Prolonged exposure to noise in the workplace has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss among employees. Audiometry is a hearing test that identifies if workplace noise is affecting the hearing of employees.
Key Benefits of Audiometry
- Can be used to record the hearing ability of employees working in areas where there is the potential for noise-induced hearing loss.
- Can be used to gain a picture of new employees to understand if any previous hearing damage has occurred.
- Can help to determine early indications of noise-induced hearing loss.
- By comparing audiometric tests from previous years, early changes can be detected and appropriate protective measures can be implemented to prevent further hearing damage.
What is Audiometry?
Prolonged exposure to noise in the workplace has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss amongst employees.
Audiometry is a hearing test that is used to establish an employee’s baseline hearing ability, which can be repeated at regular intervals to identify if any changes have taken place in their hearing.
What to Expect
During the audiometric test, the employee will wear a pair of noise-cancelling earphones, through which the technician will send a series of tones, beginning with one ear and then the other. When these are heard the worker will signal this by pressing a buzzer. At each of the frequencies, the audiogram will show how loud a tone must be to be barely heard by the worker.
At the end of the test, the worker will be shown the audiogram and given guidance about its meaning, and what, if any, further steps are required.
Contact our Occupational Hygiene experts for further information.
