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AMA Guidelines

David M. Lipscomb, PhD

December 9, 2002

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Question

What is the new criteria for calculating impairment based on AMA Guidelines 5th Ed? Can 5% be added if there is a diagnosis of tinnitus?

Answer

The calculation of AMA percent handicap has not changed since they added 3000 to the averaging process. The use of a value of tinnitus is different according to states. To get info on this topic, I suggest the chapter by Dobie and Megerson in The Noise Manual edited by Berger, et al.

Hope this helps.

Dr. David Lipscomb

Dr. David Lipscomb is a consulting audiologist and former professor at the University of Tennessee. He investigates audibility factors in collisions; consults concerning occupational hearing impairment claims; evaluates hearing conservation programs; determines product liability factors, and conducts the occasional noise survey.


David M. Lipscomb, PhD

President, Correct Service, Inc.,

Dr. Lipscomb served as professor of Audiology in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology for the University of Tennessee.  In addition to teaching mostly graduate level classes, he conducted research and was Director of the department's Noise Research Laboratory.  Since 1966, he has qualified in courts of law as an expert in the field of Audiology.  He has testified in hundreds of depositions and more than 100 trials. None - there are no conflicts of interest and I have nothing to disclose


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