What is one possible consequence of high background noise during testing?

High background noise during hearing testing can significantly interfere with the accuracy of the results. Specifically, it can lead to false negative results, where a person may actually have hearing impairment, but the noise masks the sounds during the testing process, causing the test to incorrectly indicate normal hearing.

The presence of background noise can make it difficult for an individual to hear the sounds being presented during the test, which may lead them to respond as if they heard nothing, even if they would have been able to hear the sounds in a quieter environment. This can result in a failure to identify existing hearing loss, leading to inadequate occupational health interventions and potential long-term damage to hearing if the exposure continues.

In contrast, other consequences suggested, such as improved hearing ability or enhanced clarity of sounds, do not occur in high noise situations; instead, the quality of the testing results diminishes. Additionally, high background noise does not contribute to a reduction in testing time; instead, it may require more time to ensure accurate results by repeating tests or mitigating noise factors.