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Tayls  
#1 Posted : 07 August 2019 14:48:54(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Tayls

Can anyone direct me to  a specialist  or advise on assessing employees with hearing impairment and selection of suitable hearing protection for  such persons working in hearing protection zones

biker1  
#2 Posted : 07 August 2019 15:01:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
biker1

In a sense, it seems a strange concept to wear hearing aids to boost reception, then wear hearing protection to dull it. There is also the issue of feedback - covering a hearing aid can produce troublesome feedback in my experience. You would then be able to tell who has hearing aids from the whistling sound emanating from them!

If they are in a hearing protection zone, and wearing protection, I do wonder if there is any point in wearing a hearing aid, but then you do want them to hear other things. I came across this problem in call centres, where staff have to wear headphones, and wasn't convinced there was an easy answer to it.

stevedm  
#3 Posted : 08 August 2019 06:34:57(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

Not sure what context but I only have the experience of call centres where we changed some of the technology to allow for the employee to connect thier hearing aid to the system via bluetooth.  It also then helped with fire evacuation etc as the whole system could be controlled and messages send directly interupting calls...I will post a link if I find it...not enough coffee yet to rememeber the name! :)

Roundtuit  
#4 Posted : 08 August 2019 07:59:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Back at the outset of The Noise at Work Regulations in a noisy manufactuiring environment the best we could offer an employee with dual aids were the ear-muffs normally associated with hearing measurement (adjusted by the manufacturer).

Prompted by your post I have had a quick look to realise little progress has been made other than there are now custom moulded plugs.

Even charities such as action hearing loss seem to be promoting normal commercial solutions.

Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 08 August 2019 07:59:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Back at the outset of The Noise at Work Regulations in a noisy manufactuiring environment the best we could offer an employee with dual aids were the ear-muffs normally associated with hearing measurement (adjusted by the manufacturer).

Prompted by your post I have had a quick look to realise little progress has been made other than there are now custom moulded plugs.

Even charities such as action hearing loss seem to be promoting normal commercial solutions.

Hsquared14  
#6 Posted : 08 August 2019 09:02:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Hsquared14

I think this depends on the type of hearing aid the person uses.  You might be able to get some information from the ENT consultant who supplied the hearing aids or perhaps try one of the charities for deaf people.

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