Pure tone air conduction audiometric instruments, properly calibrated according to accepted national standards used to define occupational hearing loss shall be used for measuring hearing levels, and the audiograms shall be taken and the tests given in an environment as prescribed by accepted national standards. If more than one audiogram is taken following notice of an occupational hearing loss claim, the audiogram having the lowest threshold shall be used to calculate occupational hearing loss. If the measured levels of hearing average less than those levels that constitute an occupational hearing loss, the losses of hearing are not a compensable hearing disability. If the measured levels of hearing average ninety-two decibels American national standards institute (ANSI) or international standards organization (ISO), or more in the four frequencies, then the levels constitute total, or one hundred percent, compensable hearing loss. In measuring hearing loss the lowest measured levels in each of the four frequencies shall be added together and divided by four to determine the average decibel level. For each resulting average decibel level exceeding twenty-five decibels ANSI or ISO, an allowance of one and one-half percent shall be made up to the maximum of one hundred percent, which is reached at the average level of ninety-two decibels ANSI or ISO. In determining the binaural percentage of loss, the percentage of loss in the better ear shall be multiplied by five. The resulting figure shall be added to the percentage of loss in the poorer ear, and the sum of the two divided by six. The final percentage shall represent the binaural hearing loss. Audiometric examinations shall be made by a person who is certified by the council of accreditation in occupational hearing conservation or by persons trained by formal course work in air conduction audiometry at an accredited educational institution or licensed as audiologists under chapter 147, as physicians under chapter 148, as osteopathic physicians under chapter 150, or as osteopathic physicians and surgeons under chapter 150A if such licensed persons are trained in air conduction audiometry. The interpretation of the audiometric examination shall be by the employer's regular or consulting physician who is trained and has had experience with such interpretation, or by a licensed audiologist. If the employee disputes the interpretation, the employee may select a physician similarly trained and experienced or a licensed audiologist to give an interpretation of the audiometric examination. This section is applicable in the event of partial permanent or total permanent occupational hearing loss in one or both ears.
[C81, § 85B.9; 81 Acts, ch 42, § 1]
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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