Hearing Testing & Protection Trends: 2025
In 2024, we’ve seen big changes in the way hearing conservation programs are addressed. At the employer level, we’re seeing annual hearing tests provided as an employee wellness benefit – an excellent way to care for the health of your employees. Changes in regulations at the Department of Defense are contributing to increased implementation of hearing protection fit-testing. And finally, the ever-increasing discussion about earbuds/other audio playing devices used as hearing protection.
Hearing testing employees not exposed to loud noise
One of the biggest changes we’ve seen in hearing conservation this year has been the interest in providing hearing tests to employees not exposed to the OSHA Action Level of 85 decibels. More and more employers are offering annual hearing testing as an employment benefit, and this is an excellent way of caring for the hearing of your employees.
However, employers should be aware that there are risks of false STS flags when doing so. If an employee who works in the office is exposed to recreational loud noise, it can result in the rise of false Standard Threshold Shift notices.
Anadyne’s Wellness Program is designed to separately process tests for employees above and below the Action Level as needed. We work with you to identify which employees need their hearing test records processed differently, and after the event you’ll receive a clear report detailing which employees were tested as part of your standard Hearing Conservation Program, versus which employees were tested as part of your Wellness Program.
Interested in providing hearing testing for your employees? Reach out today!
Hearing protection fit-testing
The Department of Defense released requirements for hearing protection fit-testing in late 2023. As a result, throughout 2024 employers are becoming more and more aware of the benefits that hearing protection fit-testing can provide.
Our hearing conservation experts predict that the biggest change for hearing conservation in 2025 will be more definition around what hearing protection fit-testing is. Increased discussion and research by NIOSH about hearing protection fit-testing will likely develop for several years, until there is enough data to create a new OSHA regulation about how it can be applied to a hearing conservation program.
Get ahead of the regulations – ask about our hearing protection fit-testing system
Earbuds as hearing protection?
One of the biggest discussions we’ve seen this year has been between employees and employers, on the use of earbuds as hearing protection devices. There are several scenarios that can play out in this situation, and the lack of detailed regulations can lead to confusion.
Hearing protection is not always required where the employee is exposed to noise levels below the 90-decibel permissible exposure limit. Although not prohibited by OSHA, it’s in this scenario that the most damage can occur due to wearing earbuds as hearing protection. Since most employers don’t measure the noise levels coming from the earbuds, the employee could be exposed to much louder levels of noise than their official TWA states.
Where hearing protection is required, OSHA states that the protection must have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The majority of common wireless earbuds do not have the ANSI rating that OSHA requires. This also applies for ‘noise cancelling’ earbuds. Employers should be aware that ‘noise cancelling' is not the same as hearing protection or an NRR rating.
Hearing protection that allows for safe communication
Hearing testing & protection in 2025: the bottom line
Based on what we’ve seen in 2024, we predict that employers will continue to take proactive steps to prevent employee hearing loss. The implementation of hearing testing for employees that are not exposed to noise, as well as the further research and implementation of hearing protection fit-testing, will help contribute to an enhanced safety culture.
Looking to update your hearing conservation program for 2025? Reach out today!
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