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Hearing Protection &
Hearing Conservation
Noise Induced Hearing Loss is permanent and preventable. Hearing Instrument Specialist can educate and recommend appropriate hearing protection.
| Time and Loudness Conundrum:We know hearing loss due to noise exposure is a combination of a loudness of the environment and time spent exposed to that noise. The repetition of that noise can also increase the the likelihood of hearing loss. OSHA considers a person in an environment of 90dB for 8hours to receive a "100%" dose of noise. As the noise increases in volume by 5dB the time allowed in that environment is cut in half. The point of hearing protection is to allow a person/employee to spend more time in that environment. Even patients with hearing loss need to wear hearing protection when exposed to loud noise, this prevents additional hearing loss. There are a variety of ear protection options and selection might vary for different reasons: cleanliness of environment, comfort, strength and cost. |
Hearing Instrument Specialist can receive additional training through the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOCH) to monitor employees exposed to dangerous levels of noise. To become a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC), a candidate must complete a 20 hour certification course and pass the exam. There are no prerequisites for this course. The COHC is responsible for inspecting the ear, preforming pure tone air conduction audiometric testing, referring employees to medical resources, ensuring that the equipment is working and record keeping. The COHC must notify employees if there is a significant shift in their hearing and fit employees with appropriate ear protection.
Hearing Protection Options:
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| NRR- Noise Reduction Rating is an attenuation value determined in laboratory conditions and not accurate in a field environment. When selecting ear protection there is a formula to convert dBC into dBA: (NRR - 7)/2=X, Environmental dB-X = Noise exposure level. The goal for the ear protection to reduce the noise received volume at or below 85dB. Double ear protection does not mean adding NRR together. Add 5dB to the stronger NRR and preform the calculation. When recommending and fitting a patient with hearing protection its imperative to check the fit of the selected protection. Poor fit can impact results. |
