QUESTION: I recently performed an IME on an individual alleging occupationally related, noise-induced hearing loss. The man was 63-years-old and had worked in a foundry for 40 years. I reviewed his audiogram. He had hearing loss starting in the 500 Hz range, extending through the 8 kHz range. There was a gradual down sloping. I was told that there is typically a “notch” in the 3-4 kHz range in individuals who have noise-induced hearing loss. There was a small, but noticeable notch in this range.
Using the tables found in both the Fifth and Sixth Editions of the AMA Guides, impairment is based on adding the hearing losses at 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. Presbycusis affects all four these ranges, but, as noted above, occupationally acquired hearing loss is generally only the 3 to 4...
