A Levin man is battling a severe hearing disorder after a visit to a chiropractor and now has another fight on his hands, this time with ACC.

David Smith, 53, says he's getting no help from the government corporationfor his tinnitus because the chiropractor's initial claim should never have been accepted.

Mr Smith wants his claim reconsidered after more than four years of "psychological torture" so he can get the expensive audiological equipment he needs to be able to continue his work, making trailers for mobility scooters.

Tinnitus is a ringing in a person's ear as a result of injury or hearing damage. Mr Smith visited his chiropractor for a minor shoulder injury on October 4, 2006. He said he left with a pain in his neck, and less than 20 minutes later an "intense whining noise" developed in his ears. Mr Smith said he went back to the chiropractor but the problem was made worse.

A copy of the chiropractor's ACC claim, obtained by the Manawatu Standard, says he diagnosed Mr Smith with tinnitus before his session, and manipulation of his neck and shoulders only "exacerbated" it.