Otologic referral in industrial hearing conservation programs.

Baseline and periodic audiometry was performed on noise-exposed workers in 21 industrial plants. Workers showing moderate hearing loss, asymmetry, or significant threshold shifts were referred for otologic evaluation. The overall referral rate was 2.76%. Of 107 referrals, 53% had otologic diagnoses other than noise-induced hearing loss or required specific intervention, or both. The results support the use of criteria at least as stringent as those used in this study.