Previous binaural hearing loss

Previous binaural hearing loss

The assessor is asked to enter the previous percentage of binaural hearing loss (ie. the hearing loss at the time of the earlier assessment) as shown in the medical reports on file.  This value is often described as PLH (percentage loss of hearing) on the file.

The Permanent Impairment Calculator converts the binaural hearing loss to a WPI for assessment purposes.  Essentially the WPI is 50% of the binaural hearing loss.

Note that, as a matter of policy, a hearing loss WPI of 9.5% or greater (a binaural hearing loss of 19 or more) will be accepted as meeting the 10% minimum impairment requirement in s 24(7) (which applies to SRC Act cases where the date of injury was before 1 October 2001).

Where the date of injury was on or after 1 October 2001, or exposure to noise continued after that date, the threshold for entitlement is 2.5% WPI.