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Comparison of the previous and incoming categorisations of audiograms in the occupational health setting in Ireland.

Audiometry is a useful screening tool used in hearing conservation programmes carried out on our work force. Maintaining healthy hearing is essential as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), once established is irreversible. A categorisation system was developed to allow for simple triage by a non-specialist, (an occupational health nurse or audiologist) of Audiograms. Last year a new categorisation of audiograms was introduced in Ireland. I applied the previous categorisation and the new categorisation to 50 audiograms and compared the outcomes of each. The new categorisation results in fewer audiograms requiring referral to a specialist (14% versus 18%), fewer audiograms being classified at a warning level (6% versus 20%), and increases the percentage of normal audiograms (80% versus 60%). The new categorisation is more simplified, accounts for men having slightly worse higher frequency hearing than women and legislates for workers aged 18 years and older.