Preventative Health

Hearing

General:

 

You must provide your medical examiner with the following information:

  • Date onset of ear disorder /  loss of hearing.
  • Name and location of treating health care professional.
  • What interventions have been done.
  • Medications you are taking.
  • Treatment plan.
  • Side effects of medication. 
  • Report: Difficulty hearing, hearing loss, balance impairment, dizziness, vertigo, fainting.  Duration, frequency, diagnoses, treatment, length of any symptom free interval of dizziness.

 

Your medical examiner must perform either forced whisper test:

  1.  Have the driver cover the opposite ear.
  2. Stand to the side or behind the driver to eliminate visual cues.
  3. From the measured five-foot distance from the right ear, exhale fully and then whisper a sequence of words, numbers, or letters. (Avoid using only s-sounding words.)
  4. Ask the driver to repeat the whispered sequence.
  5. To pass, the driver must respond correctly.

OR audiometric test:

  1. Record hearing test results for each ear at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz (ANSI standard).
  2. Average the readings for each ear by adding the test results and dividing by 3.
  3. To pass, one ear must show an average hearing loss that is less than or equal to 40 dB.

Generally the force whisper test is used.  The audiometric test is done if the driver does not pass the forced whisper test.

To pass, the driver needs to meet the standard in only one ear.

 

Certification:

w  Pass whisper or audiometric test: Certify up to two years.

 

 

Do Not Certify: 

w  Driver can not pass test in both ears.  There is no limited certification option.

 

Driver with Hearing Aids:

 

w  Whisper test can be given.

 

w  If does not pass the whisper test, must be referred for audiometric testing to a facility with equipment compatible with hearing aids.  Do not certify driver until results received.

 

w  If driver requires hearing aids to meet the standard then this  will be indicated by checking the box on the long form and white sheet.