CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Audiometric Testing Procedures Questions and Answers

Question 1

According to OSHA regulations, which of the following is a required component for establishing a valid baseline audiogram?

Accepted Answer

The test must be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.

Answer

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(iii) requires that baseline audiograms be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. This 'quiet period' is essential to allow for temporary threshold shifts to resolve, ensuring the baseline reflects the employee's true hearing threshold. Hearing protectors can be used as a substitute for this requirement.

Question 2

An employee's annual audiogram reveals an average threshold shift of 15 dB at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in their right ear when compared to their baseline. What is the immediate next step for the Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHC)?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a retest within 30 days to determine if the shift is persistent.

Answer

OSHA defines a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) as an average change from baseline of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz. When an STS is identified, the recommended procedure is to retest within 30 days to confirm if the shift is temporary or persistent before taking further action like referral or recordkeeping.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of a CAOHC-certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHC) in the audiometric testing process?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosing the cause of a hearing loss.

Answer

The scope of practice for an OHC does not include diagnosing medical conditions or the cause of hearing loss. That responsibility lies with a physician or audiologist. OHCs are trained to perform valid testing, identify potential problems (like an STS) for review by the Professional Supervisor, perform daily checks, and properly instruct the person being tested.

Question 4

A daily biological calibration check of the audiometer is performed using a human listener with known, stable hearing. The check reveals that the 1000 Hz tone is only audible to the listener at 20 dB HL, whereas their known threshold is 5 dB HL. What should the OHC do?

Accepted Answer

Replace the headphones and repeat the biological check.

Answer

A significant deviation on a daily check (typically >10 dB) indicates a potential equipment problem. Before assuming the audiometer itself is out of calibration, the OHC should troubleshoot common issues. A frequent source of problems is the equipment accessories. Replacing the headphones and repeating the check is a logical first step. If the problem persists, the audiometer should not be used until it is checked further.

Question 5

The maximum permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLs) for an audiometric test room are specified by which standard?

Accepted Answer

ANSI/ASA S3.1

Answer

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Acoustical Society of America (ASA) S3.1 standard specifies the maximum permissible ambient noise levels allowed in a test room to ensure that background noise does not interfere with the test and invalidate the threshold measurements.

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Practice Test

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Practice Test

CAOHC - Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation Audiometric Testing Procedures Questions and Answers