3M™ E-A-R™ Hearing Loss Prevention Seminars

Administration of a comprehensive and effective hearing conservation/hearing loss prevention program consists of more than merely purchasing and dispensing hearing protectors. Audiometric testing, education, motivation and program evaluation are but a few of the additional important aspects of an overall program. This seminar will review these issues and others in a practical and realistic manner, providing state-of-the-art recommendations to ensure protection of the worker and compliance with the law.

Emphasis will be placed upon an understanding of how hearing protectors function, how they are tested and rated, how they perform in the real world and how they affect employees' ability to function on their jobs. Commercially available products will be discussed with respect to their performance and selection, fit, use and care. The emerging technique of fit testing will also be explored.

Successful implementation of a program via education, motivation, supervision and team work will be stressed. Effective use of annual audiometric testing, identification of standard threshold shifts (STSs), determination of work relatedness and take-home training skills will also be examined.

Seminar Topics Include:
- Detection and noise monitoring
- Health effects related to noise exposure
- Using noise exposure data
- Training tips and resources with an emphasis on motivation and take-home tools
- Selection, fitting, use and care of hearing protectors
- Communication in noise

Disclosure:
There is no charge for this seminar. Expenses, including breaks and lunch, are paid by 3M, a manufacturer of hearing protection products. Samples of 3M hearing protection products will be available outside of instructional time for those who wish to visit the exhibit area. No purchase required.

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If you are involved in any phase of hearing conservation - academic, industrial, government or military - you should plan to attend. You'll learn practical solutions to noise problems and you'll leave with a thorough knowledge of hearing conservation in the context of occupational safety and health. Our Hearing Loss Prevention Seminars offer an outstanding opportunity to bring your technical and administrative knowledge up to date. And with protection technology and government regulations changing frequently, you need to have the latest information.

Students normally include industrial hygienists, health and safety personnel, nurses, audiologists, consultants, engineers and medical staff. Applicants should possess a basic understanding of noise measurement terminology and existing noise legislation, although attendance is open to all who are interested.

Continuing Education Hours and Credits are available for industrial hygienists and other professionals.

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Full-day attendance with arrival no later than 8:15 am and completion of a course evaluation form. A full description of requirements for satisfactory completion is available upon request.

Industrial Hygienists
This course contains 6.5 hours of technical content which can be claimed for CM credit.

Occupational Health Nurses
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) has approved 6.25 contact hours. AAOHN is an accredited approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. AAOHN approval of contact hours does not imply endorsement of commercial products displayed.

Audiologists
0.6 Academy CEUs are approved by the American Academy of Audiologists (AAA). Approval of Academy CEUs does not imply endorsement of commercial products displayed.

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7:30 AM – Registration

8:00 AM – Hearing Loss Prevention – The Big Picture
Detection and noise monitoring, health effects related to noise exposure and human factors that influence program success.

9:00 AM – Break

9:15 AM – Studying for Hearing Tests – Benefits of Reliable Audiometric Test Data
Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP) best practices and practical ideas for program enhancement. Review of common misconceptions, such as required test frequencies, technician certification and baseline revision.

10:15 AM - Break

10:30 AM – Recordable Hearing Loss and Determining Work-Relatedness
Definitions and calculation of standard threshold shift (STS), factors in determining work relatedness including contribution of non-occupational exposures, and discussion of case studies.

11:30 AM – Hearing Forward – Future Ears
Training tips and resources with emphasis on the importance of motivation in achieving true HLPP effectiveness.

12:15 PM – Complimentary buffet luncheon

1:15 PM – Hearing Protector Testing, Rating, and Performance
How hearing protection devices (HPDs) work, laboratory test procedures, rating systems, factors that influence how well they work and workplace fit testing as a best practice.

2:15 PM – Break

2:30 PM – Selection, Fitting, and Care of HPDs
Review of popular products sold today, proper fitting techniques, guidance on HPD selection and use and answers to frequently asked questions.

3:15 PM - Communicating in Noise
Effects of hearing protectors on the audibility of speech and other sounds, tips for communicating, specialized HPDs to enhance face-to-face, wireless and 2-way radio communication.

4:00 PM – Administrative Issues and Education Applications

4:15 PM – Adjourn

Materials Provided
A binder containing articles and reports pertinent to the seminar and a note pad will be provided. Binder contents include copies of the lecturers' PowerPoint slides, various pamphlets and booklets, references and recommended readings.

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Ted Madison is a Technical Service Specialist for the 3M Personal Safety Division, providing technical support, education and training in hearing loss prevention and hearing protection. He received a Master's degree in Audiology from The University of Iowa in 1984. Currently, Ted is the Chair of the Publications Committee of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) and is a CAOHC-certified course director at the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota. The National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) awarded Ted with Michael Beall Threadgill Award for outstanding leadership and distinguished service in 2008 and its Outstanding Lecture Award in 2002. He is a Past President of NHCA, a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), a member of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), and a representative of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) to the ANSI S3 Bioacoustics committee. When time allows, Ted brings his passion for hearing loss prevention into the classroom as a Dangerous Decibels™ educator, teaching young people about the joys of hearing and encouraging them to make healthy hearing choices.

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Laurie Wells is a board-certified audiologist and Senior Acoustics Regulatory Affairs Specialist for 3M Personal Safety Division. She received her Master's degree from University of Arizona and her clinical doctorate degree from Salus University, School of Audiology. Laurie is a certified Professional Supervisor of the Audiometric Component of a Hearing Conservation Program and provides professional audiology review of hearing conservation programs to ensure effective protection from noise hazards to both employers and employees. This includes audiometric database analysis, assessment of hearing protection devices, and employee/employer education, worker's compensation reviews, and employee noise exposure assessment for both hearing conservation and regulatory compliance. Laurie is the Vice-Chair of Education for the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), and was a top-25 most active certified course director in 2003 and 2005. She has also taught numerous seminars, graduate audiology courses, and made frequent presentations at state and national conferences. Laurie is past-president of the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), and served on the NHCA board from 1999 - 2007. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the Colorado Academy of Audiology.

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