WHAT IS AUDIOMETRIC TESTING?

What is an audiometric test?

Audiometric testing- monitoring your hearing threshold level when working in noisy occupations.

Chances are, if you are asking this question, you have been prompted by changes to WHS regulations or are in a new health and safety role or perhaps you an employee who has been asked by an employer or recruiter to undergo audiometric testing.

"Audiometric Testing" is the term given to "hearing screening" or a "hearing assessment" for workers who are in noise exposed industries, at noisy workplaces or are carrying out work or are around noise. SafeWork NSW simply states- if you need to wear hearing PPE, you fit the definition of "working in noise" and therefore, need routine audiometric testing.

The purpose of audiometric testing is to monitor for early or existing signs of hearing loss due to long term noise exposure- known as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

Audiometric testing is a test battery conducted using pure tone audiometry- essentially testing the quietest possible sound level a candidate can hear at different frequencies- particularly those used in human speech from 500Hz to 8kHz.

Audiometric testing is the most robust, reliable way to compare the hearing sensitivity levels of anyone, anywhere in the world.

The audiometric testing standard in Sec.58 of NSW WHS legislation is the same as for other states such as QLD and VIC. It is referred to in Sec. 5.4 the Safe Work Australia Model code of practice for managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work. Audiometric testing required under the WHS ACT is based on the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269.4, which is in turn based on an International Standard ISO 6189 which originates from global audiological testing standards.

Audiometric testing is a quality controlled procedure, where a candidate, seated in a quiet room or booth, responds to a series of tones, presented by the clinician at various intervals and at various frequencies. The levels at which a candidate responds to various frequencies are recorded and usually mapped in a chart called an audiogram.

So the data output of any audiometric test procedure is to record what the softest possible sound the candidate can hear at any given frequency.

Over time, it can be a very reliable indicator* of the state of your hearing. Given the audiometric testing standards in Australia are based on global audiological testing standards, anyone audiologically trained will be able to interpret the results of your hearing test.

In summary, audiometric testing results, conducted according to Australian and audiological standards are an important piece of health information that track whether your hearing is within normal range or is showing signs of Noise Induced Hearing Loss or perhaps correlates to other medical conditions that may require further investigation or treatment.

*We will address what factors affect the reliability of an audiometric test in another post.