Fully Virtual Workshop – Recordings Available Two Weeks Prior to the Conference for Registered Attendees

OCCUPATIONAL HEARING CONSERVATION: BASICS AND APPLICATIONS

 This workshop will offer a comprehensive overview of effective occupational hearing conservation programs (HCPs). A series of video presentations will provide a “short course” that addresses important hearing conservation requirements, practices, and resources that are used in HCPs (and will be cited by speakers in the NHCA conference). The workshop is designed for a diverse audience, from newcomers to experienced professionals seeking updated knowledge about issues from disciplines outside their own specialty.    

Presenters and Topics

TOPIC		AFFILIATION
Noise Measurement and Instrumentation	Don Finan, PhD	Professor, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO
Audiometric Monitoring: Procedures, Equipment and Data Review	Lynnette Bardolf, AuD	Owner and Principal, Audiology Solutions, Enterprise AL
Hearing Loss Recordability: Issues and Examples	Cassie Ford, M.A.	Manager, Examinetics, Overland Park KS
Hearing Protective Devices: Choices and Applications	Vivianne Wersel, AuD	Owner, Gold Star Audiology, Asheville NC
Education and Motivation: Options and Approaches for Improving Compliance	Frank Wartinger, AuD	Founder, Earmark Hearing Conservation, Philadelphia PA
Comparisons of Hearing Conservation Regulations and Best Practices	Dick Danielson, PhD	Retired, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX

Unit Learning Objectives and Units

1.    Noise Measurement and Instrumentation: Recognize instrumentation and techniques used to measure noise, and identify significance of time-weighted averages, Action Level, and Permissible Exposure Limits.

2.    Audiometric Monitoring: Procedures, Equipment and Data Review: Recognize instrumentation and protocols used for audiometric monitoring; identify types and configurations of audiograms; and recognize variables that affect validity of audiograms.

3.    Hearing Loss Recordability: Issues and Examples: Recognize criteria that are used to determine and revise (when warranted) Standard Threshold Shifts; identify factors considered when revising audiometric baselines; and identify factors used to determine recordable hearing losses and work-relatedness.

4.    Hearing Protective Devices: Choices and Applications: Identify contemporary methods used to verify fit and attenuation of hearing protective devices, as well as criteria to select an appropriate device for noise exposures.

5.    Education and Motivation: Options and Approaches for Improving Compliance: Recognize innovative options for effective training and motivation to improve compliance in hearing conservation programs and to reduce incidence of noise-related hearing loss.

6.    Comparisons of Hearing Conservation Regulations and Best Practices: Identify regulatory requirements and best practices related to occupational hearing loss prevention programs.

SPEAKER BIOS

Dick Danielson, PhD, is a retired military audiologist and former manager of NASA-Johnson Space Center’s audiology and hearing conservation program, where he collaborated internationally to address auditory and acoustic challenges on the International Space Station and future space vehicles. During his 28-year military career, Colonel (retired) Danielson directed Army hearing conservation and audiology programs in the U.S, and Germany, and deployed to lead an Audiology Task Force in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. Dick has chaired the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) and its subcommittees that honed early certification courses for Course Directors and Professional Supervisors. He has held leadership roles in national and state audiology organizations and had faculty appointments at multiple universities and medical colleges. Dick has received the National Hearing Conservation Association’s Outstanding Hearing Conservationist Award and NASA’s Astronaut Personal Achievement Award (the “Silver Snoopy”).

Donald Finan, PhD, is a Professor and Chair of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of Northern Colorado. He received a BS in speech -language pathology and audiology from Eastern Illinois University and a MS in speech-language pathology from the same institution. He received a PhD in speech physiology and neuroscience from Indiana University – Bloomington. His research interests include measurement of noise and associated auditory exposure, music-induced hearing disorders, technology use in clinical and research settings, and developing innovative tools and pedagogies for speech and hearing science instruction. He has served as one of the founders and the inaugural Coordinator for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Special Interest Group (SIG) 19, Speech Science. He was the NHCA Gasaway Lecturer for 2021 and received the NHCA Outstanding Lecture Award in 2020 and 2024.

Lynnette Bardolf,  PhD, had a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Army as a clinical and research audiologist in assignments in the U.S and abroad.  In 1999, Colonel (ret.) Bardolf participated in a State Department mission to provide audiology testing and services to victims of the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.  She earned her Ph.D. degree in Audiology from the University of Florida in 2006. As a Research Audiologist at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Lab, she wrote a $1.2 million grant that investigated auditory blast effects on Soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation  Enduring Freedom . Her leadership roles have included serving as the Army’s Southern Region’s Audiology Consultant and Chief of Specialty Services and Interim Deputy Chief of Clinical Services at Fort Rucker. In addition to her military duties, Lynnette has also served on the Executive Council for the National Hearing Conservation Association.  After retiring, she has opened an audiology consulting business, taught CAOHC and university courses, worked with the Veterans Administration, and continued to be involved in local community services and her church.  In November 2012, Lynnette has been recognized by the University of Florida with an  Outstanding Alumni Award.

Cassie Ford, M.A., CCC-A, CPS/A, is an occupational audiologist who received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at Texas Christian University and her M.A. in Audiology at the University of Iowa.  Cassie has been a practicing audiologist for over 30 years and has worked exclusively in hearing conservation for the last twenty plus years.  Cassie is a CAOHC certified course director and professional supervisor.  As the manager of audiology services at Examinetics, Cassie leads a team of occupational audiologists who guide a diverse group of clients through their hearing conservation programs and regulatory compliance.  Cassie has been a primary subject matter expert in the development of Examinetics’ proprietary audiometric database management and online reporting tools, and holds a patent on the Salux™ portable testing and training system.  She was also part of the team that developed the Examinetics processes for making determinations of work relatedness for clients.  Additionally, Cassie has specific expertise in railroad industry compliance, where she has had the opportunity to work closely with various health and safety teams including occupational medicine physicians, occupational audiologists, industrial hygienists, and other safety professionals.

Vivianne Cisneros Wersel, Au.D, has 36 years of experience as an audiologist in clinical practice, academia, and advocacy. She earned her Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University and graduated from the Defense Language Institute. As a retired staff audiologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, she remains active in audiology as the owner of Gold Star Audiology, PLLC, which offers education, consulting, and advocacy, especially in occupational hearing conservation and noise-induced hearing loss prevention. Dr. Wersel serves as a Course Director and Instructor for the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). She engages with the community through disaster relief efforts, teaching, and mentoring. She has been recognized in the Congressional Record for her dedication to advancing policies supporting military members, retirees, and their families, while also providing audiology services to members of Congress. Additionally, she is a member of the Legislative and Regulatory Committee of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), working to promote policy and awareness around hearing health, and she serves on the Advisory Board for Signia Government Services. Her career demonstrates a lifelong commitment to advancing audiology through patient care, education, and leadership. Dr. Wersel resides in Asheville, NC.

Frank Wartinger, Au.D, is the founder of Earmark Hearing Conservation and Philadelphia Musicians’ Clinic. He serves on the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC), representing the American Academy of Audiology. As adjunct faculty at Drexel University and Wayne State University, he teaches hearing conservation and music audiology. He is an active CAOHC course director and serves as a professional supervisor in occupational hearing conservation programs. Frank is active on the executive committee of National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA), serving as Director of Communications (2017 – 2019) and Member At Large (2024 – 2026). His clinical focus is on the audiologic care of musicians and performing arts professionals. As a member of the AAA Music Audiology Task Force, he was coauthor of the first clinical consensus document addressing the audiological services for musicians and music industry professionals (2020). Prior to obtaining his graduate degree in Audiology from Salus University, Frank studied at Purchase Conservatory of Music in the Studio Production program and earned his Bachelor of Music degree. He is an active composer, producer, mixing engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, and is the creator and co-host of the music audiology podcast “Talking Ears”.