Question
What data, consensus papers or other evidence are available to help audiologists make judgments about occupationally-related hearing loss?
Answer
There are many excellent resources available, including:
American Academy of Audiology's Position Statement on Preventing Noise-Induced Occupational Hearing Loss: www.audiology.org/NR/rdonlyres
American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Position Statement on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: www.acoem.org/guidelines
The Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation periodically conducts courses on "The Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Monitoring Component of the Hearing Conservation Program": www.caohc.org/. These one-day courses for audiologists (and physicians) also lead to certification after course completion.
The National Hearing Conservation Association is a leading professional resource organization for those involved in hearing loss prevention efforts: www.hearingconservation.org.
Medical-Legal Evaluation of Hearing Loss by Robert Dobie, M.D. Second Edition, 2001. Published by Cengage Delmar Learning.
This Ask the Expert question was based on information in the recorded course, "Investigating Work-Related Hearing Shifts", www.audiologyonline.com/ceus/.
Laurie Wells is a board-certified audiologist and Manager of Audiology for Associates in Acoustics, Inc. She received her Master's degree from University of Arizona and her clinical doctorate degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology. Laurie is a certified Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Component of a Hearing Conservation Program. As a consultant to companies nationwide, she provides professional audiology review of hearing conservation programs to ensure effective protection from noise hazards to both employers and employees. This includes audiometric database analysis, assessment of hearing protection devices, and employee/employer education, worker's compensation reviews, and employee noise exposure assessment for both hearing conservation and regulatory compliance. Laurie represents the American Academy of Audiology on the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), and is an active CAOHC Course Director. She has taught numerous seminars, graduate audiology courses, and made frequent presentations at state and national conferences. Laurie is past-president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and served on the NHCA board from 1999 - 2006.
Laurie Wells, AuD, FAAA
Manager of Audiology
Laurie Wells is a board-certified audiologist and Manager of Audiology for Associates in Acoustics, Inc. She received her Master’s degree from University of Arizona and her clinical doctorate degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry, School of Audiology. Laurie is a certified Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Component of a Hearing Conservation Program. As a consultant to companies nation-wide, she provides professional audiology review of hearing conservation programs to ensure effective protection from noise hazards to both employers and employees. This includes audiometric database analysis, assessment of hearing protection devices, and employee/employer education, worker’s compensation reviews, and employee noise exposure assessment for both hearing conservation and regulatory compliance. Laurie represents the American Academy of Audiology on the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), and is an active CAOHC Course Director. She has taught numerous seminars, graduate audiology courses, and made frequent presentations at state and national conferences. Laurie is past-president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and served on the NHCA board from 1999 - 2006.
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