OBJECTIVE To calculate héaring handicap in textile mill employees with noise induced hearing loss. METHODS Cross-sectional study. METHODS Model Mills, Nagpur and Govt. Medical College, Nagpur. METHODS 77 employees with noise induced hearing loss. METHODS Noise levels (by sound level meter), Noise Induced Hearing Loss (by audiometry), Hearing handicap (AAOO guidelines). METHODS Chi square test, Odds ratios, ANOVA. RESULTS NIHL was significantly higher (76.6%) in employees exposed to >85 dB(A) than to 70-85 dB(A) (35.2%) and to <70 dB(A) (10.7%) (x(2)=60.6, df=2, p<0.001). Hearing handicap in employees with NIHL increased in severity as the noise level increased. Average hearing handicap was significantly higher (12.5%) in >85 dB(A) exposure group than 70-85 dB(A) (7.9%) and <70 dB(A) (4.9%) exposure groups (F=5.17, p <0.05). The risk of having hearing handicap >10% was 5.2 times higher in > 85 dB(A) exposure group than in <85 dB(A) exposure group (OR = 5.22, 95% C.I. 1.76-15.44). CONCLUSIONS One third of textile mill employees had hearing handicap. Noise levels >85 dB(A) are associated with high proportion as well as greater severity of hearing handicap.