M E Lutman1, R R A Coles2, J T Buffin3. 1. Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 2. MRC Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham, UK. 3. Department of Medical Audiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Guidelines published in 2000 by the authors are widely used by medical and legal professionals in the UK for diagnosis of noise-induced hearing loss in a medicolegal context. However, they cannot be used for quantification of the noise-induced hearing loss, which is required in most cases. This requirement is addressed. DESIGN: A method is developed here to quantify noise-induced hearing loss, thereby overcoming this shortcoming. SETTING: Assessment of noise-induced hearing loss in medicolegal cases. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive series of 124 cases of noise-induced hearing loss is used for evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Magnitude of noise-induced hearing loss based on hearing threshold levels averaged over the frequencies 1, 2 and 3 kHz. RESULTS: The rationale of the method, practical application and three worked examples are developed. A simpler short-cut method is developed and shown to be equivalent to the full method in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: The method offers a practical approach to quantification of noise-induced hearing loss.
OBJECTIVES: Guidelines published in 2000 by the authors are widely used by medical and legal professionals in the UK for diagnosis of noise-induced hearing loss in a medicolegal context. However, they cannot be used for quantification of the noise-induced hearing loss, which is required in most cases. This requirement is addressed. DESIGN: A method is developed here to quantify noise-induced hearing loss, thereby overcoming this shortcoming. SETTING: Assessment of noise-induced hearing loss in medicolegal cases. PARTICIPANTS: A consecutive series of 124 cases of noise-induced hearing loss is used for evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Magnitude of noise-induced hearing loss based on hearing threshold levels averaged over the frequencies 1, 2 and 3 kHz. RESULTS: The rationale of the method, practical application and three worked examples are developed. A simpler short-cut method is developed and shown to be equivalent to the full method in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: The method offers a practical approach to quantification of noise-induced hearing loss.