Noise-Induced Hearing Loss - American Academy of Audiology

Assessing Hearing Protectors in the
Clinic- How to Perform CPT 92596
REAT (Real-Ear at Threshold)
Based on ANSI S12.6 (a lab standard).
Audiometric
Room
Warbled Pure Tone Signal
Advantages
Tom Thunder, AuD, INCE ( tthunder@comcast.net)
Sound-Field
thresholds are
measured without the
HPD
Sound-Field
thresholds are then
measured with HPD
The difference is the
attenuation of the
HPD (insertion loss)
PAR Patient ©- a Microsoft Excel ® Template
American Academy of
Audiology (April 2009)
Why don’t audiologists measure HPD performance?
Most audiologists have the capability to measure attenuation …
they just don’t know how to calculate the individual NRR (called
the Personal Attenuation Rating).
Originally developed to give students a lab exercise.
Automatically calculates the patient’s PAR
Active Link to Look up the HPD’s laboratory NRR (NIOSH)
Active Link to Look up noise levels (AEARO database)
Estimates the effective (protected) noise level
Generates a range of protected noise levels based on the
probable frequency spectrum of the patient’ s exposure
Available from: Acoustic Associates (info@AcousticAssociates.com)
Printed Document (Upper Half) Printed Document (Lower Half)
REAT Approach
A common clinical test
Follows the REAT method
of the ANSI standard
Negligible cost
Works with any HPD
Disadvantages
Relatively slow – 8 min
Subjective
Binaural measure
Hearing loss can be an
issue
No one needs to lose
his or her hearing in
order to earn a living.
Noise-induced hearing
loss is preventable.
Noise-induced hearing loss
remains one of the most
prevalent occupational
conditions and is found in a
wide range of industries.