Introducing Site and Clinic Audiometry Testing provided by The Arima Diagnostic
Clinic
Audiometric Testing:
The Arima Diagnostic Clinic offers on-site audiometry (hearing testing) using specially
designed mobile testing units which will come to your plant site anywhere Trinidad. We
have developed procedures and systems to achieve accurate and repeatable testing results
from year to year.
Accuracy - Testing is done by experienced technicians who specialize in audiometric testing.
Separate Booths - Testing is done in separate, fully enclosed sound isolation booths.
Professional Supervision - All testing is directed and reviewed by our full-time staff medical practitioner.
User Friendly Reports - Industrial Health's reports are easy to understand and use.
Reliability - OSHA certified software package for repeatable results.
Value Pricing - Industrial Health provides excellent value for your hearing test dollar.
Medical Review:
The Arima Diagnostic Clinic provides full review of all audio t
ests performed. All test
results are sent to our headquarters in Arima for review by one of our full-time staff
general practitioners. Even with the best audiometers and highly trained technicians
hearing tests can be faulty (about .3% of tests done). Even microprocessor audiometers
can not detect whether hearing loss is due to noise exposure or caused by other factors
such as illness or injury. Our practitioners review all audio tests that fall outside of
specified limits so invalid audiograms can be detected or medical referrals can be made.
Hearing Conservation: The purpose of a hearing conservation program is to protect the
hearing of workers exposed to noise through the use of hearing protection (ear plugs and
ear muffs). This combined with monitoring the effectiveness of the hearing protection
through a continuing program of periodic hearing testing.
Hearing Conservation Training: Employees can be given hearing conservation
training at the time of their annual hearing test.
STS Detection and Training: Employees who show an OSHA standard threshold shift
(STS) can be identified at the time of their annual hearing test. They will be re-tested to
verify the STS finding. If an STS is verified they can be given training and counseling to
meet OSHA requirements regarding their STS.
Reporting: Our report formats are custom designed to be easy to use as well as to satisfy
OSHA requirements. A Management Action Report is generated for each site tested.
It lists all employees tested and their hearing class, trend, medical referral (if any) and
OSHA standard threshold shifts (STS) or shifts that must be recorded on OSHA logs. To make
it easy for management to take appropriate action this report also has action listings
of those employees who fall into categories such as medical referrals, hearing loss, STS
shift, STS Log shifts, and Arima Diagnostic Clinic's hearing trend calculation.
The Arima Diagnostic Clinic provides complete services for compliance with OSHA
regulation 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure
Links:
OSHA Requirements:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?
p_table=standards&p_id=9735
http://www.msha.gov/1999noise/noiseapp.pdf
Hearing conservation program:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_conservation_program
SCHOOL HEARING PROGRAM - Arima Diagnostic Clinic
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of hearing screening is to identify students with possible hearing loss, which may affect their intellectual, emotional, social, speech, and/or language development. The key to successful remediation is early identification and intervention, which may prevent educational problems and permanent hearing loss. Even mild hearing loss may be educationally and medically significant.
It is estimated that in the United States, the prevalence of the hearing impairment is between 14 and 40 million. There are estimated to be approximately 3 – 4 million children who are deaf or hard hearing.
The most serious effect of hearing loss is interference with and breakdown of communication between persons. In a child, some of the consequences may be:
(a) Interference with normal speech and language development.
(b) Development of abnormal social growth and behavior.
(c) Interference with education and human potential.
(d) Development of adjustment problems in the child and the family.
(e) Isolationism in a hearing world.
II. OBJECTIVES:
The major objectives of school hearing screening are to:
• Promote an optimal level of hearing for all students.
• Prevent the development of hearing problems that may affect the student’s health and potential for learning.
• Identify students with potential hearing problems.
• Notify parent or guardian of a child’s hearing screening failure and the need for further examination by an audiologist.
• Establish follow-up procedures to ensure that each identified student will receive appropriate care.
• Inform teachers of students with hearing problems and provide recommendations from hearing specialists regarding the classroom environment.
• Provide appropriate educational accommodations for students with hearing impairment.
III. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Knowing the signs and symptoms of hearing loss is important when identifying students with a suspected hearing problem.
Indicators include:
· Recurring otitis media or upper respiratory infections
· Mouth breathing
· Draining ears
· Earache complaints
· Sudden school failure following a severe illness
· Frequent requests to repeat what has just been said
· Irrelevant or inappropriate answers to questions
· Turning one ear toward speaker
· Talking either too loudly or too softly
· Indistinct speech (slurring or omission of sounds)
· Watching the lips of the speaker
· Inattention to classroom discussion
· Making mistakes in following directions and taking dictation
· Tending to isolate self, being passive, or tiring easily
