Overcoming Barriers to Hearing Protector Fit Testing – Outcomes of the International Hearing Protector Fit-Testing Symposium

Wide 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 challenges were presented. For example, laboratory test methods for measuring the attenuation 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 threshold-based methods, efficiency can be realized by reducing the test time by testing fewer frequencies and creating more efficient psychophysical paradigms. In-ear measurements of attenuation and/or noise exposure hold 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 also an estimate. In-ear dosimetry or exposure assessments can provide continuous monitoring of sound exposures. This paper reviews research pertinent to overcoming barriers to implementation and the challenges for developing better exposure assessment tools.