Hearing Loss Workers Comp Settlement in Illinois
A total loss (or 100% loss of use) of the hearing loss in Illinois pays 54 weeks of permanent partial disability at 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, capped at $1,976.97 per week. That works out to a statutory ceiling of $106,756 for a worker at or above the state cap. Real settlements scale this number down by the doctor's impairment rating at maximum medical improvement.
Illinois hearing loss settlement at a glance
- Weeks for total loss
- 54
- State maximum weekly
- $1,976.97
- Max PPD payout at cap
- $106,756
- Compensation rate
- 66⅔% of your average weekly wage
Sourced from Illinois's statutory schedule of injuries and the Illinois workers comp board's current rate notice. Statute citation: 820 ILCS 305/8(e).
How a Illinois hearing loss settlement is calculated
Illinois is a scheduled-loss state. The state legislature assigned 54 weeks of compensation to the "hearing loss (one ear)" category in the schedule , under 820 ILCS 305/8(e). You collect 66⅔% of your average weekly wage for that number of weeks, capped at $1,976.97 per week. A partial loss of use scales the number of weeks down by the doctor's impairment rating. A 25% rating pays 14 weeks instead of 54.
The five steps that produce your number:
- Take your average weekly wage in the 52 weeks before the injury.
- Multiply by two-thirds. That is your weekly comp check before caps.
- Apply the Illinois cap of $1,976.97 and floor of $741.48.
- Multiply the capped weekly check by 54 weeks for a total-loss payout.
- Scale by the doctor's impairment rating (a percent) to get the real PPD value of your claim.
Worked payout examples
These rows assume a total loss (100% impairment) of the hearing loss for clarity. For a partial loss, multiply the final column by the rating percentage your doctor assigned. A 50% rating pays half. A 25% rating pays a quarter.
| Pre-injury AWW | Weekly comp check | Weeks paid | Total PPD at 100% rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600 Lower wage worker | $741.48 | 54 | $40,040 |
| $1,000 Median worker | $741.48 | 54 | $40,040 |
| $2,000 Higher wage worker | $1,333.33 | 54 | $72,000 |
Hearing Loss medical context and impairment ratings
Occupational hearing loss is one of the most under-claimed injuries in US workers comp. OSHA requires hearing conservation programs in workplaces with noise above 85 dBA, but workers who developed hearing loss over decades often never file because the loss is gradual. Most states use audiogram-confirmed percentage loss in each ear, scaled against the schedule for total hearing loss in that ear.
Common variants and terms searchers use for a hearing loss claim: occupational hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, NIHL, tinnitus, audiogram, audiometric testing.
Typical whole-person impairment ratings
The doctor's impairment rating at MMI is the lever the PPD payout turns on. Below are the rating ranges most frequently assigned for hearing loss injuries under the AMA Guides. Your actual rating depends on the specific anatomy, the surgical outcome, and how the rating physician applies the Guides.
| Scenario | Typical whole-person rating |
|---|---|
| Mild hearing loss, one ear | Schedule-driven; varies by state |
| Moderate to severe hearing loss, one ear | Higher percentage of one-ear scheduled weeks |
| Bilateral severe hearing loss | Often paid as full schedule of both ears |
| Tinnitus rating add-on | Usually 0 to 5% whole-person added to hearing loss |
Ratings here are typical ranges based on the AMA Guides editions adopted by most states. Your state may use a different edition; check the Illinois statute citation in the rate card above.
Recovery timeline to MMI
Hearing loss does not recover. The audiogram at MMI is the permanent record, and the percentage of hearing loss in each ear sets the impairment rating directly. Tinnitus is rated separately as a small add-on in most states.
Surgery and the Illinois hearing loss settlement value
Surgery is the single biggest lever on a hearing loss workers comp settlement value. Surgery usually raises the permanent impairment rating compared to the same injury treated conservatively, and the PPD value scales with the rating. Surgery also extends the time you spend in temporary disability, which delays the settlement conversation but does not reduce its eventual value.
| Procedure | What it does and what to expect |
|---|---|
| Cochlear implant | Rare in workers comp. Used for severe-to-profound hearing loss when hearing aids no longer help. |
| Tympanoplasty | Repair of the eardrum, usually for blast or barotrauma injuries. |
For more on whether to have surgery and how it affects the settlement value, see the surgery and settlement value guide.
Common questions about hearing loss settlements in Illinois
- Can I get workers comp for hearing loss?
- Yes, if the hearing loss is occupational (caused by workplace noise exposure or a specific work injury). You need an audiogram and a medical opinion linking the loss to the work environment. The audiogram percentage in each ear drives the schedule payout.
- Does workers comp pay for tinnitus?
- Most states pay for tinnitus as a separate small percentage of whole-person impairment, usually added to the hearing-loss rating. The exact treatment varies by state.
- How is hearing loss measured for workers comp?
- By audiogram. The audiologist plots the threshold in decibels at each frequency. The AMA Guides convert that into a percentage of binaural hearing loss, which is then converted to whole-person impairment or directly to scheduled weeks under state law.
When will Illinois offer a settlement on a hearing loss claim?
Most Illinois cases do not produce a settlement offer until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement. Before MMI, the carrier prefers to keep paying weekly temporary disability and medical bills because the case is still worth an unknown amount. Once MMI lands and the impairment rating is set, the case becomes a math problem the carrier can price. That is when hearing loss settlement talks usually start.
Surgery is the other common trigger. If a doctor recommends surgery for the hearing loss injury and the worker is still deciding, the rating is in flux and the carrier waits. After surgery and recovery to MMI, the rating stabilizes and the settlement conversation opens. The MMI guide walks through what changes the day MMI is declared.
Tax and timing of payment
Workers compensation paid under a state workers compensation act is excluded from federal gross income under IRS Publication 525 and Internal Revenue Code § 104(a)(1). That covers your weekly checks and any lump-sum settlement that takes their place. Illinois does not separately tax the same income.
The check usually arrives two to four weeks after a judge signs the settlement. Structured settlements and Medicare Set-Aside arrangements add time. See the payment timing guide for the full breakdown.
What this number does not include
The figures above value the permanent partial disability portion of the claim. Illinois workers comp pays several other components separately:
- Medical care, past and future. The carrier pays for authorized treatment of the hearing loss injury. A settlement may close future medical for a separate lump sum.
- Temporary disability already paid. Weekly TTD and TPD checks during recovery are a separate bucket.
- Mileage to medical appointments. Illinois reimburses travel at the per-mile rate set by the state.
- Vocational rehabilitation. If the hearing loss injury keeps you from returning to your prior job, the carrier may have to pay for retraining.
- Permanent total disability. A separate award entirely, paid if you cannot return to any reasonable work.