To view the first lesson at no charge, click on the image to the right |
 |
Audience:
The Hearing Protector Fit Testing (HPFT) course is a beginning level, half-day course for anyone assigned to conduct HPFT in the workplace. There are no prerequisites, license, or membership requirements to take the training. Just a desire to learn. Participants purchase the course from our secure website and are automatically sent an email with login instructions to access to the course.
This course is intended for a variety of audiences including:
THOSE NEW TO OCCUPATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT
The course content is ideal those recently assigned occupational hearing conservation program related responsibilities. Attendees may be professionals in Human Resources (HR), Safety, Industrial Hygiene (IH), Nursing, Occupational Health, or other fields.
THOSE EXPERIENCED IN OCCUPATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION
Course content is also relevant for those already knowledgeable about occupational hearing conservation but have little experience with HPFT and want to implement a HPFT in their hearing conservation program as part of their continuous process improvement.
Description
HPFT will enhance any hearing conservation programs (HCPs) by providing key training on proper use of hearing protection devices (HPDs), which are the last line of defense against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Hearing protector fit testing (HPFT) is recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Abstract
Participants in this training are shown techniques for proper insertion of hearing protection, which is repeatable, predictable and developed to improve accuracy of fit. Hearing protection fit testing is an emerging practice that is recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which utilizes best practice recommendation for improving accuracy of hearing protector insertion.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
• Discuss Hearing Protector Fit (HPFT) Basics and Challenges
• Explain HPFT Benefits and Test Systems
• Explain the Fit Testing Sequences
• Describe steps for gathering Test Results
• Describe Best Practice Recommendations
Needs Analysis:
Subject matter experts from the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) identified this as a topic that would be very useful to improve any Hearing Conservation Programs in the field. This is also a practice that is recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Timeline:
This course is offered On-Demand providing recorded lectures and quizzes that participants can complete at their own pace. The course will take about a half-day if done consecutively (about 4-hours in total). After first log-in, participants will have 60 days to complete everything before the course times out.
90 minutes: total recorded lectures
40 quiz questions
45 exam questions
Course Outline:
Overview:
Introduction of course and tips to navigating the program. 4 minutes:
Lesson 1:
Introduction to Hearing Protector Fit Testing. 7:21 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 1 (3 questions)
Lesson 2:
Fundamentals of Noise. 14:00 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 2 (4 questions)
Lesson 3:
Evaluating Noise Exposure & Determining Hearing Protection Needs. 16:22 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 3 (5 questions)
Lesson 4:
Basic Ear Anatomy & Visual Inspection. 18:20 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 4 (10 questions)
Lesson 5:
Using HPFT & Personal Attenuation Rating. 22:13 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 5 (10 questions)
Lesson 6:
Documenting HPFT. 7:21 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 6 (4 questions)
Lesson 7:
Hearing Protector Fit Testing Best Practices. 5:00 recorded lecture run time
Quiz for lesson 7 (4 questions)
Exam:
45 multiple choice questions
Instructor:
John (Andy) Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A
Dr. John 'Andy' Merkley is an occupational audiologist with over 26 years of experience in both clinical and occupational audiology. He currently works as a contract senior program manager with the Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence. He holds a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from Utah State University and a Doctor of Audiology from Central Michigan University. Dr. Merkley's professional associations include the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (AHSA), the Military Audiology Association (MAA) and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA). Dr. Merkley is the Director of Education for the National Hearing Conservation Association and is the immediate past Chair of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) where he represented the Military Audiology Association from November 2011 to November 2024. He holds the certificate of clinical competence in Audiology (CCC-A), is a certified CAOHC Course Director (CD) and a CAOHC certified Professional Supervisor (CPS/A). You can contact LTC(R) Merkley via email: john.a.merkley.ctr@health.mil
Disclosures:
Financial Disclosure: John (Andy) Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A has no relevant financial information to disclose. Dr. Merkley discloses his relevant non-financial relationship as previous chair on the CAOHC council and previous representative of the Military Audiology Association (MAA) on the council. When representing the Military, Dr. Merkley does not accept an honorarium for his participation as an instructor. When teaching on his own time, he receives an honorarium for his participation as an instructor.
General Disclosure: This webinar is not focused on a specific product or service and there is no or limited information about similar products or services. The subject relates directly to training methods used in hearing conservation programs and does not endorse or recommend specific products.
Cost: $350
Purchases are made from our secure website by credit card. Participants will automatically be sent two eamils: a receipt and and email providing instructions to login and access the course right away. Training includes a certificate of completion and digital badge after successfully passing the quiz.
Continuing Education Units: NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER JULY 20, 2026
Program Level: Introductory
.25 ASHA CEUs (2 hours, 30 minutes)
Satisfactory completion requirement statement:
Satisfactory completion of this course is necessary for the participant to earn ASHA CEUs for the course. Participants must view all recorded lectures, complete the related quizzes and pass the course exam. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.
Acknowledgements:
CAOHC would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance in creating this course:
Laurel Alstot, AuD
Lt Col John M. Foster, AuD, MPH, CCC-A, CPS/A
Saundra Harris, MS CIH CSP CIT STSC AINS ARM
Brian Hobbs, AuD
Ashleigh Labbe
Cindy Lemek, CAE, ICE-CCP, COHC
Kirsten Mcall, AuD CCC-A CPS/A
John A. Merkley, AuD CCC-A CPS/A
Benjamin Roberts, MPH PhD CIH
Matthew Wright, MPH CIH CSP
Notification on Use of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was used to generate voice-over audio for some videos in this course. No AI was used to develop the content of the course.