PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRIAL AUDIOMETRY*

Abstract-An important function of industrial audiometry is to provide positive evidence of increases in individuals ' auditory threshold. If audiometry is used for this purpose four major factors, in addition to the usual precautions, should be given detailed con-sideration:-1. The acoustic environment must be sufficiently quiet to permit precise determination of normal threshold-normal thresholds on the British Standard (B.S.S.). Maximum permissible octave sound pressure levels are suggested for use with audiometers cali-brated to B.S.S. 2. The instrument performance must be routinely supervised by an adequate testing technique. Hearing tests on a single reference subject do not suffice. 3. Account must be taken of the not inconsiderable experimental error involved in rou-tine audiometric procedures. Inspection criteria for assessment of individual data are cited. 4. The time of a test session in relation to noise exposure is a matter of considerable importance. Evidence has been produced showing that some noise exposed worker