Surveillance Audiometry Course

Yes. Under the Noise at Work Regulations, anyone performing audiometry must be competent and suitably trained.

Most organisations refresh competence every three years or when guidance changes – our 1-day Update meets this need.

Employers are legally required to provide health surveillance when a risk assessment identifies potential health risks to employees. Further information can be found from

UK HSE Control of Noise at work regulations 2005 (L108) - Controlling noise at work - HSE

Ireland HSA - Guidelines on Hearing Checks and Audiometry Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Control of Noise at Work - Audio Guidelines

USA OSHA - Occupational Noise Exposure - Standards | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Audiometry is a comprehensive assessment of an individual's hearing abilities undertaken by patients or employees. 

The aim of the test is to establish the quietest sounds an individual can hear or respond to at different frequencies. This is commonly known as pure tone audiometry (PTA).

Typically a trained audiologist or occupational health professional will organize the hearing test

In occupational health, air conduction audiometry is completed as a screening /health surveillance test to track changes in hearing over time, as well as assessing fitness for work.

For diagnostic audiometry, bone conduction testing and potentially speech testing are also completed to establish the type of hearing loss i.e conductive hearing losses or sensorineural hearing losses. These hearing tests are completed by an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser

These tests provide valuable information about the degree, and type of hearing loss, helping healthcare professionals develop effective hearing conservation programmes and healthcare plans.

Audiometry is the act of completing a hearing test

An audiogram is the outcome of the hearing test. It will show measured hearing levels in terms of the quietest decibel hearing level heard at each hearing test frequency as shown below.

In workplace or occupational health environments, many evaluation schemes identify 2odBHL as normal hearing levels

Our practical work on performing and interpreting results is completed using a variety of equipment that you will find within Occupational Health.

Products that we train with include are the Amplivox CA850 Series 3, Amplivox CA850 Series 4, Amplivox CA850 Series 5, Amplivox PC850, Amplivox Otosure, GM Asra, Oscilla USB 300, Oscilla, USB 330, Oscilla A30, Ossicus Solo, Oscilla A-Series, Asra Curve

Screening audiometry and diagnostic audiometry serve different purposes. Screening audiometry (sometimes called surveillance audiometry in occupational health settings) aims to quickly identify individuals with potential hearing loss and determine if further evaluation is necessary.

Screening audiometry is often used in schools, GP surgeries , primary care settings and as a pre screen within hearing aid dispensing organisations.

Diagnostic audiometry, involves a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's hearing abilities with air conduction, bone conduction and sometimes speech audiometry being completed to provide a very detailed assessment of an individual’s hearing ability in terms of the type of hearing loss, the degree of hearing loss and can lead to decisions on what the best type of assistive device (hearing aid ) or training may be of benefit to the individual.

Occupational health audiometry results are assessed as follows (UK)

A review to identify if a possible hearing loss is shown on the audiogram – primarily if a potential noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is indicated. Only an occupational health physician can confirm NIHL.

Confirmed NIHL are classified as hearing category 3 or potentially category 2 depending upon the severity. These NIHL categorisations override numerically categorised results mentioned below.

Numerically categorised according to the HSE categorisation scheme as explained in the control of noise at work regulations 2005 (L108). There are 4 hearing categories 1-4 plus the condition of unilateral hearing loss. Many automatic audiometers can calculate and display the numerical categorisation

Are there any risks to completing audiometry tests

Audiometry tests normally start at below the level of conversational speech and as such do not represent a risk to health. If the patient has a significant hearing loss the test may start at a higher level (max 80dB), which is still below the HSE first action level of sound

There are several variables to consider before starting, one of which is the ambient noise level, which if above a certain level can inadvertently increase the measured hearing threshold level. For this reason it is recommended that audiometry is completed in an acoustic booth by a trained and qualified healthcare professional who has completed an approved audiometry training course

Once clearly instructed on how to respond to test tones, the individual will complete either an automatic test ( Bekesy or Hughson-westlake) or manual audiometry test.

These tests are considered as pure tone audiometry where a hearing threshold is established at each particular test frequency ( usually 500 -8000Hz) and then a line is drawn to connect the measured hearing levels to get the shape of the audiogram.

The test itself involves test tones that are presented at decreasing loudness levels (10dB steps) until the tone cannot be heard. The tones are then presented at an increased intensity (5dB steps) until they are heard again. This procedure is known as the Hughson-Westlake method and is the most commly used hearing test technique within hearing surveillance /screening audiometry.

For school screening hearing tests, typically manual audiometry is completed and a frequency sweep at a set hearing intensity level is used.

UK employers are legally required under the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Control of Noise at work regulations (L108) to provide health surveillance (hearing checks) for those at risk. Employers should use the results to review controls and further protect individuals.

It is essential that employers and or occupational health service providers ensure that the occupational health technicians, nurses and doctors who are going to oversee the hearing test and or assess the hearing test results are appropriately trained with a recognised course.

In occupational health the healthcare professional who completes the hearing test may be an Occupational nurse, technician or physician. The individual should have completed a British Society of Audiology (BSA) approved audiometry course in line with recommendations by the UK Health and safety executive (HSE) or the Irish Health and safety authority (HSA).

Proof of recognized training is important if there is a medico-legal scenario where conditions such as Noise induced Hearing loss (NIHL) is claimed.

Absolutely. Many clients bundle disciplines to streamline health surveillance programmes; speak to us about a tailored package.

The newly designed Functional Hearing Course from OH-Partners has been developed to assist police forces in the effective implementation of functional hearing assessments as part of their occupational risk assessment processes.

This specialised course guides organisations in identifying role-specific hearing requirements, selecting appropriate testing methods, and differentiating between levels of functional hearing ability in operational contexts.

With proven expertise in supporting public sector organisations, OH-Partners enables forces to make evidence-based decisions that help retain and recruit high-calibre personnel while maintaining safety and compliance standards.

For further information on this training for your force, please contact us.