How shipboard hearing tests are helping a federal fleet model what’s possible for maritime services
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration runs some of the most remote missions in the federal government. Its Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) manages 15 research and survey ships, as well as a fleet of specialized aircraft. Crewed by civilians and officers from the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, OMAO also manages the NOAA Diving Program, Small Boat Program, and the Uncrewed Systems Operations Center. In essence, it deploys people and platforms to where the science happens — often far from clinics, hospitals, and the controlled environments where health monitoring usually occurs.
That’s why NOAA’s Marine Medicine Branch is taking proactive steps to monitor crew health at sea, including hearing. During a recent deployment aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather — a hydrographic vessel tasked with mapping the seafloor to update the nation’s nautical charts — Lieutenant Lynn May, BSN, CEN, NREMTP, an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, led hearing assessments using WAHTS, a wireless, boothless hearing test system sometimes described as a “wearable sound booth.” Acting Communications Director Keeley Belva provided a broader context for NOAA.
For NOAA, it’s not just about the charts and science — it’s about the people who make those missions happen and ensuring their hearing stays safe at sea.
The operational context
Hydrographic work requires precision in challenging conditions. Weather, sea state, and vessel movement make it challenging to maintain straight survey lines and collect high-quality data. These same environmental factors also impact routine healthcare. At sea, advanced medical treatment can be hundreds of miles and hours away. NOAA typically equips missions departing from trauma centers with a medical officer, allowing crews to receive immediate assessment and stabilization onboard.
Within that environment, occupational noise exposure is ongoing. Engines, deck equipment, small boats, aviation assets, and dive support gear produce a soundscape that, while often within regulatory limits, can be intense and continuous. Hearing conservation is not just a theoretical program for NOAA — it is a vital part of workforce readiness.
Why take hearing testing to the ship
Historically, hearing exams relied on sound booths and clinical environments. That approach fails when crews move through remote stations, science windows are limited, or missions last for weeks. Portable hearing testing changes the situation. Instead of bringing mariners ashore to find a booth, NOAA can now perform self-administered hearing tests right at the work site.
“The portability is key,” May explained. “I tested pretty much anyone who was available and around me.”
The team anchored near St. George Island in the Pribilofs during part of the mission. Instead of scheduling around a clinic visit, crew members conducted remote hearing assessments onboard under medical supervision, with background noise control and workflow adjustments made to accommodate ship operations.
Making it work underway
Testing on a moving platform demands careful planning. The Marine Medicine team customized timing and locations to reduce vibration and ambient noise. They synchronized the testing schedule with the ship’s daily routine — including survey launches, watch shifts, and weather calls — while keeping the footprint small to prioritize the science mission.
May has tested herself in both a traditional booth and at sea with WAHTS. “With WAHTS, I don’t have to hold my breath — I don’t hear my heart beating while I’m trying to hear the sounds,” she said. That kind of comfort, she added, makes the results feel more natural and accurate.
Because WAHTS can support multiple tablets, several crew members can be tested simultaneously. This is important for a ship’s tight schedules. NOAA is also deploying systems across its operations — to marine centers, the dive program in Seattle, aviation units, and Atlantic and Pacific hubs — ensuring that hearing conservation testing remains consistent, whether a crew member is on a hydrographic ship in Alaska, conducting a fisheries survey in the Pacific, or supporting aviation in Florida.
Crew response and outcomes
Crew reception was positive. “Crew’s response is generally positive that audiograms are being done,” May said. The ability to test at sea made the process visible and convenient, demonstrating to crews that hearing health is an integral part of daily operations.
May also emphasized that familiarity is key. Comfortable headsets and a simple interface reduce the barrier to participation. When the test doesn’t feel clinical or disruptive, people are more likely to engage.
Broader impact for federal services
Belva emphasized the broader value: “Keeping the officers, mariners, and scientists in top health is a priority for NOAA, and highlighting this work shows that commitment.”
She added, “Anything we can do to make it easier for our people to care for their health supports NOAA’s mission of stewardship and safety.”
If an agency responsible for science and service can integrate boothless hearing test systems into real missions at sea, it demonstrates what’s achievable for other uniformed services. The Coast Guard and Navy operate at different tempos and face different risks, yet both depend on crews for whom hearing is a vital safety tool. NOAA is showcasing a practical approach: testing in the actual work environment, using tools suited to the setting, and maintaining the program’s sustainability.
Stories and images of shipboard testing — a medical officer guiding a mariner through a self-check, a survey launch on the davits, the Fairweather anchored off volcanic islands — connect workforce safety to the mission the public sees on nautical charts and ocean maps. They demonstrate a federal fleet investing in its people, enabling it to serve better mariners, fishers, pilots, and coastal communities.
Partnerships and acknowledgments
Special thanks to Jolene Sletten, Director of Audiology at South Central Foundation, for her collaboration and expertise. Partnerships like these strengthen the connection between frontline operations and clinical support, especially in Alaska, where distances and weather challenge every plan.
NOAA will continue to improve remote hearing testing at sea, share lessons with sister agencies, and highlight the people behind the data — including medical officers who also serve as paramedics, survey technicians mapping shoals line by line, and communications teams connecting the public to the work.
“I hope they will see that there are possibilities of doing hearing conservation outside of the booth,” May said.
At the end of the day, it’s about people. NOAA’s crews spend weeks and months in remote waters to keep America’s charts accurate and our fisheries sustainable.