EXAGGERATED HEARING-LOSS IN NOISE-INDUCED HEARING-LOSS COMPENSATION CLAIMS IN VICTORIA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of exaggerated hearing loss in people claiming workers compensation for noise induced hearing loss, as well as the ability of a range of testers to detect this exaggeration. SUBJECTS: 333 people who claimed compensation for noise induced hearing loss between 13 September 1993 and 31 July 1994 in Victoria and who had undergone two independent subjective hearing tests. METHOD: The hearing test results and referral decisions made by testers were examined in the light of the results of a single objective hearing test (cortical evoked response audiometry). RESULTS: The incidence of exaggerated hearing loss was 17.7%. Testers performing the first subjective he..