Audiometric testing

What is audiometric testing?

Audiometry is a hearing evaluation that measures the softest sounds a person can hear across a range of frequencies. It is performed in a quiet or sound-attenuated environment using a calibrated audiometer, and the results are recorded as an audiogram — an objective record of an employee’s hearing at a given point in time.

Why is an audiogram necessary in occupational health?

An audiogram provides an objective, ongoing record of an employee’s hearing, which is essential for spotting early, work-related changes before they become permanent hearing loss. By comparing each annual test to the baseline, employers and occupational health providers can detect a meaningful decline early and act — with better hearing protection, retraining, or a reassessment of workplace noise exposure.

When is audiometry required?

Under OSHA’s Occupational Noise Exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95), employers must enroll employees in a hearing conservation program, including baseline and annual audiometric testing, whenever noise exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. A baseline audiogram must be established within 6 months of an employee’s first qualifying exposure, with annual testing after that. If an annual test shows a standard threshold shift — an average change of 10 dB or more at 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Hz in either ear compared with baseline — further evaluation and follow-up are required.