Hearing Test

Hello I’m looking to obtain my class A . I have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears I can not pass the whisper test without hearing aids . I told my recruiter about the hearing problem he didn’t seem too concerned . My question is will I be able to obtain a temporary cdl while I apply for a waiver or get hearing aides ? Is there anyway around this ? drs who don’t do it ? Any help will be greatly appreciated

I would think beforehand you will need to get the hearing aids. If this hearing deficiency can be corrected with these, you won’t need a waiver. If you cannot pass the physical, all parts, you may get a short-term certification of some period under a year, but for your problem, I doubt it.

Thank you

I would think beforehand you will need to get the hearing aids. If this hearing deficiency can be corrected with these, you won’t need a waiver. If you cannot pass the physical, all parts, you may get a short-term certification of some period under a year, but for your problem, I doubt it.

I would think beforehand you will need to get the hearing aids. If this hearing deficiency can be corrected with these, you won’t need a waiver. If you cannot pass the physical, all parts, you may get a short-term certification of some period under a year, but for your problem, I doubt it.

Typically - a failure that can be corrected (hearing aids, eyeglasses, BP, etc,) will sometimes be given a ONE TIME 90 Day Med Card - and return with the condition CORRECTED within the 90 days. At that point, a full card will be issued. Certain conditions (BP for example) require a ONE YEAR CARD for continued monitoring - others (Vision, etc.) will get a full 2 year card.

Keep in mind - if you need glasses, hearing aids - this will ALSO NEED TO BE NOTED ON YOUR LICENSE - and you will need to be USING THESE WHEN DRIVING.

I wore contacts for years (before my lasic) and never told the DMV (pre-CDL), so I didn't have the "corrective lenses restriction" on my DL.

The "whisper test" used by DOT Med Examiners can be "subjective" at best. A FULL HEARING SCREEN will demonstrate whether or not you can pass a DOT Med with or without hearing aids.

Can I get a DOT medical card if I use a hearing aid? Yes, as long as you can perceive a forced whispered voice in one ear, the better ear, at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid. If you use a hearing aid for the DOT physical, then you must wear that hearing aid and have it in operation at all times while driving. Also, you must be in possession of a spare power source for the hearing aid while driving.

From FMCSA regarding audiometric hearing tests:

What are the hearing requirements for CMV drivers? A person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person: First perceives a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid or if tested by use of an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500Hz, 1000HZ and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to the American National Standard Z24.5-1951.

So you CAN GET a hearing test - and if your loss is LESS THAN the 40dB specified, you can still get a medical card WITHOUT HEARING AIDS. Otherwise, you WILL NEED THEM - and, if you get pulled over, you will have to be WEARING THEM AND HAVE SPARE BATTERIES ON HAND.

Rick

Thank you , is there anyway to confirm this ? My hearing loss is just below the 40 so I don’t think I’d pass I just had a test at my hearing dr . Would you suggest calling the dot testing place where I will go for the physical and ask ? I don’t want to put out the 75.00 multiple times

I would think beforehand you will need to get the hearing aids. If this hearing deficiency can be corrected with these, you won’t need a waiver. If you cannot pass the physical, all parts, you may get a short-term certification of some period under a year, but for your problem, I doubt it.

Typically - a failure that can be corrected (hearing aids, eyeglasses, BP, etc,) will sometimes be given a ONE TIME 90 Day Med Card - and return with the condition CORRECTED within the 90 days. At that point, a full card will be issued. Certain conditions (BP for example) require a ONE YEAR CARD for continued monitoring - others (Vision, etc.) will get a full 2 year card.

Keep in mind - if you need glasses, hearing aids - this will ALSO NEED TO BE NOTED ON YOUR LICENSE - and you will need to be USING THESE WHEN DRIVING.

I wore contacts for years (before my lasic) and never told the DMV (pre-CDL), so I didn't have the "corrective lenses restriction" on my DL.

The "whisper test" used by DOT Med Examiners can be "subjective" at best. A FULL HEARING SCREEN will demonstrate whether or not you can pass a DOT Med with or without hearing aids.

Can I get a DOT medical card if I use a hearing aid? Yes, as long as you can perceive a forced whispered voice in one ear, the better ear, at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid. If you use a hearing aid for the DOT physical, then you must wear that hearing aid and have it in operation at all times while driving. Also, you must be in possession of a spare power source for the hearing aid while driving.

From FMCSA regarding audiometric hearing tests:

What are the hearing requirements for CMV drivers? A person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person: First perceives a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than five feet with or without the use of a hearing aid or if tested by use of an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500Hz, 1000HZ and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to the American National Standard Z24.5-1951.

So you CAN GET a hearing test - and if your loss is LESS THAN the 40dB specified, you can still get a medical card WITHOUT HEARING AIDS. Otherwise, you WILL NEED THEM - and, if you get pulled over, you will have to be WEARING THEM AND HAVE SPARE BATTERIES ON HAND.

Rick

Thank you , is there anyway to confirm this ? My hearing loss is just below the 40 so I don’t think I’d pass I just had a test at my hearing dr . Would you suggest calling the dot testing place where I will go for the physical and ask ? I don’t want to put out the 75.00 multiple times

If you have the HEARING TEST RESULTS - and they fall within the guidelines for FMCSA/DOT - that is loss NO GREATER THAN 40dB at the frequencies specified - than BRING THIS HEARING TEST RESULT to the DOT Medical Examiner - and you should pass the physical (assuming no other disqualifying conditions exist).

If your hearing loss is GREATER THAN - then you need hearing aids.

Your doctor that did the test, should be an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) or Audiologist. DOT Med Examiners are just looking to CYA - as long as you provide evidence, they should pass you.

Keep in mind though - you are likely going to have to RE-TEST your hearing, and bring CURRENT RESULTS - EVERY TIME YOU RENEW your DOT Med Card.

Our hearing tends to get WORSE WITH TIME - NEVER BETTER (kind of like our vision).

I have a cataract coming up in my left eye - I just squeaked through with 20/30 in that eye (other eye 20/15). My problem with getting the cataract done, is that I had my LASIC surgery a long time ago - and the place went OOB. So I can't get the scrip for how much they corrected the eye - and the cataract surgeon can't replace the lens with the correct scrip. So I would end up needing glasses, or another LASIC correction in that eye to get back to 20/20. Pass for now. But if I can't pass my next DOT Med, then I have to decide what I'm going to do at that point.

Best of luck - let us know how things turn out...

Rick

Hi David, what I'm about to tell you is strictly my experience to date.

My hearing is absolute dog s!@#. And has been for most of my adult life. The last audiometric hearing test I passed was my pre-military physical exam. Never and will never pass one again. Gun shots and mortars took a nasty toll on my hearing.

Now, with that said I have taken 3 DOT physicals since. 1 initial other 2 renewals. The first one I took was for Schneider. I can't remember if I took the whisper. But went in the booth, Failed Doc asked me a few questions about it and signed off. Schneider never asked about it.

As far as the other 2 they were the whisper test. And like Rick said, they are subjective. The VA gave me hearings but they simply don't help. I really don't need them anyways. I only have issues with people who have a lower pitch voice.

Thanks man , and thank you For your service . I’m the same way it’s the lower pitch I can’t hear mild to moderate in both ears since I was a kid . A few people mentioned the dr didn’t check the hearing I will taking the test there and see what happens I guess .

Hi David, what I'm about to tell you is strictly my experience to date.

My hearing is absolute dog s!@#. And has been for most of my adult life. The last audiometric hearing test I passed was my pre-military physical exam. Never and will never pass one again. Gun shots and mortars took a nasty toll on my hearing.

Now, with that said I have taken 3 DOT physicals since. 1 initial other 2 renewals. The first one I took was for Schneider. I can't remember if I took the whisper. But went in the booth, Failed Doc asked me a few questions about it and signed off. Schneider never asked about it.

As far as the other 2 they were the whisper test. And like Rick said, they are subjective. The VA gave me hearings but they simply don't help. I really don't need them anyways. I only have issues with people who have a lower pitch voice.

Ok so I found out last night the whisper test you are not required by rule to understand what the whisper is just hear it ! When I originally took it 5 years ago they made me repeat it now I’m finding out I could have challenged this ! All they are looking for is to test your senses this is coming from someone who was trained to do them he says you can’t fail it now it’s making sense as to why only deaf have waivers can anyone else confirm this ? I wish I had this info 5 years ago and not given up On my dream. Got my permit today now for the dot card! Hopefully this helps someone else

Thanks man , and thank you For your service . I’m the same way it’s the lower pitch I can’t hear mild to moderate in both ears since I was a kid . A few people mentioned the dr didn’t check the hearing I will taking the test there and see what happens I guess .

Hi David, what I'm about to tell you is strictly my experience to date.

My hearing is absolute dog s!@#. And has been for most of my adult life. The last audiometric hearing test I passed was my pre-military physical exam. Never and will never pass one again. Gun shots and mortars took a nasty toll on my hearing.

Now, with that said I have taken 3 DOT physicals since. 1 initial other 2 renewals. The first one I took was for Schneider. I can't remember if I took the whisper. But went in the booth, Failed Doc asked me a few questions about it and signed off. Schneider never asked about it.

As far as the other 2 they were the whisper test. And like Rick said, they are subjective. The VA gave me hearings but they simply don't help. I really don't need them anyways. I only have issues with people who have a lower pitch voice.

Ok so I found out last night the whisper test you are not required by rule to understand what the whisper is just hear it ! When I originally took it 5 years ago they made me repeat it now I’m finding out I could have challenged this ! All they are looking for is to test your senses this is coming from someone who was trained to do them he says you can’t fail it now it’s making sense as to why only deaf have waivers can anyone else confirm this ? I wish I had this info 5 years ago and not given up On my dream. Got my permit today now for the dot card! Hopefully this helps someone else

Again - it can be SUBJECTIVE.

According to this advice from FMCSA site:

The tests are either the forced whisper test or audiometry. For the whispered voice test, the driver should be 5 feet from the examiner with the ear being tested turned toward the examiner. The other ear is covered. Using the breath which remains after a forced expiration, the examiner whispers words or random numbers such as 66,18.23. The examiner should not use only sibilants (s-sounding test materials). If the individual fails the whisper test, the audiometric test should be administered.

The purpose of words or random numbers - would be so the applicant can repeat them back to determine they are understood. While neither the 49CFR Reg "specifically states" the whispered words/numbers have to be repeated back - LOGIC WOULD DICTATE that the reason for "random numbers or words" - would be so THE APPLICANT COULD REPEAT THEM BACK.

I've seen other posts elsewhere - from people complaining that "their rights were violated", because they failed for not being able to repeat the whisper back.

THAT'S SPLITTING HAIRS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HEARING ISSUES.

If you KNOW you have hearing issues - GO GET A REAL TEST. If you fail the standard - GET HEARING AIDS.

Sometimes we make things MORE COMPLICATED THAN THEY HAVE TO BE.

My DOG can hear a ziplock baggie opening from 100', with the TV on - but she acts like she is DEAF when I ask her to sit (sometimes).

Rick