Can an Audiologist Determine Etiology of a Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
• Old School-No • New School-Yes • ASHA Technical Report 2004-9(9): “Determine or assist in determining through evaluation or referral, work-relatedness of hearing loss for the purposes of otologic and/or audiologic referral and recording on the OSHA Log 300.” • OSHA 1910.95(G)(7)(III): “The audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician shall review problem audiograms and shall determine whether there is need for further evaluation….” Audiologists are the best professionals for determining whether the STS should or should not be recorded on the OSHA Log 300. Although some audiologists feel this is beyond their scope of practice, determining cause of loss for recording on the Log 300 is within the guidelines set by OSHA and ASHA as referenced above. At a minimum, audiologists should be able to at least rule out work noise as a cause of loss if substantiated by history and assessment. If an audiologist is not willing to make the determination then the audiologist should not take referrals
