OHC Certification Curriculum

The CAOHC Occupational Hearing Conservationist (OHC) certification and recertification courses covering this curriculum are delivered by Earmark Hearing Conservation. Foster Special Instruments supplies and calibrates the audiometers that OHCs test with, and provides the on-site hearing testing that supports your hearing conservation program.

Hearing Conservation

• Understands the mission of CAOHC and its significance to your role as an OHC
• Understands the relationship of hearing conservation regulations and compliance to best practices
• Understands the elements of a hearing conservation program
• Understands the auditory effects of noise
• Can identify potential sources of hazardous noise in both occupational and non occupational work settings
• Understands the impact of hearing loss, tinnitus and associated disorders on quality of life, along with the social and psychological consequences
• Can list the professional disciplines and their role in hearing conservation programs
• Understands the historical background of hearing conservation and the role CAOHC has played in establishing best practices
• Detect the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in different populations

Anatomy, Physiology, and Diseases of the Ear

• Can identify the major parts of the ear and describe their function
• Understands the relationship between tinnitus and noise induced hearing loss
• Can differentiate between a normal audiogram and audiogram configuration which is typical for noise induced hearing loss
• Can identify the typical symptoms associated with various types of hearing loss
• Understands medical conditions that can cause hearing loss
• Can identify other disorders of the ear and the associated types of hearing loss (i.e. conductive, sensory)
• Understands other types of audiogram configuration

Hearing and the Physics of Sound

• Understands the definition of frequency (Hz)/pitch and its relationship to noise measurement and hearing threshold data
• Understands and can explain thresholds and how they apply to a hearing conservation program
• Understands the definition of intensity (dB)/loudness and its relationship to noise measurement and hearing threshold data
• Understands sound by its temporal characteristics (intermittent, steady state, impulse/impact)
• Understands sound weighting scales and how they apply to a hearing conservation program

Federal and State Regulations Related to Occupational NIHL

• Understands federal hearing conservation regulations, (i.e. OSHA, MSHA, FRA, and DoD) and can describe how they differ in application
• Understands how state and local regulations apply in contrast to the federal regulations

Audiometer and Testing Environment

• Understands when use of manual audiometry testing is needed
• Can identify the parts and functions of the different settings on a manual audiometer
• Understands the process of performing a pure tone air conduction threshold hearing test
• Understands the variables that affect the reliability and validity of the hearing test
• Understands the steps necessary to rule out equipment malfunction
• Understands audiometer calibration requirements
• Understands and perform a functional check for an audiometer
• Understands the advantages and disadvantages of using a microprocessor versus a manual audiometer
• Can identify the appropriate ambient noise standards for the testing environment

Audiometric Techniques and Testing

• Understands an audiogram in terms of frequency/pitch (Hz); intensity/loudness (dB) and configuration
• Understands the challenges associated with audiometric testing and the procedures for dealing with these challenges
• Can identify the components and understand the importance of an aural history exam
• Understands the benefit and importance of performing an otoscopic screening

Audiometric Review and Evaluation

• Understands the limitations of the OHC as they relate to the review, referral and counseling process
• Can identify problem audiograms for Professional Supervisor review
• Can calculate a standard threshold shift (STS) with and without using age correction

Noise Measurement and Control

• Understands the meaning and importance of action levels and permissible exposure levels (PEL)
• Understands the purpose of noise measurement and control strategies related to the overall hearing conservation program
• Understands the types of instrumentation used to measure noise & the circumstances in which they would be used
• Understands the meaning and importance of time weighted average (TWA)

Hearing Protection Device (HPD) Fitting

• Understands and can explain the rationale for using hearing protection
• Understands Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) and its relation to actual attenuation
• Understands the proper selection of a variety of HPDs, (i.e. foam and per-molded earplugs, semi-insert devices, and earmuffs)
• Understands the importance of proper fitting techniques for HPDs to ensure an adequate fit
• Understands and can explain care and maintenance of HPDs
• Can identify strategies to motivate workers and management to use HPDs regularly and effectively
• Understands the various methods of fit verification for HPDs

Counseling and Training

• Can identify the required training components
• Can provide several different training methods for hearing loss prevention within the workplace (i.e. face-to-face training, on-site posters, hearing protection distribution station, etc.)
• Can provide ongoing training, education and motivation to improve compliance within the hearing conservation program
• Can incorporate motivational strategies or simple incentives to encourage compliance
• Understands the importance of conducting comprehensive employee hearing protection training program on a regular basis

Recordkeeping and Hearing Conservation Team

• Can document and maintain accurate employee records
• Understands the role of the Professional Supervisor within the Hearing Conservation Program team

OHC Recertification Course

Certified occupational hearing conservationists (COHCs) renew their credentials every 5 years. To become a Recertified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC), a candidate completes a Council for Accreditation of Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC)-approved, 8-hour recertification course and earns a passing score on the exam.

Students take their assessment-based certificate exam at the end of the 8-hour recertification course. The exam questions reflect only information presented in the course.

View CAOHC class schedule at Earmark to enroll in the certification or recertification course.