Question 1

What is the Soundtrace Audiometer?

Accepted Answer

The Soundtrace Audiometer is an FDA-listed, automated Type 4 pure-tone audiometer designed for occupational hearing-conservation programs. It supports online and offline testing, group testing, real-time Class 2 ambient-noise measurement, automated threshold identification, and REAT hearing-protection fit testing.

Question 2

Is the Soundtrace Audiometer compliant with OSHA audiometric-testing requirements?

Accepted Answer

The Soundtrace Audiometer is designed for testing under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 when used according to Soundtrace’s documented protocols. It is calibrated under ANSI/ASA S3.6 and operates within a hearing-conservation program supervised by a qualified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician.

Question 3

Is the Soundtrace Audiometer an FDA-listed medical device?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It is an FDA-listed Class II audiometer under 21 CFR 874.1050, product code EWO. Its registration and device listing can be verified through the FDA Establishment Registration and Device Listing Database.

Question 4

What ANSI classification does the Soundtrace Audiometer meet?

Accepted Answer

It is an automated microprocessor Type 4 audiometer meeting the applicable requirements of ANSI/ASA S3.6-2018 (R2023). Each audiometer is calibrated with its paired RadioEar DD65v2 headset before deployment and annually thereafter.

Question 5

Does the Soundtrace Audiometer require a sound booth?

Accepted Answer

No. It can be used in a suitable office, conference room, or other indoor testing location without a sound booth. Its calibrated Class 2 ambient-noise system monitors the environment throughout testing and uses one established ambient-noise cap to determine whether testing can validly continue.

Question 6

Can the Soundtrace Audiometer be used in any room?

Accepted Answer

No audiometer should be assumed to work validly in every environment. Soundtrace monitors the actual room throughout each employee’s test. If the established ambient-noise cap is exceeded, testing pauses until conditions become acceptable.

Question 7

What happens when ambient noise rises during a test?

Accepted Answer

The integrated calibrated Class 2 ambient system continuously monitors conditions during testing. Soundtrace uses one established ambient-noise cap for simple, consistent operation. If that cap is exceeded, the test pauses automatically and resumes when conditions are acceptable. Ambient noise can be reviewed alongside each recorded hearing threshold, and noise and testing events are retained with the audiometric record.

Question 8

Does high headset attenuation alone establish that an audiogram is valid?

Accepted Answer

No. Passive headset attenuation can expand the range of rooms where testing may be possible, but it does not document what noise was present during a specific employee’s test. Soundtrace combines the RadioEar DD65v2 headset with separately calibrated Class 2 ambient measurement and retains the testing events with the audiogram.

Question 9

Is the ambient-noise system calibrated separately from the audiometer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The audiometer and paired RadioEar DD65v2 headset receive electroacoustic calibration, while the integrated Class 2 ambient-noise system is calibrated and documented separately. Applicable records are maintained within Soundtrace’s quality-management system.

Question 10

What frequencies does the Soundtrace Audiometer test?

Accepted Answer

It tests pure-tone air-conduction thresholds at 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 8,000 Hz. These include all frequencies required by OSHA for occupational audiometric testing, plus 8,000 Hz for additional professional interpretation.

Question 11

How long does a Soundtrace audiogram take?

Accepted Answer

A complete Soundtrace audiometric workflow typically takes approximately six minutes per employee. Actual duration can vary based on hearing thresholds, response consistency, intake requirements, and ambient conditions.

Question 12

Can the Soundtrace Audiometer test employees offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Audiograms can be completed without an active internet connection. Test data is retained during offline operation and synchronizes with the appropriate Soundtrace employee record after connectivity returns.

Question 13

Can group testing continue without an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Soundtrace’s offline functionality supports field and group testing when an active connection is unavailable. Completed tests synchronize with the Soundtrace platform after connectivity is restored.

Question 14

How many employees can be tested at once?

Accepted Answer

One facilitator routinely supervises four simultaneous audiograms from a shared dashboard, supporting approximately 20 or more completed audiograms per hour. Two facilitators can operate eight stations in the same testing area, supporting approximately 40–48 completed audiograms per hour under typical conditions.

Question 15

How do employees respond during a Soundtrace hearing test?

Accepted Answer

Employees use a dedicated, single-purpose handheld response button. The response control avoids requiring the employee to navigate a tablet interface during tone presentation and keeps the task simple and consistent.

Question 16

Can the Soundtrace Audiometer perform hearing-protection fit testing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The same equipment performs pure-tone audiometry and REAT hearing-protection fit testing. The fit test measures the attenuation an individual achieves with a specific hearing protector and produces a personalized attenuation rating.

Question 17

Can multiple employees complete fit testing simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Soundtrace supports group-based REAT fit testing using the same equipment deployed for audiometric testing. Results are attached to the applicable employee record for comparison with noise exposure and hearing-protection requirements.

Question 18

How is the Soundtrace Audiometer calibrated?

Accepted Answer

Before deployment and annually thereafter, the audiometer and paired RadioEar DD65v2 headset receive full electroacoustic calibration under ANSI/ASA S3.6. Both channels are evaluated from 500–8,000 Hz for frequency accuracy, hearing-level output, linearity, harmonic distortion, crosstalk, and on/off performance. The integrated Class 2 ambient system is calibrated and documented separately.

Question 19

How does Soundtrace prevent calibration downtime?

Accepted Answer

Soundtrace sends a freshly calibrated replacement audiometer and paired headset approximately two weeks before the current calibration expires. The customer places the replacement into service and then returns the expiring equipment, allowing testing to continue without a calibration appointment or equipment gap.

Question 20

Who can administer a Soundtrace audiogram?

Accepted Answer

A trained Soundtrace facilitator can administer automated testing under the responsibility of the program’s qualified professional supervisor. Soundtrace provides facilitator training and documentation. CAOHC or other certification is required where applicable state or jurisdictional rules require it.

Question 21

Does Soundtrace provide professional supervision and audiologist review?

Accepted Answer

Soundtrace supports hearing-conservation programs under the responsibility of a qualified physician, audiologist, or otolaryngologist. Licensed audiologist review is available within the workflow, and flagged results can be routed for professional determination. Included services can vary by customer plan and jurisdiction.

Question 22

What happens after a Soundtrace audiogram is completed?

Accepted Answer

After synchronization, the audiogram is added to the employee’s longitudinal record and compared with the appropriate baseline. The platform identifies possible threshold shifts, applies the configured professional-review workflow, generates applicable documentation, and tracks required follow-up.

Question 23

Can Soundtrace import historical audiograms?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Soundtrace can import historical audiometric records so annual results can be evaluated against the appropriate employee baseline. Historical-record migration preserves longitudinal continuity when an employer changes providers or consolidates facilities.

Question 24

Can Soundtrace manage hearing conservation across multiple facilities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Soundtrace provides centralized employee records, location-level administration, and enterprise reporting across multiple facilities. Authorized leaders can monitor testing completion, hearing changes, professional review, and program status without maintaining separate local spreadsheets or databases.

Question 25

How does Soundtrace protect audiometric records?

Accepted Answer

Soundtrace maintains SOC 2 Type II controls and HIPAA-aligned security practices for its cloud platform. Access controls, longitudinal records, and audit history help organizations protect employee information and document who accessed or changed program records.

Question 26

Is the Soundtrace Audiometer intended for occupational or diagnostic audiometry?

Accepted Answer

It is designed primarily for automated occupational pure-tone audiometry and hearing-conservation programs. It tests all OSHA-required frequencies plus 8,000 Hz and supports professional interpretation, but it should not be represented as a replacement for every diagnostic audiology procedure.

Question 27

What makes Soundtrace different from a standalone audiometer?

Accepted Answer

Soundtrace combines calibrated testing equipment with hearing-specific software, professional oversight, and program services. The audiogram does not end as a PDF or isolated record; it becomes usable data for identifying risk, evaluating protection, completing follow-up, and improving the employer’s hearing-conservation program.

Soundtrace Audiometer Specifications: Offline, Group and Ambient-Noise Capabilities

The details behind the testing experience.

A test that knows when to wait.

Measure

Pause

Document

Built for the day your crew actually has.

Calibrated before deployment. Replaced before expiration.

The replacement arrives before the current calibration expires.

Performance claims with the evidence beside them.

Real-world matched comparisons

Purdue implementation result

Independent program review

The accurate audiogram is the starting point.

Practical questions, documented answers.

See the Soundtrace Audiometer in your program.