fhas

Assessing Auditory fitness For Duty (AFFD)

Developed specifically for the military, blue-light and emergency services, FHAS is the perfect solution for reliable, objective and repeatable hearing assessments.

Combining standard audiometric testing procedures, automated workflow management, and class-leading technology to deliver a bespoke and comprehensive hearing assessment system.

About the system

FHAS combines standard pure tone audiometry (computer / self-recording) along with automatic results categorisations including HSE, College of Policing, PULHHEEMS, in addition to the Speech-in-Noise test. The SiN test assesses the effect of sensorineural hearing loss, as well as the subject’s auditory processing ability.

fhas


  • Objective and auditable, making it ideal for key decision making
  • Provides a potential reduction in medical referral costs
  • Minimises absence from work due to immediate functional hearing test results
  • A fully automated test and referral system which improves accuracy when recording results and issuing appropriate guidance
  • Enables employers to meet hearing acuity and ability measurements according to relevant industry standards (Pre-placement, CoP, HSE, PULHHEEMS)
  • Operational expertise can be retained within the organisation, especially for experienced and highly trained officers

  • Developed in partnership

    Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR)   |   Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC)


    ISVR CNC

  • Our SiN test has been developed in partnership with the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) at the University of Southampton and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).

    The team at ISVR have been working in the field of Auditory Fitness For Duty (AFFD) since 2012, with a focus on developing evidence-based tools that better predict hearing ability for safe and effective job performance.

    Working in partnership ensures our knowledge and expertise is aligned with the latest technology and leading research of police and other command and control organisation requirements.

  • Speech-in-Noise (SiN) testing is considered a more accurate assessment of overall hearing ability in comparison to pure tone audiometry, which only assesses hearing acuity.

    SiN tests are used in many applications including hearing aid fitting, clinical diagnosis and measurement of functional capacity of the hearing system, providing clinicians and hearing care professionals with highly valuable information about the actual SiN understanding of the test subject.

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  • Our SiN test has been approved by the College of Policing. The test is based on the British English Coordinate Response Measure (CRM) test, representing many police
    requirements with a simple command structure (“Ready [call sign] [number] go to [colour] now”) whilst delivering an objective and repeatable assessment.

    It assesses hearing loss and auditory processing using two highly relevant simulated listening scenarios as well as speakers with different accents, ensuring assessments are as accurate to real-life situations.

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Frequently asked questions

  • Many different tests and tools exist to analyse and assess SiN ability, such as Hearing-in-Noise Test (HINT), Quick-Speech-in-Noise (QuickSiN), Words-in-Noise (WiN),  the Triple Digit Test (TDT) and the Coordinate Response Measure (CRM).

    The CRM test has been chosen to assess AFFD for the Police and other command-and-control type organisations because of its clear similarities to real world environments (high face validity), clear focus on auditory skills and ability to differentiate clearly between hearing abilities.

     

    The FHAS establishes the quietest level the subject can correctly hear a spoken command within background sounds reflective of real-life situations. This is done separately for each ear.

    Subjects are tested in two simulated listening scenarios through standard audiometric headphones, with responses entered through a touch screen device. 

    One scenario simulates natural listening with background talking. The other simulates listening through a radio communication system with the sound of an engine running in the background.

     

    Quick-Speech-in-Noise (QuickSiN) is a Speech-in-Noise test that quickly and easily measures the ability to hear in noise. Speech understanding in noise cannot be reliably predicted from the pure tone audiogram or other standard audiometric tests.

  • A normal speech hearing test score depends on the speech test performed. Each speech assessment is evaluated, and the normal score determined by multiple measurements with normal hearing test subjects. The audibility of speech material is impacted by factors such as language, words used (normal words or phonemes) and the spectrum of the background noise (noise or babble-noise).

    A normal Speech-in-Noise (SiN) test score depends on the type of test as well as the application of the test. SiN testing can for example be used in assessing the performance of hearing aids with scores defined by authorities and countries.

    The hearing assessment in noise test developed by Amplivox assesses SiN performance with a resulting signal-to-noise ratio specifically for police forces. The classification and definition of “normal” will depend on the role a subject may be working in and other considerations such as hearing aids that may be able to support a subject.

     

    A functional hearing assessment is the measurement of a subject's ability to perform a given role is a standard procedure. Many different types of functional hearing assessments have been developed.

    Our Speech-in-Noise test that has been developed in conjunction with a university and police force and provides an additional tool that is objective and repeatable.