What does CAOHC stand for? correct answers Council for Accreditation in Occupational
Hearing Conservation
Who is the certification body for? correct answers Occupational Hearing Conservationist
(OHCs)
Course Directors (CDs)
Professional Supervisors (PSs)
What is CAOHCs mission? correct answers To promote hearing loss prevention by enhancing
the quality of occupational hearing loss prevention practices, with a focus on:
Providing OHCs: resources and guidance to facilitate the practice of hearing loss prevention
through standardized training and credentialing
Providing CDs: training resources, curriculum oversight, and professional support to assist in
ensuring the competence of OHC's
What does CAOHC do? correct answers Promote BEST PRACTICES in occupational hearing
conservation
What is a CAOHC certified student? correct answers Certified occupational hearing
conservationist (COHC)
How long does a COHC certification last? correct answers 5 years
,What are the two effects of noise? correct answers Auditory
Non-auditory
Defined auditory correct answers Direct effects to the ear
What are some examples of auditory effects? correct answers 1. Noise induced hearing loss
(NIHL)
2. Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
3. Hyperacusis (high sensitivity to noise; lower tolerance for loud sounds)
4. Communication interference
Define non-auditory correct answers Other physiological and psychological effects
What are some examples of non-auditory effects? correct answers 1. Hypertension
2. Cognitive decline
3. Stress
4. Isolation, Social withdrawal, frustration
5. Sleep disturbances
, 6. Degraded work performance
What are some early signs of noise induced hearing loss? correct answers 1. Difficulty
understanding conversations (particularly in background noise)
2. Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
What are some characteristics of noise induced hearing loss? correct answers 1. Usually bilateral,
always sensorineural
2. Typically affects high frequencies first; audiometric "notch" at 4000Hz
3. Primary determiners of damage are duration and intensity of sound
4. Temporary hearing threshold shifts (TTS) become permanent threshold shifts (PTS)
Name two sources of hazardous noise correct answers 1. Occupational noise exposure
2. Non-occupational noise exposure
What is the most common occupational illness and second most self reported occupational
illness for American workers? correct answers Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL)
What occupation has the highest percentage of noise induced hearing loss? correct answers
Manufacturing
Approximately how many people are exposed to hazardous noise in the workplace? correct
answers 30 million people