What is Audiometry
What is Audiometry
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What is work place audiometry?
What is work place audiometry?
Audiometry is carried out, at work, to help employers fulfil their statutory obligations under Health and Safety legislation.
Audiometry is a method of hearing check which measures the sensitivity of hearing over a range of sound frequencies; it is intended for individuals who are exposed to or may be exposed to, loud noise at work and at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. This hearing check is performed using an audiometer in the workplace or in a sound-insulated area of a vehicle. The test should only take 20mins, the technician will also examine your ear, using an otoscope, to ensure that a hearing check is appropriate for you at that time. Some health conditions may mean that having a hearing check is not advised e.g. ruptured eardrum, acute or chronic ear infection that is being treated by your GP.
An Otoscope is a small light to assist the advisor to see inside the ear; this examination is completely painless. Clients will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire specifically asking about their health in relation to hearing.
Each appointment is completed with the latest laptop-controlled audiometers, and headphones to give the maximum sound reduction.
Stage 1: Audiometric Health Assessment
Before the hearing test can begin the employee needs to answer some hearing-health questions which aim to identify any factors which may have an impact on the audiometry results.
You will read through the client's questionnaire and highlight any areas of concern and discuss these with the client.
Stage 2: Otoscopic Examination of the Ear
The examination of the ear is an important part of the audiometry and provides some basic information on the health of the ear before the test can begin. XL Health staff will check the ear canal using an otoscope and individual disposable speculums.
You will identify any areas of concern, any scaring, inflammation or build-up of ear wax.
Stage 3: Audiometric Health Surveillance
The hearing test is the main component of the audiometry process. This consists of the employee wearing a set of headphones and a series of sounds being played to them. The sounds vary in pitch and volume and aim to determine what level of hearing the employee has.
The Audiometer will record and log all of the screening onto a file inside the laptop.
Stage 4: Review of Audiometric Results
Results are examined and categorised according to the scheme in the noise at work regulations.
The audiometry results are then discussed with the employee. This is important as it ensures they understand the results and the real-life meaning for them. Often this is the most valuable part of the audiometry programme and can greatly improve compliance with the requirements to wear hearing protection whilst working on the job.
Where audiometry has been undertaken previously the most recent results are compared against the previous figures to determine if any changes have occurred during the intervening time, which can be used to determine rapid hearing loss.
The categories are 1,2,3 and 4
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