Novel Solutions for Hearing Protector Fit Testing – Outcomes of the International Hearing Protector Fit-Testing Symposium

Wide scale adoption of hearing protector fit testing (HPFT), involves overcoming barriers to implementation. Many challenges were identified and discussed at the International Hearing Protector Fit-Testing Symposium such as the time and resources for conducting HPFT, scalability, and articulating the return on investment. Efforts to address several of these challenges were presented. For example, laboratory test methods for measuring the attenuation characteristics of a hearing protection device (HPD) must satisfy strict acoustic and equipment requirements imposed by consensus standards. The laboratory methods are not suitable for use in occupational settings. For subjective threshold-based methods, efficiency can be realized by reducing the test time by testing fewer frequencies and creating more efficient psychophysical paradigms. Objective in-ear measurements of attenuation and/or noise exposure holds promise for minimizing the burden to implementing fit testing. Field Microphone-in-Real-Ear methods provide a rapid assessment of HPD attenuation for hearing protectors compatible with the fit-test system. While HPFT estimates attenuation, the worker's actual daily noise exposure is still an estimate. Hearing protection systems incorporating in-ear dosimetry or exposure assessments can provide continuous monitoring of sound exposures. This article reviews novel approaches to developing better exposure assessment tools.