This employee has a 20 year history of exposure to noise and also a history of recurrent ear infections. No baseline was performed prior to the cut off date of 16 November 2003. A diagnostic audiogram on 11 February 2004 revealed a mixed pattern with an air-born gap. The PLH shift from baseline on air conduction is 14,9.
Should the PLH of the air conduction be used or of the bone-conduction? Is a mixed pattern compensatable?
The air conduction values should be used and a mixed pattern should be submitted to the Compensation Commissioner for adjudication.