audiology, 53: 764-769.

Price, G. (1986). Impulse Noise Hazard as a Function of Level and Spectral Distribution. Life Sciences,
Series: A NATO Advanced Studies Institute Series, 111, 20-30.

Stewart, M., Pankiw, R., Lehman, M., & Simpson, T. (2002). Hearing Loss and Hearing Handicap in Users of
Recreational Firearms. Journal American Academy of Audiology, 13, 160-168.

Westcott (2006). Acoustic shock injury (ASI). Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 126, 54-58.

March 5, 2026 ER report from Royal Columbian Hospital: The worker was seen
again at the emergency department for ear pain. He believed the noise exposure
caused him to lose his hearing and that this “impacts his vagal nerve and causes
him to have seizures.” The physician reviewed footage of the worker sleeping
that he provided and did not see any evidence of tonic clonic movements. The
physician noted that the worker seemed quite fixated on his health. Further, the