How Much Is a Hearing Loss Claim Worth in Illinois? How Comp Values One Ear vs Both
How much is a hearing loss claim worth in Illinois? Under the state’s scheduled injury formula, hearing loss in one ear can pay up to 54 weeks of benefits, while total loss in both ears can pay up to 215 weeks. Your actual award depends on your wage, your percentage of hearing loss, and how the loss occurred.
What Determines How Much a Hearing Loss Claim Is Worth in Illinois?
Several factors can affect your award, including your average weekly wage, the extent of hearing loss, whether one or both ears are affected, and other factors considered under Illinois law. Hearing loss is generally treated as a scheduled injury with assigned compensation weeks.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act sets this schedule under Section 8(e). Your benefit rate is generally 60% of your average weekly wage, multiplied by the applicable number of weeks based on your percentage of hearing loss. A worker with a higher wage and a more severe hearing loss will recover more than someone with a partial loss on a lower wage.
How Does Illinois Value Hearing Loss in One Ear?
Total, permanent hearing loss in one ear carries a scheduled maximum of 54 weeks of compensation under 820 ILCS 305/8(e)(14). If your loss is partial rather than total, you receive a proportional share of those 54 weeks based on your audiometric results.
For example, a worker who loses 50 percent of hearing in one ear would generally receive benefits based on roughly half of the 54-week schedule, calculated at 60% of their applicable average weekly wage.
How Does Illinois Value Hearing Loss in Both Ears?
Total, permanent loss of hearing in both ears carries a scheduled maximum of 215 weeks of compensation, roughly four times the one ear amount. This reflects how much more the injury limits a worker’s ability to communicate, work safely around machinery, and function day to day.
As with one ear claims, a partial loss in both ears results in a proportional award rather than the full 215 weeks. The bigger scheduled amount also means bilateral hearing loss claims tend to involve closer scrutiny from insurance adjusters, since more money is at stake.
One Ear vs Both Ears: How the Numbers Compare
| Factor | One Ear | Both Ears |
| Scheduled maximum (820 ILCS 305/8(e)(14)) | 54 weeks | 215 weeks |
| Partial loss | Prorated share of 54 weeks | Prorated share of 215 weeks |
| Benefit rate | 60% of average weekly wage | 60% of average weekly wage |
| Common causes | Sudden trauma, blast injury, single-side noise exposure | Prolonged noise exposure without hearing protection |
What Is the Difference Between a Workers’ Comp Claim and an Occupational Disease Claim for Hearing Loss?
Sudden hearing loss from a single event, like an explosion or a fall, generally falls under the Workers’ Compensation Act and its 54-week or 215-week schedule. Gradual hearing loss from years of noise exposure may instead fall under the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act, 820 ILCS 310/7, which sets a separate 100-week maximum for total loss of hearing in one ear.
Which statute applies can change the value of your claim significantly. An attorney familiar with both schedules can help determine which framework fits your work history and exposure pattern before you file.
What Medical Evidence Do You Need to Prove a Hearing Loss Claim?
You need audiometric testing that measures your hearing loss at the frequencies Illinois law recognizes for compensation, which are 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 cycles per second. A baseline test, if one exists from a pre-employment screening, helps establish how much loss occurred on the job versus before you started.
Your claim documentation should also include a written injury report, treatment records, and a diagnosis from a licensed audiologist or physician. Insurers frequently challenge the percentage of loss, so thorough testing matters as much as timely reporting.
Can You Get More Than the Scheduled Amount for Hearing Loss?
Yes, in specific situations. If a third party, such as an equipment manufacturer or property owner, contributed to your injury through negligence, you may be able to pursue a separate lawsuit alongside your workers’ compensation benefits.
Related costs like hearing aids, ongoing medical treatment, and vocational retraining if your job requires clear hearing are typically paid in addition to the scheduled award, not instead of it. These additional benefits are often where the real difference in total claim value shows up.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Hearing Loss Settlement in Illinois?
Timing depends on how quickly you complete audiometric testing, whether liability is disputed, and how your permanent partial disability rating is calculated. Straightforward claims with clear test results can resolve faster than cases involving disputed causation or a mix of on-the-job and prior hearing loss.
Promptly reporting the condition and completing appropriate testing can help document your claim and avoid unnecessary delays.
Get Help Valuing Your Illinois Hearing Loss Claim
Knowing how much a hearing loss claim is worth in Illinois starts with understanding which schedule applies to your situation and how your wage and percentage of loss factor into the formula. Because the difference between a one ear and a two ear claim can mean hundreds of weeks of benefits, getting your percentage of loss documented correctly matters. Contact our Illinois work injury attorneys for a free case review of your hearing loss claim.
FAQs
A total hearing loss in one ear can pay up to 54 weeks of benefits at 60% of your average weekly wage. Partial loss pays a proportional share based on the applicable hearing-loss evaluation.
Total loss in both ears can pay up to 215 weeks of benefits at 60% of your average weekly wage. This is roughly four times the one ear scheduled amount.
Yes, tinnitus caused by workplace noise or head injury can qualify for benefits. You will need medical documentation linking the ringing or buzzing to a work-related cause.
Yes, permanent partial disability benefits do not require you to stop working. You can continue your job while receiving scheduled compensation for your hearing loss rating.
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but insurers often dispute hearing loss percentages. An attorney can help gather medical evidence and negotiate a fair scheduled award.
Legally Reviewed By
Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld
Content legally reviewed by Jonathan Rosenfeld The information on this page has been legally reviewed by Attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, founder and managing partner of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC. With extensive experience representing injured workers across Illinois, Mr. Rosenfeld is dedicated to helping workplace accident victims pursue the maximum compensation available under the law. His extensive legal knowledge and commitment to client advocacy ensure that the information provided is accurate, reliable, and aligned with current legal standards.