Ms. Lynn Cook
Those of us working in occupational audiology are often faced with fitness for duty questions when hearing is a factor. In certain occupations, binaural hearing is necessary to ensure that the individual is able to perform the job in a safe and effective manner. Adequate auditory localization and speech recognition in noise may be critical skills, however, there is no standardized way of quantifying them. As a result, fitness for duty questions may be resolved in different ways by different audiologists in different clinical settings.
The Hearing In Noise Test (HINT) is a commercially available test designed to measure functional hearing abilities, i.e., that which enables a person to perform normally those daily activities that involve hearing. It is a pre-recorded, adaptive speech test that directly quantifies the clear superiority of binaural vice monaural hearing. It has been subjected to rigorous normative procedures, has a known standard error of measurement, and has demonstrated a high degree of test/retest reliability. A new headphones version of the test designed for use on a Windows-based PC would tie in nicely with our new DOHRS-HC systems.
The HINT has already been incorporated into hearing standards for a variety of federal and local law enforcement agencies, and has withstood at least one court challenge involving a firefighter. We should consider incorporating the HINT into our currently woefully inadequate standards for auditory fitness for duty.