Practical Implementation of Hearing Protector Fit Testing – Outcomes of the International Hearing Protector Fit-Testing Symposium

Hearing protector fit testing (HPFT) has achieved wider acceptance in civilian and military occupational hearing loss prevention programs. At the International Hearing Protector Fit Testing Symposium, various studies and efforts to implement fit testing with workers and service members were reviewed. Research indicates that HPFT identified persons who did not achieve adequate attenuation and who subsequently improved following instruction. Fit testing was reported to be an effective approach to train new employees to select and properly fit hearing protection suited to the employees’ noise exposures. A forthcoming systematic review found moderate evidence that HPFT with individualized training was effective to improve the personal attenuation rating (PAR) for workers. However, simple instructions had little if any effect on PAR. Only a small number of studies provided high-quality evidence – a research need cited across presentations. Nonetheless, the evidence is sufficient such that the recently revised Department of Defense Instruction 6055.12 includes regular HPFT for select categories of noise-exposed service members and civilian workers. This paper reviews the evidence for HPFT effectiveness, proposes methods to efficiently implement HPFT, describes instructions for workers, and develops the business case for HPFT.