Noise Surveys and Evaluating Impulse Noise
Presenters: Charles Jokel, MS, Christopher J. Smalt, Ph.D., and J. Andrew Merkley (moderator)
About the Webinar: This webinar will address current practices for quantifying workplace noise and how they identify noise-hazardous locations and quantify individual worker noise exposures. The math underlying operation of noise dosimeters is explained with the goal of improving accuracy of automated readings.
Program Level: Intermediate
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify procedures for performing workplace noise surveys.
2. Identify procedures for quantifying workplace noise exposures.
Virtual Patient Software
Presenters: Frank Wartinger, Au.D., ABAC, Sarah Mouser, Au.D., CCC-A, CPS/A, and Kirsten McCall, Au.D., CCC-A, CPS/A
About the Webinar: This session was designed to aid hearing conservationists and educators with the successful application of virtual audiometry and patient simulators during training activities. Several website- and software-based programs have been developed for general diagnostic audiology education, and to date two such website-based tools have been developed specifically to facilitate manual testing technique training for Occupational Hearing Conservationists. The developers of those programs will demonstrate their use, discuss the application of these types of alternative teaching delivery methods, and provide guidance on the development of partial or fully virtual practica in the context of CAOHC training courses.
Program Level: Intermediate
Learning Objectives:
- Operate the available virtual audiometric patient simulators.
- Employ the tools available to conduct virtual audiometry training in their courses.
- Identify the steps required to plan a partially or fully virtual CAOHC practicum training session.
Boothless Audiometry Technology Overview and Updates
Presenters: Laura Prigge, James A. Norris, Ph.D., Renée Lefrançois
About the Webinar: Over the past decade, several companies have worked to develop novel platforms to enable hearing assessment outside of the sound booth, to improve accessibility as well as efficiency. Effective solutions must include capabilities to meet additional requirements for specialty populations and markets, including foreign and domestic militaries as well as U.S. veterans. Expanded awareness and knowledge of boothless technologies is needed to inform and accelerate adoption and application of boothless audiometry to provide hearing health services. However, it can be challenging to track technological advancements in boothless audiometry products. This webinar will present an overview of boothless audiometry technologies currently available to the hearing conservation professional. Attendees will be provided overview presentations from participating boothless audiometry representatives and how these specific devices can be used for hearing conservation monitoring audiometry.
Professional Supervisor Panel Discussion
Presenters: J. Andrew Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A, and Theresa H. Small, AuD, CPS/A
About the Webinar: The Professional Supervisor is a key, necessary, and often misunderstood member of the hearing conservation team. This presentation brings experienced Professional Supervisors from across the United States together to discuss the roles, responsibilities, scope of practice, and practice requirements across a variety of hearing conservation programs. The discussion will include practice as a private professional services provider, on-site In-house provider, remote service provider, and a provider covering hearing conservation programs across a variety of regulatory agencies.
Topics Covered:
- Explain the difference between the Hearing Conservation Program Manager and the Professional Supervisor.
- Describe the relationship between the professional supervisor and audiometric technician.
- Define the responsibilities of the Professional Supervisor with regard to federal, state, local, and company-specific regulations.
Hearing Protection Devices 101 - Fit Testing
Presenters: Stephanie J. Karch, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A
About the Webinar: Entry-level safety and industrial hygiene. Basics of fit testing, the technology available. Easy to follow. Employers, decision-makers in HC, emerging technology.
Program Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the differences in HPD fit-test methods.
- Identify how a Personal Attenuation Rating can be used to determine an appropriate and adequate HPD for the work environment.
- Recognize the different applications for HPD fit-testing in a Hearing Conservation Program.
Determining Work Relatedness - Exploring the Gray Areas
Presenters: Laura Kauth, MA, CCC-A, CPS/A, Raúl A. Mirza, DO, MPH, MSc, CPS/A, FACOEM, and Mary M. McDaniel, AuD
About the Webinar:
An important part of occupational safety, and of hearing conservation, is record-keeping. One of the most important, yet often dreaded, records is the OSHA 300 log, which records workplace injuries/ illness. OSHA’s 29 CFR 1904.5 on recordability tells us “You must consider an injury or illness to be work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness”. But multiple factors impact hearing, and hearing monitoring as required by OSHA is non-diagnostic. Some cases may be fairly clearly related, or clearly not related to workplace exposure. But what about the gray areas?
In this webinar, a panel of experienced reviewers will describe OSHA’s standard, and the 2011 NHCA Guidelines for Recording Hearing Loss on the OSHA 300 Log, a set of recommendations on factors to consider in determining work relatedness. The group will then review some sample cases from the “gray area”, where work-relatedness is not so easily decided. We will close with attendees’ opinions on these cases, discussion of their own experiences, and any questions they may have.
Program Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Describe OSHA's basis for determining recordability.
- Identify factors which should and should not be considered in determining work relatedness.
- Apply this knowledge in assessing potentially recordable losses.
Impulsive Noise - Understanding, Measuring, and Assessing
Presenters: Donald Finan, Ph.D., Greg Flamme, Ph.D., and William Murphy, B.S., M.S., M.Eng., Ph.D.
About the Webinar:
Exposures to high-level impulsive noises such as collisions of objects, firearms, or explosions significantly increase the risk for developing noise induced hearing loss. Although Impulse and impact noise are generated through different processes, they are often grouped into impulsive noise. When measuring impulsive noise, sound level meters may not be the best choice due to technological limitations. The selection and use of microphone, preamplifier, and processing systems are critical to capturing high-quality data. In many cases, recordings are more beneficial than capturing a peak level or a single integrated level to understand the exposure and to mitigate the risk. Understanding technological limitations and learning about specific techniques for capturing and measuring impulse noise can result in accurate and repeatable data.
Program Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Define impulse and impact noise and differentiate between them.
- Describe the components of typical sound level meter in terms of functionality and limitations in relationship to impulse and impact noise.
- Apply technical specifications necessary for accurate measurement of impulse and impact noise.
Age Adjustment in Occupational Hearing Conservation Programs
Presenters: Greg Flamme, Ph.D. and Kristy Deiters, AuD
About the Webinar:
The NIOSH tables used by OSHA to adjust occupational audiograms for the effects of age were developed using cross-sectional trends observed across a small dataset (380 men and 206 women). The data for those tables were collected over 50 years ago and therefore do not account for: (1) reductions in hearing loss prevalence; (2) worker ages beyond 60; (3) race/ethnicity differences; and (4) errors in the application of cross-sectional trends to longitudinal changes of individual workers. In this presentation, we describe nationally-representative cross-sectional trends from NHANES (ages 12 to 85+; N=9937) that closely match longitudinal changes in a large group of noise-exposed workers. These results suggest that the age adjustments ("corrections") in the OSHA Hearing Conservation Amendment over-adjust for current age effects, which would reduce the sensitivity of age-adjusted thresholds to noise induced hearing loss.
Program Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the origin of the NIOSH age tables used by OSHA.
- Identify the differences in cross-sectional hearing loss trends over time.
- Explain how cross-sectional trends are conceptually different from longitudinal change.
Hearing Protector Fit Testing
Presenters: William Murphy, B.S., M.S., M.Eng., Ph.D., and Wei Gong, CSP, CIH
About the Webinar: For over 30 years, hearing conservation professionals have known that the Noise Reduction Rating is not necessarily representative of the protection afforded to the average user of hearing protection. This workshop will present an overview of the technologies available to the hearing conservation professional. During the first part of the session, attendees will learn about different methods to implement fit-testing, benefits of conducting fit testing, and the different methods used by various commercially available fit-testing systems. Information related to the recently approved ANSI/ASA S12.71-2018 performance criteria for standard for hearing protector fit-test systems will be shared.
Program Level: Introductory
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will learn how to incorporate hearing protector fit testing in their practices.
- Attendees will learn about the range of hearing protector fit testing systems available.
- Attendees will learn about the Personal Attenuation Ratings and how to apply them to estimate noise exposures. Attendees will learn about hearing protector fit-testing resources and case studies.
Hybrid Audiometric Technician Training: A Fusion of Traditional and Virtual Learning
Presenters: Kirsten McCall, AuD and Vickie Tuten, AuD
About the Webinar: Alternative delivery models for teaching Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) hearing technician certification courses have become a reality. To date, only a few Course Directors (CDs) have ventured into this uncharted territory. This presentation offers a suggested roadmap for developing and delivering virtual courses and reviews the benefits and challenges of a hybrid model, including lessons learned. While of benefit to anyone considering virtual synchronous learning, the intended audience are current CDs of any experience level and those who may be considering becoming a CD.
Program Level: Introductory
Topics covered:
- Key differences between the traditional face-to-face model and a hybrid virtual and practicum classroom model;

- Platform delivery vehicles used;

- Changes made to training to accommodate the virtual platform;

- Incorporation of recertification students into the virtual training;

- Adaptations made for the practicum portion of the course

- Experiences with this new delivery model, challenges and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:
- Contrast the key differences between the traditional face-to-face model and a hybrid virtual and practicum classroom model.
- Discuss the challenges in delivering instruction in a hybrid virtual and practicum classroom delivery model.
- Identify available resources for both virtual instruction and hands-on practicum.
Hearing Health Education in Short Training Segments: Microlearning Theory in Hearing Conservation
Presenter: John A. Merkley, AuD
About the Webinar: Learners today expect to get information quickly and in a format that is easy to access, easy to understand, available at a time and place of the learner's choice, and relevant to what the learner needs to know at the moment. This presentation will introduce you to microlearning and how to use it to meet learners' needs and expectations while effectively using it for hearing conservation training in the workplace.
Program Level: Introductory
Topics covered:
- What is microlearning or just-in-time training theory
- How do you effectively apply microlearning in the workplace
- How can you enhance your current hearing conservation training program with microlearning
Learning Objectives:
- List three best practice tips for microlearning.
- Describe microlearning theory.
- Identify three topics of required hearing conservation training that can be effective microlearning subjects.
Audiology, Hearing Loss Prevention and Music: Treatment Considerations
Presenter: Michael Santucci, AuD
About the Webinar: As musicians are increasingly in search of hearing loss prevention information and strategies, this presentation will provide a brief overview of the recent American Academy of Audiology consensus guidelines on treatment for music-induced hearing disorders. There will be a focus on earplugs for musicians as well as the safe use of in-ear monitors.
Program Level: Introductory
Topics Covered:
The presentation will briefly compare and contrast traditional onstage monitors with today’s in-ear-monitoring systems. The role of the audiologist in selecting the most appropriate passive filter for earplugs and selecting the appropriate in-ear monitor earpiece while guiding the musician to safe use will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
1. Compare and differentiate on-stage in-ear monitoring from traditional floor monitoring
2. Help musicians select an appropriate in-ear monitoring earpiece
3. Help guide patients to the safe use of the in-ear monitoring
Hearing Conservation Overall
Presenter: Vickie Tuten, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A
This presentation will provide information on "why" we need to put programs in place to protect the hearing health of employees. Included will be discussion of both the benefits to the employee as well as benefits to the employer. As part of the "why" discussion, participants will learn about the auditory and non-auditory effects of hearing loss on the individual. Included will be a brief introduction to the regulatory requirements as well as what might make a Hearing Conservation or Hearing Loss Prevention Program most effective. There will be some discussion of the role of CAOHC in ensuring that good training occurs for the Occupational Hearing Conservationists who carry out the daily functions in these programs.
Learning Objectives:
- Differentiate between auditory and non-auditory effects caused by hazardous noise exposure.
- Estimate the prevalence of noise induced hearing loss among different noise-exposed populations.
- Recognize major policy makers related to hearing conservation in the United States.
Hearing Conservation Regulations and Best Practices for Prevention
Presenter: Laurie Wells, AuD, FAAA, CPS/A
This presentation will discuss regulations that define employer responsibilities surrounding hearing conservation programs have structured company policies and practices for decades. Too, these regulations provide a starting place for employers who aim to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss. This presentation will provide an overview of regulatory requirements pertaining to hearing conservation programs as well as propose best practices supported by CAOHC, NHCA. NIOSH and other professional organizations.
Learning Objectives:
- List three examples of best practice policies that are considered to be more protective than the OSHA regulatory requirements.
- Differentiate between a Standard Threshold Shift and a recordable hearing shift according to US OSHA federal requirements.
- Name two employer responsibilities that are required by federal regulations when the permissible exposure level is exceeded.
Noise Measurement
Presenter: Charlie Moritz, MS, INCE Bd Cert.
This presentation will provide an overview of the measurement and control of noise, including an introduction to that dear friend/archenemy of hearing loss prevention (the decibel), the equipment we use to measure noise (sound level meters, dosimeters, octave band analyzers, oh my!), how we can reduce noise exposures, and how all this relates to protecting people's hearing.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify workers who may be at risk for excessive noise exposure.
- Quantify the risk – Job Hazard Analysis.
- Identify dominant noise sources for Engineering Noise Control.
- Identify quiet areas for Administrative Noise Control.
- Understand the noise characteristics for the selection of hearing protection devices.
- Understand worker environment if a change in their hearing occurs.
- Demonstrate how to conduct sound level checks within the audiometric test booth.
The Audiogram
Presenter: John "Andy" Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A
Monitoring audiometry is a key element of the hearing loss prevention program. The audiogram is used to identify significant changes in an employees hearing and to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the hearing loss prevention program. This session will provide participants with in-depth knowledge of different types of audiograms used in monitoring audiometry programs, how to read the audiogram, and provide a broad understanding of information the pure-tone air conduction audiogram provides to the employee, employer, and hearing health professional. Common audiometric configurations and their associated illnesses as well as problem audiograms and how to recognize them will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe different types of audiograms used in a hearing conservation program.
- Recognize a problem audiogram.
- Identify different audiometric configurations and common findings associated with each.
- Explain the limits of information that can be inferred by a pure tone air conduction audiogram alone.
- Explain the audiogram in terms of frequency and intensity.
Education & Training
Presenter: Carol Snyderwine, MHA, MA, CCC-A, CPS/A
While the ideal solution to a noisy environment is to remove the noise, in many situations, it simply isn't possible. When this is the case, it's not enough to rely solely on compliance with regulations to reduce risk. We need to educate employees thoroughly on the benefits of hearing conservation and the crucial steps they should take to safeguard their hearing. Employees must participate actively for hearing conservation to be successful; we need to engage and interest them in their own protection. Effective hearing conservation cannot be achieved without the combined efforts of employers, supervisors, and the employees themselves. By focusing on the reasons behind hearing conservation, and providing some different approaches, we can better reach these individuals to make them a part of the solution to preventable hearing loss.
Learning Objectives:
- Define OSHA requirements for education and training in a hearing conservation program.
- Describe how the factors of commitment, communication, and cooperation relate to a successful hearing loss prevention program.
- Apply the principles of motivational interviewing to employee interactions to elicit "behavior change" that contributes to positive health outcomes and improved communication.
Hearing Protection
Presenter: Elliott Berger, MS, INCE Bd Cert.
As hearing conservationists, we can measure, assess, document, and counsel, but when it comes to effective intervention, an important tool, sometimes our only tool, is a hearing protector. Therefore, it behooves us to be knowledgeable about hearing protection devices and how to optimize their use in hearing conservation programs. This presentation discusses the types of hearing protectors available today, the requirements for testing and labeling with a Noise Reduction Rating, and the differences between NRRs and attenuation achieved in practice by individuals who use them. Of equal importance will be a discussion of the influence of hearing protectors on the ability to communicate in noise. Finally, the rewards and benefits gained by implementing hearing protector fit testing as a recommended best practice will be highlighted.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the available types of hearing protection devices and describe their respective advantages and disadvantages.
- Explain the meaning and value of the EPA’s Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and differentiate it from alternative methods of predicting effective employee protection.
- Explain the benefits of hearing protector fit testing and evaluate the pros and cons of the various systems available to accomplish that process.
Recordability Issues
Presenter: D. Bruce Kirchner, MD, MPH, CPS/A
Identification of work-related hearing loss has long been one of the most complicated and controversial areas of government-mandated injury/illness recordkeeping. Effective in 2000, MSHA provided a new definition of "reportable" hearing loss in its revised noise standard, Part 62. OSHA also defined new criteria for recording occupational hearing loss with its recent revision to 29 CFR 1904 (effective in 2003, with a separate Form 300 column in effect January 1, 2004). This workshop presentation will focus on the basic requirements of MSHA and OSHA recordkeeping regulations, as well as implications for professional review of audiograms and determination of work-relatedness. Although compliance with recordkeeping rules is important to the ultimate goal of tracking incidence of work-related hearing loss, emphasis will also be placed on best practices for an effective hearing loss prevention program.
Learning Objectives:
- Define basic requirements of United States recordkeeping regulations, as well as implications for professional review of audiograms and determination of work-relatedness.
- Summarize the recordability decision-making process.
- Compare case studies on recordability.