In this section

• Audiometry
• Audiometry Routine
• Audiometry Reports
• Audiometry unit photos
• Why Choose HSMC?
• Audiometry Q&A
• Age related hearing loss

• Occupational Health
  HSMC offer specialist
  Occupational Health services
  including audiometry and
  spirometry / lung function testing
• Audiometry
• Spirometry / Lung Tests

• Health & Safety
  HSMC offer a range of services
  including noise, DSE, vibration and general risk assessments, audits and safety advice
• Noise Assessment
• Fire risk assessment
• Safety Audits
• Vibration controls
• Safety advisor
• DSE / VDU Assessments

• Training
  HSMC offer a range of on-site training courses including DSE, noise, fire, risk assessment and accident management

Win some wine

• Competitions

Audiometry

Many people will have undergone audiometry to measure their hearing ability at some point in their life, most likely while at school and the basic principles of audiometry used as screening in the workplace are the same, minus the lollipop afterwards. Via purpose-built mobile units, HSMC offer a high quality audiometry service to help employers achieve compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. We offer 24 hour availability, working whatever shift patterns are needed to fit in with your employees, including nights and weekends.

Audiometry has become more critical recently with the update to the noise regulations which require anyone exposed to noise levels of 85dB(A) or more to be provided with 'health surveillance', which is a slightly Orwellian way of saying 'audiometry'.

The audiometry process requires attendees to wear a set of headphones through which a series sounds at differing pitches and volumes are played. They indicate whether they can hear the sound or not allowing the technician conducting the test to identify any loss in hearing. HSMC will undertake this for you, providing a practical, plain-English detailed employer's report.

Audiometry components

Each audiometry appointment takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes, completed with the latest laptop-controlled audiometers, a fitted noise-reducing audiometry booth and noise-reducing headphones to give the maximum sound reduction. See the Audiometry Routine section for detail on what the testing process involves.

Audiometry reports

We supply complete and detailed reports with every job. The Audiometry Reports page gives pretty extensive detail on what it is you get for you hard earned money, but the shortened version is:

• A plain English explanation of what it all means
• A summary section saying who scored which category of result
• Additional detail on specific cases - all referred individuals and all Category 3 or 4 cases.
• A second section giving a complete copy of the audiogram (results) for each person.

All HSMC audiometry technicians have completed courses on industrial audiometry approved by the British Society of Audiology in the UK. In addition to this our main tester, spotting an opportunity for some expenses-based fecklessness, has also obtained audiometry qualifications in the USA. He is also a member of the British Society of Audiology and oversees all HSMC audiometry and produces or approves all completed employer's reports.

HSMC testing units - see the audiometry units photos page for larger images

The light relief

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

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Still need more audiometry info.?

Try this link: The HSE's bit on noise health surveillance and audiometry
Or you can download a full copy of L108 Controlling Noise at Work from HSE Books. Pages 26 and 113 on are of interest for workplace audiometry.