Hearing Test Results Explained: Early Warning and Abnormal

Based on WorkSafeBC's guide, Understanding workers' hearing test results.

After a hearing testing day, WorkSafeBC sorts each worker's result into a category, separately for the left and right ear. Here is what each one means and what WorkSafeBC suggests you do next.

Baseline Test Results

A worker's first test has nothing to compare against, so it gets one of three results:

• No Notch: no sign of noise-induced hearing loss.
• Early Warning: noise may have affected the worker's hearing at some point in the past.
• Abnormal: the worker has hearing loss that does not appear to be caused by noise.

Annual Test Results

Later tests are compared with the worker's earlier tests on record:

• Normal Change: no change in hearing from noise.
• Early Warning Change: noise may have affected the worker's hearing. WorkSafeBC treats this as noise-induced hearing loss.
• Abnormal Change: the change is likely not from noise.

What to Do After Each Result

• No Notch or Normal Change: keep providing the right hearing protection and training on noise.
• Early Warning: make sure the worker knows noise may have affected their hearing, and when and how to wear their hearing protection.
• Abnormal or Abnormal Change: advise the worker to see their family doctor or nurse practitioner.

When Workers Show an Early Warning Change

• Look for patterns across workers: work area, equipment or type of hearing protection.
• Reduce exposure with engineering or administrative controls.
• Check hearing protection: right type, good condition, worn properly. Ask workers marked as not wearing it why.
• Train the crew, for example with a hearing protection toolbox talk.
• Document the steps in your hearing conservation program records.

Keep the Report Private

WorkSafeBC's results report contains personal information and must not be posted in the workplace.

How Clear Work Handles Results

We are a WorkSafeBC-authorized Industrial Audiometric Business (IAB #436). We submit every result to WorkSafeBC on your behalf within 2 business days of testing, and results reach your client portal within 48 hours, so you can see who is current and who is due.

Learn about our mobile hearing testing or get an instant quote →

This guide is a summary for general information, not medical or legal advice. See WorkSafeBC's guide for the full wording.