Self-recording audiometry in industry

Pelmear, P. L. and Hughes, Brenda J. (1974).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,31, 304-309. Self-recording audiometry in industry. A study of initial and repeat audiograms of 118 drop forge employees using fixed frequency self-recording audiometry showed that the mean of the differences at the test frequencies 0·5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz ranges from -0·47 dB to +0·61 dB. The largest standard deviation was 6 dB at 6 kHz and the lowest 3 dB at 2 kHz. The results also confirmed that temporary threshold shift effects may be minimized if audiograms are obtained at the beginning of a shift or within two hours provided the subject is protected with ear muff defenders up to the time of the test. The practical advantages to industry of using self-recording audiometry for audiometric screening and the reliability of single audiograms for threshold determination are discussed.