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Identify Issues Early With a Painless Hearing Test

Audiometric Testing, Hearing Test, Noise Articles,

You possibly think you do not need to see an audiologist for a hearing test despite being advised to do so by people around you. You must understand that routine checks can help to diagnose potential problems in their early stages and give you information about the options available to you to deal with them. Hearing loss is definitely not curable, but it can certainly be managed with specific devices designed for listening and for the issues of the patient.

Hearing Test

When You Should Consider Having A Hearing Test

It will be a good idea for you to have an appointment with an audiologist if you are dealing with any of the problems mentioned below:

  • You have trouble falling the presentation of a speaker because you can’t understand what is being said.
  • You have a history of hearing loss within the family.
  • You are constantly asking people to repeat themselves.
  • You have trouble understanding people next to you in a crowded room or a restaurant.
  • Your family is complaining that you have the audio equipment in the home too loud.
  • You are having a difficulty understanding what people are saying.
  • You frequently hear ringing or buzzing in your ears.

You do not have the fear if you have scheduled an appointment with an audiologist because the examination will be simple and painless and be conducted to understand how well you are able to hear sounds and words at different levels of volume. The audiologist will only be looking forward to determining how your ears are functioning during the examination. It is quite possible that your regular doctor may consider checking your ears for wax and other physical issues if you have scheduled an appointment with him or her.

Your audiologist will also want to know about your medical history, especially if you have a history of hearing loss within your family. Information about your listening habits, working in a loud environment or whether you have been exposed to excessive noise will also be sought after. Your doctors may consider looking inside your ears to identify any physical issues, which could be affecting you. You will be advised to undergo further audio tests after you have gone through the physical examination.

There are a number of tests that can determine or assess how well you are hearing. You will be required to go through an entire list of different test before a final determination is made whether you need remedial action immediately or can wait for some time. The determination will be made after looking at the severity of your condition.

A hearing test is a simple procedure, which will help you prepare for the future in case you are afflicted by hearing loss. It is as simple as audiometric testing, which is commonly used in many workplaces. It is quite possible for you to feel that you do not need to go through this process because you would be able to manage the situation easily. However, you must understand it is somewhat distressing to deal with hearing loss because if you are required to use aids of some kind, it will be a matter which would make you feel you would have done better by consulting an audiologist earlier. Therefore, if you need the tests, you should not be looking forward to ignoring them but should rather prefer finishing the tests at the earliest.

Learn how to prevent hearing loss at work with the help of audiometric testing and how it works.

Audiometric Testing Can Prevent Hearing Loss At The Workplace

Audiometric Testing, Hearing Test

Construction sites, factories and a number of industries are exposed to high levels of noise, and their employees are required to work in conditions that are not conducive to their health. This is a matter, which has gained a lot of publicity because it has caused hearing loss to millions throughout the world. Companies generally do not believe they are required to care for the hearing of their employees and noise-induced workplace hearing loss is a matter, which the employee has to manage on his or her own. Fortunately, the authorities in America have taken a different view of this matter along with some other countries as well. They have determined that noise-induced hearing loss at the workplace is detrimental to the overall health of the employee and have therefore suggested protective measures which companies are required to implement. This has been passed as legislation and companies are now required to abide by the regulations failing which they could be penalized or even face litigation.

Audiometric Testing

Hearing loss is entirely preventable and companies are just required to implement the regulations as provided by the law. They can have audiometric testing conducted at their workplaces regularly. These are the same as a hearing test and will give the testing technician information about whether the employee has suffered from noise-induced hearing loss at the workplace. Advances in the techniques of testing have even made it possible for companies to invite testing labs over to their workplaces for the testing to be conducted. They are no longer required to send their employees out and lose valuable man-hours. They can get the results of the testing immediately with the assurance that they are reliable, and in line with the laws mentioned by the governing authorities.

Companies are required to conduct audiometric testing annually if they involved in a business which is highly noisy. They are also required to maintain records of the results and make them available for inspection if they are ever required. These steps have been taken after a number of employees reported loss of hearing because of working in their workplace. Apart from hearing loss, the medical fraternity also found other issues such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, sleep disorders and loss of attention among employees who reported these findings. It was thereafter decided that the employees need to be given protective equipment in order to safeguard their hearing and overall well-being.

Companies that decide to safeguard their employees will stand to benefit from their actions simply because they are making it possible for their employees to become more productive and deliver better results on the job. They are taking preventive actions, which are necessary for the overall health of the employee. The company is giving out a feeling that they care for the benefit of their workers and are not only concerned about their own profitability.

On the other hand, there are companies that are ignoring these matters and are facing trouble not just with the law but also with the employee who is not performing as required and even claiming damages from them for the hearing impairment they suffered.

Looking at how companies can benefit simply by having audiometric tests conducted it can be concluded that it would be better for them to conduct the testing than to deal with the problems that are associated with an issue which is entirely preventable.

 

How to prepare for an audiometric testing

Audiometric Testing

Audiometric testing, more commonly known as hearing testing, is simple and painless.  ‘Baseline’ audiometric testing for work purposes can take as little as 10 minutes and simply require your attention and responses to tones. 

Quiet time before an audiometric test

As an audiometric test aims to find your “threshold” of hearing across a number of frequencies (tones), to get a true indication of your hearing ability you need to be ‘at your best’ for the test. It is commonly understood that exposure to loud noise over long periods of time can permanently decrease your hearing capacity but less known is that exposure to loud noise can also have a short term effect, temporarily decreasing your hearing for up to 16 hours. In fact, usually, it is these repetitive short term hearing losses caused by noise that leads to permanent noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Therefore it is recommended that you avoid loud noise for 16 hours prior to audiometric testing.

how to prepare for audiometric test

Image from www.bbc.com

Ear wax and audiometric testing

Also commonly known is that ears produce a waxy substance but less commonly known is that for some people this wax can build up and block the ear canal reducing sound reaching the eardrum and therefore decreasing your hearing capacity. For most people wax is directed from the
ears naturally or can be washed from the ears in the shower. More stubborn wax can be broken down by simple-to-use “drops” purchased from your chemist. But, sometimes the wax is so compacted that a doctor is required to “syringe” the wax from the ears. Importantly, making sure sure your ears are clear will make sure you are at your best for your audiometric test.

Cold and flu at time of an audiometric test

As your hearing mechanism includes a series of bones and a tympanic membrane (ear drum) that vibrate when exposed to noise, the ear canal and the middle ear need to be clear. Illness that causes mucus build-up in the middle ear, such as is experienced with a “head-cold”, can reduce the normal vibration of the ear drum and bones temporarily reducing hearing capacity.  Therefore, if you have a cold or flu-like illness at the time of audiometric testing you may need to call to reschedule.

Best preparation for an audiometric test

So in preparation for audiometric testing, also known as a hearing testing, remember to:

  1. Have your ears cleared of wax at last 2 days before your hearing test
  2. For 16 hours before your hearing test avoid exposure to loud noise (eg. anything louder than a domestic vacuum cleaner) of more than a few minutes.
  3. Be free of illness that includes mucus build-up in the middle ear (eg. A head cold or flu). If you are not well request another day for the testing.

If you need or are having audiometric testing and you have a question please feel free to contact us.

Audiometric Testing

How is an audiometric test performed

Audiometric Testing, , ,

To measure your level of hearing, one of our audiometric officers will conduct an audiometric test or hearing test.

1. The person to be tested will be asked to go into the soundproof audio both and asked to put on a set of head phones.
2. The audiometric officer will then show you how  to respond when you hear a series of tones in your ears.
3. Testing starts on one frequency at a volume you can hear.
4. The volume (measured in decibels) is then decreased until you can no longer hear it, identifying your threshold.
5. This brief process is repeated for both ears on a number of frequencies (typically 8 frequencies), usually taking about 5 minutes.
6. The thresholds are plotted for both of your ears as two separate lines on your audiogram.

Results from an Audiometric Test, shown on an Audiogram

 

niose

Noise in the Workplace

Audiometric Testing, Hearing Test

Noise in the Workplace what you should know to remain compliant

Noise in the workplace is more of a risk than ever to Australian businesses. One would think that as technology advances noise levels in the workplace would decrease. But with KPI’s pushed higher and higher and machine output ever increasing are you pushing the boundary on acceptable noise levels in the workplace?

As part of the OHS/WHS Regulations employers have a duty of care to ensure that;

  • Employees are not exposed to noise which can cause risk to their health and safety.
  • If noise over the Noise Exposure Standard is present that at a bare minimum; hearing protection and signage advising of such is provided.
  • Audiometric testing of employees is provided if hearing protection is required.

What are acceptable noise levels in the workplace /noise limits in the workplace?

The Noise Exposure Standard defines the noise limits in the workplace. The acceptable noise levels in the workplace are the same in all states, the noise limits in the workplace are;

  • Noise in the workplace at or above Leaq 8hr 85dB (A) or;
  • Noise in the workplace at or above Lc Peak 140db (C).

For a detailed breakdown on the OHS/WHS Regulations see our article Workplace Noise Regulations

Understanding the Noise Exposure Standard and acceptable noise levels in the workplace.

The first step is to understand what the acceptable noise levels in the workplace are;

The first is ‘Leaq 8hr 85dB (A)’ which is a sound pressure level equivalent to 85dB in an (A) filtered frequency range (noise in the frequencies audible to humans) over an 8hr time period. To calculate this is no easy task and requires the use of a noise exposure calculator where spot measurements and the time spent exposed to such noise are entered in and a personal exposure profile calculated.

Example: ‘Employee A’ Spends 3 hours out of the day using an angle grinder (90dB (A)), 1 hour cutting stock with a saw (75dB (A)) and 4hours in the warehouse (65dB (A));

Activity

Sound Level

Time Spent

Grinding

90dB (A)

3hr

Cutting

75dB (A)

1hr

Warehouse

65dB (A)

4hr

Calculated Leaq 8hr in dB (A) is:

83.5dB (A)

As per the above; on a normal day ‘Employee A’ is exposed to sound pressure of Leaq 8hr 83.5dB (A) which is under the Noise Exposure limit of 85dB (A).

The second part of the noise exposure standard is noise below Lc Peak 140db (C). This is a sound pressure level which occurs for any length of time when measured with a (C) frequency filter. The (C) filter is noise audible to human hearing + lower frequency noise.

Example: a large unshielded Hydraulic press; although it presses ultrafast and noise generated is audible for less than 1 second if the noise is over 140db (C) it is still in excess of the exposure standard.

In order to accurately measure your noise in the workplace a Workplace Noise Assessment is needed.

Safe Noise Levels in the workplace.

In order to maintain a safe working environment your noise should be assessed ensuring that acceptable noise levels in the workplace are present. Noise which exceeds the safe noise levels in the workplace must be controlled and actioned to ensure employees are not exposed. Exposure to such noise can cause permanent hearing damage and may cost the business severely in Workers Compensation, productivity loss and staff turnover.

Noise in the workplace should be systematically identified by means of a risk assessment and then properly assessed to calculate the actual noise levels in the workplace.

For further information on safe noise levels in the workplace see our other noise articles.