Audiometry home
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 Testing routine & reports
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 Types of hearing loss
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 Audiometry Q & A
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 Noise assessment & training
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 Spirometry / lung function
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 About hsmc



Employer's report
Audiometry equipment
Out of hours service
Noise law / regulations

Audiometry result categories

Category 1
Good hearing, audiometry result is within limts for the attendee's age.

Category 2
OK. Some losses but not excessive yet for the person's age. Be careful to protect against future loss.

Category 3
Losses are below the range expected for the attendee's age.

Category 4
Only assigned on second or subsequent audiometric tests. Results show a repid deterioration over a known time.

Customer feedback:

"I just wanted to say that I've been impressed with the whole process"
Customer Services Manager, Warwick District Council


"We were very pleased with the way the audiometry was carried out and with the efficiency and self sufficiency."
Health and Safety Manager, Grayton Engineering


"HSMC has done a great job"
Roger Warrender, VT Airside Services HSE Manager, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports


"You're great you are!"
Fiona Andrews
BAS Components

"Thank you for the professional audiometry service you provided.
All members of staff found it very informative and the more apprehensive members of staff complimented you on the relaxed nature of the testing and your expertise".
Sarah Woodward, HSE Manager, ROM Ltd.

A man walks into his Doctor's surgery and says "Doctor, I'm having problems with my hearing".
The Doctor replies, "OK, tell me about the symptoms".
"Sure", says the man, "Homer is yellow and fat, Marge has big hair..."

Audiometry routine and employer's report

Audiometry tests are undertaken according to a strict routine bordering on mania and we allow for up to 15 minutes per test. Depending on the shifts being worked we normally aim for between 25 (days only) and 70 (days and nights) per day, while for really big jobs (around 2000+) we can supply two units and double the number of appointments per day, completing up to 140 tests a day if the client's shifts permit and we pull our fingers out.

If combining hearing tests with lung tests the slots rise to about 20 minutes per appointment.

	STEP 1: Pre-test hearing health questionnaire This helps us to identify any factors which may have an impact on the audiometry results such as infections, any accidents, past medical problems with their hearing and importantly, whether they are suffering from the humble cold or not.
	STEP 2: Otoscopic examination Using an otoscope (the little light thing doctors like to prod into various orifices) we check for wax build-up, inflammation of the ear canal, foreign objects stuck down there, damage to the ear drum and general mankiness (that's a medical term we'll have you know...).

STEP 3: The actual hearing test
This consists of the subject wearing a set of (faintly ridiculous-looking) headphones and a series of sounds being played (known as 'pure tone audiometry'). The sounds vary in pitch and volume, finding the quietest noises which can be heard across the frequency range. This is the same as a lot of people may have had at school with the exception of not getting a lollipop afterwards this time.

STEP 4: Review of the results
The Satanic Imps at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have classification criteria for workplace hearing test results and all hearing tests are assessed against these to categorise them. They are then printed and discussed with all attendees before they leave. This is important as it ensures they understand the results and the real-life meaning for them. This is a valuable part of the hearing test and can greatly improve compliance with the requirements to wear hearing protection.

Where workplace hearing tests have been undertaken previously, the most recent results are compared against the previous figures to determine if any changes have occurred during the intervening time.

STEP 5: Employer's report
An audiometry report will be generated for the employer, including:

• An explanation of the assessment criteria - its no good us saying people are "Category 2" without telling you, in English, what that means.
  
  
• A summary of all employees who attended the hearing tests - who scored what result. (We ask for their consent to release this result to the employer as it's technically medical information).
  
  
• Detailed explanation, by individual, of all Category 3 and 4 results (the two lowest) and any referrals, clearly highlighting any concerns and recommendations for follow-up action.
  
  
• Copies of any letters given to employees explaining their test results.
  
  
• And finally, a copy of the actual audiometry result for each employee. The individual results may be presented graphically or as tabular data. Graphically, audiometry results are presented for both ears, in a similar manner to those shown here:

There is a limit to what can be diagnosed with audiometry screening programmes and their main aim is to identify people who may be experiencing a problem. Where the results warrant it these individuals are then referred to their G.P. for further testing to determine the exact cause of the loss.

Audiometry Equipment

HSMC uses rather nifty laptop-controlled audiometers for fast accurate results with both noise reducing booths and noise-reducing headphones. We have trailer-mounted mobile testing studios which can be parked on site in any convenient location. Or if past experience is anything to go on, usually round the back by the skips. Which is nice. We also use noise-excluding audio-cups in which the audiometry headphones sit, thereby achieving the maximum ambient sound attenuation and thus ensuring accurate results

Why only one audiometry booth per unit? And why a booth at all?
It is possible to build a unit with two audiometry booths in it but an important part of the test is not just the final result but how the attendees actually gets that result - are they sure and quick, or really hesitant and up and down all over the show. It's not possible for one audiometry technician to monitor two hearing tests at once as they always end up out of sync therefore we believe they can't do the job properly that way. It also eliminates confidentiality between attendees where one will hear the other's result.

As for why a booth at all - there are providers who will do the tests sat in a meeting room or office but the priority with the tests has to be that they are accurate and repeatable. There's no point doing it sitting in an office, if when your insurer askes the question "what control was there of the testing environment" and the answer has to be 'none'. Most the frequencies we test are the same ones found in speech and things like a telephone ringing so if any voices or phones can be heard, no matter how quiet, it will interfere with the hearing test and the money spent on them could be nigh-on useless.

Out of Hours Service
HSMC offers a complete 24 hour service and will undertake the hearing tests at the times that suit you, including evenings, nights, bank holidays and weekends. Normally there is no extra charge for this. Lets face it, at 2am where would you rather be - tucked up in bed or looking at ear wax?

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