Industrial Hearing Conservation Program

MedWorks can conduct on site baseline testing for your employees to determine their current hearing level and establish a baseline for future testing.  Each member of your team will be asked to complete a questionnaire to be reviewed with the on-site technician focusing on medical and hearing history.

The standard practice for hearing screening is a peripheral Hearing Test that states pass or fail.

We will conduct a much more sophisticated and efficient screening called Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs). This is a gold standard for doing hearing screenings. It not only checks the peripheral hearing but reflects outer ear cell integrity and cochlear function.  It is an advanced test that shows auditory system damages even before they appear in a standard hearing test.

Each test would take approximately 10 minutes per employee.

• The degree and configuration of hearing loss (one or both ears?)
• Make referral to audiologist for additional care (if the employee requests)

To further increase the value to the medical surveillance program in which you are investing we may also recommend:

• Hearing Education at time of testing for $4.00 per employee
• Employee Education booklets at the price of $5.00 each
• Otoscopic testing by your own company nurse when required.  (Price to be negotiated.)

Hearing tests are vital because they identify the beginning of noise-induced hearing loss long before workers notice it. As part of the test, workers are individually counseled about the results, the follow-up required, and when a repeat test will occur. Workers are also counseled about the type of hearing protection to use.

Hearing tests must be conducted annually to effectively monitor the hearing of noise-exposed workers. The hearing test, including counseling, takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Noise is perhaps the most common occupational and environmental hazard out there, with an abundant of individuals exposed to potentially harmful sound levels in their workplaces or recreationally. Repeated exposure to noise of 85+ decibels over 8 hours can result in permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss that is caused by exposure to occupational or recreational noise can result in devastating disabilities that can easily be prevented. After age related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common hearing loss. It can be prevented by using hearing protections such as earplugs or earmuffs or even by avoiding environments with high levels of noise exposure. If an individual is exposed to excessive noise throughout their lifetime or even if it is just a one-time incident, Hearing Excellence strongly recommends that they are screened for potential hearing loss. This screening would involve undergoing a full audiological evaluation.