Birmingham Hearing Loss Expert Speaks At National Event

More than one hundred eminent surgeons were given a lesson in law recently when a Birmingham-based hearing loss specialist from Irwin Mitchell was invited to be a guest speaker at the British Society of Otology’s (BSO) annual meeting.

The prestigious event held at the Royal Society of Medicine’s headquarters in London earlier this month attracted some of the country’s most distinguished ear, nose and throat specialists who had gathered to discuss issues relating to Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

Louise Scott, an industrial hearing loss expert from the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and her colleague, David Johnston-Keay from the firm’s Sheffield office were invited to speak to delegates on the subject of Medico Legal reporting and Case Law at the ‘Noise and the Ear’ event, held in conjunction with the Technology in Medicine Section of the RSM and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Louise explained: “Irwin Mitchell’s specialist workplace illness team has a long association of supporting the excellent work of the BSO. My colleagues and I regularly attend meetings and events, both in London and Birmingham, and it was as a result of supporting these regional events that David and I were asked to share our expertise with delegates at the Society’s prestigious annual meeting, which was a huge honour.”

Louise addressed delegates on the subject of ‘Medico Legal reporting in NIHL Cases’ and gave them advice on what both solicitors and the courts require from an expert witness called to give evidence.

David was able to update the audience on ‘Important New Case Law in the Diagnosis of NIHL’. Other guest speakers at the event included the renowned audiologist, Robin Yeoh, who discussed ‘Clinical Diagnosis of NIHL’ and consultant ENT surgeon, Maurice Hawthorne, who gave an insight into ‘Courtroom Skills for the Otologist’.

Louise, who has specialised in noise induced hearing loss case work for more than ten years, also volunteers with many support groups including the Birmingham Tinnitus Group and Birmingham Institute of the Deaf and Action on Hearing Loss, formerly known as the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID).

She recently received royal recognition for her work with victims of hearing loss when she was invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the RNID’s 100th birthday as a guest of the national charity’s patron, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

If you or a loved one has suffered from hearing damage such as acoustic shock, tinnitus, and noise-induced hearing loss caused by conditions at work our solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Industrial Disease Claims page for more information.