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Related Experiment Videos

Reliability and validity of industrial audiometry: implications for hearing conservation program design.

R A Dobie

    The Laryngoscope
    |July 1, 1983
    PubMed
    Summary

    Industrial hearing tests show high variability. A proposed 10 dB shift criterion using pure-tone averages can better identify true noise-induced hearing loss in workers.

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    Area of Science:

    • Occupational Health
    • Audiology
    • Industrial Hygiene

    Background:

    • Industrial hearing conservation programs rely on monitoring audiometry.
    • Real-world reliability of industrial audiometry and otoscopy is under-investigated.
    • Defining a significant threshold shift in industrial audiometry is controversial.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the reliability and validity of industrial audiometry and otoscopy.
    • To propose improved criteria for identifying significant threshold shifts.
    • To assess the impact of these measures on worker and management outcomes.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of data from an active hearing conservation program.
    • Comparison of test-retest variability in industrial versus clinical settings.

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  • Application of decision and signal detection theories to define significant threshold shift criteria.
  • Evaluation of pure-tone averaging versus single-frequency threshold shifts.

    • Main Results:

    • Industrial test-retest variability is higher than in clinical settings, reduced by pure-tone averaging.
    • Referred workers' hearing levels were better than indicated by plant audiometry.
    • Otoscopic findings by plant audiometrists were uncorrelated with consultant otologists' findings.
    • Pure-tone averaging criteria for significant threshold shift are superior to single-frequency criteria.

    Conclusions:

    • A proposed significant threshold shift definition: a 10 dB or greater change in pure-tone averages (0.5-2 kHz or 3-6 kHz) in either ear, requiring retesting.
    • Even with proposed criteria, many shifts may be spurious or due to non-noise factors like presbycusis.
    • Otologic referral for significant shifts can prevent unjustified actions, benefiting workers and management.
    • Monitoring audiometry may lead to a de facto 85 dBA TWA permissible exposure level.