Washington Hearing Loss Attorney - Helping Clients Who Suffer from Deafness due to Negligence

When someone is injured at because of someone else's actions, it generally gives rise to a legal claim for damages in civil court in Washington. The measure for these damages often depends on the extent of the injuries suffered. If the injured party loses the sense of hearing, that injury is permanent and certainly traumatic.

Below is information regarding the issue of deafness, and you'll find details that discuss the common causes of deafness, the types of deafness, the general needs of someone who has lost the sense of hearing and how to proceed if your deafness is the result of someone else's negligence, recklessness or intentional act.

Common Causes of Deafness

Below are some of the more common causes of deafness, and while some are not caused by others' negligence or wrongful acts, others clearly are:
  • Heredity
  • Ear infections
  • Otosclerosis
  • Meningitis
  • Punctures of the eardrum
  • Auto accidents
  • Explosions
  • Sports injuries
  • Battery
  • Damage to the auditory nerve
  • Repeated loud noises
Of those listed above, all but heredity and otosclerosis could give rise to valid legal claims in Washington depending on the facts that surround the injury.

Types of Deafness

Deafness is more complicated than simply losing the ability to hear. Below are different types of deafness suffered by many across Washington:
  • Conductive hearing loss - Conductive hearing loss describes the condition whereby vibrations and sound waves do not transfer from the atmosphere near a person to the inner structure of the ear properly. The reasons for this lack of proper transfer are many, including fluid buildup, disease, structural damage and broken bones. Not all conductive hearing loss is permanent, but the majority of the cases do last for the rest of the person's life.

  • Neural hearing loss - Neural hearing loss is defined as the condition whereby the auditory nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain, does not properly carry the sound data to the central nervous system. This is sometimes referred to as perceptive deafness.
While not all deafness constitutes total hearing loss, every form of deafness presents significant difficulties. For instance, it can be just as dangerous for a person to not properly process sounds that he or she hears as it is to not hear those sounds at all. Additionally, not all deafness is permanent in nature, but in most cases, the duration of temporary deafness cannot be measured ahead of time.

Common Needs of the Deaf

If someone's hearing is impaired, particularly if it's the result of a sudden injury or disease, the adjustment can be terribly difficult. Below are just a few examples of the types of needs that a deaf person can encounter.
  • Hearing aids - If someone is not totally deaf, he or she may need to purchase and learn how to use intricate hearing aids. The technology behind these devices has advanced at a remarkable rate in recent years, but top-level hearing aids can also cost thousands of dollars and they may need to be replaced from time to time.

  • Occupational therapy - If someone cannot hear, that person will also need to learn new skills. These include sign language and the ability to read lips if he or she is attempting to communicate with someone who does not understand how to sign. This can also be a difficult and lengthy process.

  • Surgery - The medical science industry has made tremendous gains in the realm of surgery that deals with hearing loss, but many of these techniques remain new and relatively untested. This means that many insurance policies will not cover several of these procedures.

Seattle Washington Hearing Loss Attorney

If you or someone you love has suffered a hearing loss in any degree because of someone else's actions, you need immediate legal help. Hearing loss can occur because of blunt force trauma, auto accidents, workplace trauma and mistakes in the administering of medical care, among many other causes. Regardless, most hearing loss is permanent in nature, which means that you'll face substantial costs along with your obvious struggle to adjust to your new lifestyle. Contact the personal injury attorneys at the Washington law firm of Phillips Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.
 



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