[Classification of hearing loss in industrial workers for the purpose of expert testimony]

Periodical examinations of 472 industrial workers exposed to noise promoted classification of those workers' hearing into four categories: A. Normal hearing, B. Non-noise-induced impairments, C. Multi-causal impairments, not excluding noise, D. Chronic acoustic trauma. To the particular categories, appropriate qualifying, preventive or therapeutic procedure have been ascribed. Appropriate hearing category (A, B, C or D) entered into the worker's health record book would spare repeating the medical examinations at a new workplace, simplify administrative, certificatory (selection of the workplace, prevention or treatment) and claiming procedures.