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Fit
Testing

Many employees fail to insert hearing protection appropriately, which can result in ineffective hearing protection and permanent hearing loss. The most effective hearing conservation programs incorporate hearing protector fit testing to ensure their employees safety.

OSHA, NIOSH, and the U.S. DoD emphasize the importance of fit testing as a best practice to protect an employee’s hearing. While OSHA doesn’t necessarily require fit testing for a hearing protection device, the DoD has made it a requirement and both OSHA and NIOSH consider it best practice.

Fit testing is designed to quantitatively verify that a hearing protector device (HPD) is working properly. It is used to measure the effectiveness of HPDs while also providing an individual’s Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) by measuring the amount of noise reduction that a HPD provides. This measure identifies those at risk for hearing loss as a result of poor fit and can ultimately prevent future degradation in hearing.
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HEARING PROTECTOR FIT TESTING WITH WAHTS
Speed
Performs a fit test quickly
Portability
Transport and use outside a clinic
Minimal Equipment
Uses the same equipment for hearing and fit testing
Ease-of-Use
Intuitive and easy software
Compatibility
Can be used across multiple HPDs.
Multi-Person Testing
Performs multi-person hearing and fit testing

How It Works:
Fit Testing with WAHTS

WAHTS provides a boothless, multi-person fit testing option that is fast, easy-to-use, and follows the ANSI S12.71 standard. The WAHTS hearing protector fit test is a psychophysical test and complies with the ANSI/ASA standard for reporting personalized attenuation ratings (ANSI/ASA S12.71-2018). Because WAHTS includes an audiometer, it provides flexibility for performing both hearing testing and fit testing in your hearing conservation program either one-on-one or in group settings.
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System Components
  • Highly-attenuating headset allows you to
    test in more environments
  • Intuitive tablet-based app provides hearing
    protector education and calculates personal
    protection
  • Ear plugs (not included)
  • Supports both fit testing and automated
    hearing testing
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System Outputs
  • PAR is computed with REAT-based method
  • A report is available on the app and
    can be downloaded by CSV, PDF
  • The results can be uploaded to a third-party
    electronic health database
1. Launch
The administrator launches the WAHTS app to begin the fit test.
2. Training
The administrator will provide a quick training for the test takers on the task of responding to the stimuli.
3. Threshold Tasks
The test takers complete unoccluded (earplugs out) and occluded (ear plugs inserted) threshold measurements.
4. Reporting
Upon completion, the software reports attenuation at each frequency and an overall personal attenuation rating (PAR).
The WAHTS fit test can be administrated in two different instances: it can be paired with an annual hearing test and performed directly after, or it can occur as a separate test to measure the unoccluded and occluded thresholds. When conducted, the test can occur in a group setting or individual setting.

WAHTS
Fit Test Performance

OSHA, NIOSH, and the DoD emphasize the importance of fit testing as a best practice to protect an employee’s hearing. While OSHA doesn’t necessarily require fit testing for a hearing protection device, both the DoD and NIOSH consider it a gold standard.

In parallel, ANSI/ASA has recently issued a standard (ANSI S12.71-2018) that depicts exactly how manufacturers should validate their fit test system through specific laboratory-based procedures. These validation studies are geared to ensure that a fit test system is accurate and repeatable.

This table presents the information required by the ANSI/ASA S12.71-2018 American National Standard Performance Criteria for Systems that Estimate the Attenuation of Passive Hearing Protectors for Individual Users. This criteria is designed to evaluate fit test systems that report a personal attenuation rating.
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Get in Touch

Connect with us to find out more about WAHTS.
48 Lafayette St.
Lebanon, NH 03766
+1-603-945-4510