Doug Ohlin, Ph.D.
Failures to confirm significant threshold shifts (STS) with follow-up testing and failures to re-establish reference audiograms can result in the same hearing shift being measured year after year and, in other cases, preclude opportunities to recognize additional hearing shifts. This lack of clinical bench level management undermines the purpose of monitoring audiometry to detect hearing loss before it becomes a communication handicap and a compensable disability. In addition, the differences between all STS occurrences on periodic tests and new cases of STS on periodic tests demonstrate how lack of follow-up testing and failures to re-establish reference audiograms can affect data trends. Responses compiled from DOEHRS-HC testing sites on explanations for testing and documentation shortfalls were developed into recommendations for improving compliance.