Audiology Health Technician Practice Test 2025 - Free Audiology Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The criteria for a recordable standard threshold shift (STS) is defined as an average hearing threshold level of 25 dB or greater. This threshold is critical in audiology as it indicates a significant change in an individual's hearing ability, suggesting a potential impairment that could be work-related or related to other factors such as aging or exposure to loud noise.

In the context of occupational health, monitoring for STS is important to prevent further hearing loss and to implement protective measures. The 25 dB average serves as an important benchmark because it is considered a level where a noticeable shift in hearing ability has occurred, prompting further evaluation and intervention.

Other thresholds listed, such as 15 dB, 20 dB, and 30 dB, do not align with the established criteria for STS. A threshold of 15 dB is generally not viewed as significant enough to indicate a recordable shift, while thresholds of 20 dB and 30 dB are either below or above the recognized standard for evaluating shifts in hearing. Thus, 25 dB is the appropriate benchmark for determining recordable changes in hearing levels.