WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is seeking public input on whether current methods used to evaluate occupational hearing loss remain the most reliable and appropriate, opening the door to a broader discussion about the role of objective hearing tests alongside traditional audiograms.
In a Request for Information (RFI), the agency is asking audiologists, otolaryngologists, medical organizations, employers, insurers, and other stakeholders to comment on the comparative reliability and validity of pure-tone audiograms and other hearing assessment methods used to evaluate occupational hearing loss.
Specifically, the Department is requesting feedback on objective measures such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR), auditory steady-state response (ASSR), otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and other testing methods, as well as current quality standards for administering these assessments and evaluating hearing impairment.
Evaluating the Current Standard
Pure-tone audiometry has long served as the cornerstone of occupational hearing conservation programs and workers’ compensation evaluations.
However, advances in objective hearing assessment technologies have expanded the tools available to clinicians, prompting questions about whether current standards should evolve.
Unlike conventional audiograms, which rely on behavioral responses from the patient, objective tests such as ABR, ASSR, and OAEs measure physiological responses within the auditory system. These assessments can provide additional clinical information and are often used alongside behavioral testing in diagnostic audiology.
According to the Federal Register notice, the Department is seeking information on the strengths and limitations of these testing methods, including their reliability, validity, clinical utility, availability, cost, and feasibility for occupational hearing evaluations. The agency is also requesting input on whether different tests should carry different weight when determining hearing impairment and whether existing professional standards remain appropriate.
Broader Review of Hearing Evaluation Practices
Beyond comparing hearing assessment technologies, the Department is soliciting comments on several aspects of occupational hearing evaluations, including current testing protocols, quality assurance procedures, methods used to calculate hearing impairment, and the qualifications of professionals who administer and interpret hearing tests.
The request also seeks feedback on practical considerations such as the availability of testing equipment, economic impacts associated with potential changes to testing requirements, and emerging technologies that could influence future hearing evaluations. The notice even asks commenters to address the capabilities and limitations of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids in the context of occupational hearing loss.
The RFI does not propose any immediate regulatory changes. Instead, the Department says the information gathered will help inform whether updates to existing quality standards should be considered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
Potential Implications for Occupational Audiology
While the request is focused on hearing loss claims covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the outcome could have broader implications for occupational audiology, hearing conservation programs, and workers’ compensation evaluations.
The growing interest in objective hearing assessment also reflects broader trends within audiology. Recent advances in technologies such as OAEs, ABR, and ASSR have expanded their use in newborn hearing screening, occupational hearing conservation, ototoxicity monitoring, and diagnostic audiology, complementing traditional behavioral hearing tests in a variety of clinical settings.
OAEs and other objective measures have long played an important role in pediatric hearing assessment. The U.S. Department of Labor is now seeking input on the potential role of these and other objective measures in occupational hearing loss evaluations.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs is accepting public comments through October 22, 2026. The agency is encouraging input from audiologists, otolaryngologists, medical associations, employers, employees, insurance carriers, and other interested stakeholders.
Comments may be submitted through Regulations.gov using the regulatory information number associated with the rulemaking.
Source: DOL
