Hearing requirements for DOT physical

You can hear the doctor pushing the buttons? I'm functionally deaf in one ear, and have a hearing aid that I rarely use because it worsens the tinnitus in that ear once I remove it.

I've only had two of the "headphone" tests, but I never heard the audiologist pushing any buttons. You must have really acute hearing!

 

I've been told that I only hear what I want to hear!

 

They call that...selective hearing. I've been accused by my wife for having it

 

Maybe so, but I do have some hearing loss and tinnitus. My left ear is the worst, from all the wind noise.

I try to take care of my hearing, because I'm a music lover and musician. I take care of my eyes, because I'm an artist and photographer. If I had to get rid of one sense, I guess I'd have to lose taste, but I'd rather keep that one too.

 

Before I got hearing aids, a DOT doctor held his watch to my ear and asked whether I could hear it. I told him, "I cannot hear your Rolex, but I can hear my Timex."

 

My left ear is weak also. I had that audio test done once and even if I could hear the button I didn't know which ear she was testing as it switches from ear to ear,maybe if I had grinned ear to ear that would help.,think so? I do believe if you have corrected hearing it should cover what you need,I believe it falls under the same rules of eyeglasses,which is 24 40,not more than 40 in your bad eye,with glasses.

 

I'm an occupational audiologist, and we do aided testing for DOT physicals. Some states require this yearly; what we do is measure thresholds at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in a soundfield to make sure the average level is 40 dB HL or greater. We have no limit on one versus two hearing aids. These frequencies tend to be a bit less damaged by noise, BTW; a whisper test tends to have more high frequency emphasis, so more likely to be affected by age and noise induced hearing loss. If you fail the whisper test but don't want a hearing aid, get screened without them by an audiologist; you only have to pass in one ear. Ask for a pure tone air conduction test through headphones or inserts, and ask them to calculate the average level of hearing at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz.

I agree that it's a stupid test to do for this purpose, because you guys are absolutely right; your background noise is waaaaaaaay louder than 40 dB HL, and frankly, we don't _want_ you to wear your hearing aids in that noise, because it increases your risk of damage. I can see maybe school bus drivers, who stop at train tracks, but even then, there are much better ways. Like, couldn't we install some sort of radar-like signal into emergency vehicles and at train crossings, and then have a detector light up on your dash? Because maybe you can't hear, but I hope to God you can see!

Some of you commented on military noise exposure; you might look into the VA for free hearing aids, even if they won't compensate for hearing loss.

For you musicians and music lovers, get some high-fidelity musicians plugs now. The music won't sound as muffled as with regular earplugs, and you'll save your ability to enjoy it. The custom type are pretty darn pricey, but Etymotic Research has premade ones in large and small sizes with the same high-quality filter for about $12-13 online or at your local audiologist. Beats the heck out of dealing with hearing loss and buying hearing aids. Sorry if this seems like advertising...I just like it when I _don't_ have to tell someone they need hearing aids!

 

I am considering trucking but I have some hearing loss. I am going to take the dot cdl physical soon. Any advice on passing this? Also, how important is your hearing to being a safe driver? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide

 

You don't want to be disqualified for not passing a hearing test . All physicians test differently . Some will pass you if you don't have any problem hearing them with normal conversation . Others will stand behind you and whisper . The toughest ones are the ones using machines with different pitched tones .
Don't take a DOT physical if in doubt . Have your doctor test your hearing first . You can be qualified with a hearing aid .

 

Sleep with ear plugs in your ears the night before you test.