EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - More than 1,000 people at Eielson Air Force Base use it once a year. What is it? It's a soundproof hearing test booth, better known as an audiometric test room, and Eielson has added a brand new one to the inventory.

The booth is used as a quiet room to administer audiology exams and, more specifically, monitor for early identification of hearing changes, said Captain Robert Gudgel, 354th Medical Operations Squadron public health flight commander. While Eielson's old booths could carry out this function, they were uncomfortable for the users.

Eielson's old audiometric testing was done in small, cramped booths dating back to 1998 with an interior volume of 28 cubic feet and a standing height of 4 feet 6 inches.

"When you think about the height of some of our fellow Icemen, the old booths just didn't provide the environment we want for our customers," said Gudgel.

In comparison, the new booth has an interior volume of 82 cubic feet and a standing height of 6 feet 8 inches. Even though patients sit during the test, the space now allows them to stand and move or adjust if needed.

In addition to protecting hearing is the need to save money, Gudgel said.

In a survey done from 1996 to 2005, the Air Force alone spent over $95 million in veterans hearing loss disability costs.

"We're trying to limit that to make sure that we catch hearing loss early so we can intervene early and keep it from ever becoming a [veterans affairs] payout," Gudgel said.

Beyond that, the new booth will help the base maintain compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Every employer with personnel in high-noise environments is required to administer audiometric testing as a function of occupational medicine, Gudgel said.

"If an inaccurate test is given and someone goes back to work, it would be a safety hazard if they can't hear warnings through sirens, bells or verbal warnings," said Gudgel. "Plus, quality of life suffers greatly when you can't hear."

With the new booth, Eielson will not only be prepared to provide better testing, but also provide patients the comfort they deserve.

"It's a really valuable tool that will allow us to take better care of our noise exposed team members, Airmen and civilians alike," said Gudgel.

Connected Media