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Q&A
What are the hearing requirements for a DOT physical?
Can I get a DOT medical card if I use a hearing aid?
What are the hearing requirements for a DOT physical?
The driver must be able to 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 the driver fails the whisper test, the medical examiner will refer the driver to have an audiometry test. The driver must pass an audiometer test before the medical certificate can be considered.
I’m a CDL driver and my concern is I’m getting hard of hearing as I get older. If I’m unable to hear a whisper at 5 feet, will I be unable to drive a commercial vehicle? Is there a waiver I need to get? What do I need to do that will allow me to continue driving?
All you will need to do is get hearing aids and the examiner will indicate you need to wear your hearing aids to pass the DOT examination. This does not place a time restriction or limitation on your DOT certificate and you won’t need an exemption.
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.
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I failed the hearing test once I get my hearing aids can my physician certify I meet all the requirements of do I have to go back to the original testing site to retest me
@ Ed
Have a note from your hear facility, but you will need to return to a CME for final certification.
I failed my hearing test but pass all the others. But told to come back with heading aid and come back to finish your hearing test. Few days later come back with my hearing aid. But told that I need to retake the whole pychal again
What do you mean by forced or harsh whisper? I just failed my dot physical . I could hear her but couldn’t understand what she was saying. I was also standing under the air vent in the ceiling.
@ Julia H
The wording in the CME’s requirements for DOT/FMCSA regarding hearing is “perceived”, not understand, a forced whisper at 5 feet.
I went for a DOT physical and was referred to the audiologist. I have been notified my license has been down graded. What does that mean? Have I lost my cdl?
@ Char
You will need to speak with your local drivers license department for clarity.
In Ohio if they decide to downgrade you…. Dot physical every fuking year instead of every 2 years. I made the mistake of saying I snore. Holy shit!!!! Hundreds of dollars later and a mask that wakes me up 30 times a night…AND the mask has made ugly marks on my nose and dug a trench on both sides of my nose. I have to sleep flat on my back. If I turn on my side the mask can shut machine off. Then you are non-compliant. They can pull you off road. It is a scam. 2 years and I don’t feel any better. Just forced misery and out of pocket costs. I hate these people who made me do this.
Go back to your cpap company and tell them it’s not working for you. There are other masks you can use. There are also some online forums where there are tons of problem solving tips for solving cpap problems.
Can a cdl driver use over the counter hearing aids to pass a dot physical .or do they have to be doctors prescribed costing hundreds of dollars
@ James
If the OTC hearing aids allow you to perceive a forced whisper at 5 feet, then you are good to go. Does not have to be prescribed.
Are there any current lawsuits or legal challenges to the way hearing tests are conducted using the forced whisper standard. I believe this is a fatally flawed test due to the fact that it has not been establish with controls that prevent examiner error, abuse, and exploitation. I went to do a DOT physical today and when it was time to examine my hearing, the female conducting the test was wearing a mask and told me that she was going to turn her head and whisper some numbers. I asked if she was going to remove her mask and she replied no. I then explained that her whisper was being muffled by the mask. She got upset and then took off the mask and told me to turn sideways with my left ear towards her and cover it with my hand. She stated that she was going to test my right ear by whispering.
I could not believe this, I was supposed to hear her whisper bouncing off the wall and into my right ear, along with the background sounds of the office. Told her, I could her voice but not her words as they were traveling from the wall into my ear. I told her that I would rather do an audio test in a sound booth as the other office did, seeing that this test does not provide or establish any standard decibel level monitoring or control before or during the examination. I asked her at what tone and decibel level should a whisper be spoken by an examiner to establish this as a legitimate test of one hearing?
She got offended and handed me off to another female, who placed me in the booth and instructed me to press the button whenever I hear the tones, which I did. She began with my right ear, and I pressed the button after each time I heard the three beeps in various tones and at various levels. This went on for nearly five minutes and I began to wonder what was going on. She suddenly open the door as said, ” let me make sure that you are doing this correctly, I need you to press the button immediately as soon as you hear the sound.” I looked at her and said, “why in the world did you wait this long to tell me that, and not clearly state that at the start of the test.” I further stated that “if I known that, I would have been pressing it the moment I heard the sounds, and not between intervals”.
I stated, I know you surely had to notice that I was pressing the button in between intervals, why didn’t you say something much sooner.” She went on and finished testing my left, which I did correctly. After the test, she then gave my results to a male doctor, who came in and told me that she was failed me and wrote in her notes that I needed hearing aids. When I realized this, it dawned on me that this was what i was being set up for in the beginning. I need to know what federal laws cover this? I plan to challenge this fraud to uncover the scam and abuse of the FMCSA program. Are there any current legal challenges pending in the courts?
@ Art
DOT/FMCSA hearing test. ‘Perceives’ a forced whisper.
Go elsewhere for a second opinion. This is not a FMCSA scam, but a testing facility scam.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Just failed my “whisper test” which was administered incorrectly. There should be a machine set at a specific level for everyone every time. There are too many variables with humans whispering at levels that not even a 12 year olds ears could hear! So pissed right now😡
@ T. S
Get them to read the DOT/FMCSA handbook for CME’s. The wording is “Perceive” not understand a forced whisper at 5 feet.
I passed my hearing test during my cdl physical, In fact u passed all the resting ad I’m 60 years old and in very good shape,but the chiropractor giving me test said he wouldn’t pass me because of earwax in my ear and couldn’t see my ear drum. He the Said he disqualified me for asking questions about this.
Is he out of line here and is there such a ear drum requirement?
@ Todd G
The CME does need to see the eardrums, but failing you when all you need is to clear the wax ???? Seems out of line for such a simple solution. Get em cleaned out and do it again.
I have hearing aids. Do I have to wear them all the time while driving or do I just have to have them on me. I usually don’t wear them when I drive my tractor but they are always with me
@ Paul
DOT/FMCSA regulations: Must wear while operating a cmv. Have a backup pair available, if needed. DOT not riding in your truck????
How do you have a backup pair with you when they cost $5000. With that in mind what do I do if I need to send them off for repairs?
@ KC
Spare batteries will suffice for a spare.
My husband just got a cochlear implant in one ear because he has no hearing in it. He has been driving with hearing aids for 5-6 yrs now passes the hearing test to get his medical card. Is he able to still drive with a cochlear implant?
@ Helen
He should have no difficulties with this.
if i can hear the forced whisper but not what they are saying does that make any difference in passing.I’m in Missouri.
@ Allan B
Here the difficulty lies in who the examiner is. Female voices have a much higher frequency and are more difficult to understand, especially for an OTR driver. If the same test is done with a male, deeper voice frequency, it should be easier to understand what is said.
DOT/FMCSA for a class A cdl driver, requires you ‘perceive ‘ sound of a forced whisper at 5 feet with at least one ear.
Wearing hearing aids but can only hear the forced whisper in both ears at 10′. Can I still qualify for a two year card?
@ Robert
There will be questions from the CME regarding the possibility of increasing your hearing range by adjusting the hearing aids. But if all else is within normal limits, you should be good for two years.
I am deaf and I applied for transportation associate (TAM) I have the hearing exemption documents What is next step do I need to do ? Do I have to go back to the clinic and have my dr to do the DOT paperwork and sign his name then fax back to FMCSS ?
@ David
Your exemption paperwork should have instructions. Most likely, have your doctor complete the forms and then fax the paperwork back to FMCSA.
Hello my name Oscar M, I’m full deaf but i most wearing hearing aids cause I’m work Amazon delivery driver so can I get dot certification? Maybe not approved cause I am deaf?
@ Oscar M
You are going to fall under your states guidelines and variances, not federal DOT/FMCSA. Federal medical certification is mostly for class A cdl holders and we suspect you are not a class A cdl holder. Confirm with your local drivers license department for guidance.
I mean I not driver truck a CDL.. i driver for step van so do you think I can get dot certification for step van?
@ Oscar M
You should be fine. It will depend on the medical examiners knowledge of your states guidelines and variances.
Great ok I can come see you this Wednesday for physical exam? If so then send me address I’ll be there
@ Oscar M
Not sure who you are about to go see, We are in another state and your medical examiner needs to be from your state.
What’s the urine for? Thanks…be ,
@ John
Blood, protein and sugar. Possible kidney problems.
If I was denied my physical card because of the wisper test and I’m in the process of filing an Exemption Requst, can I go to another doctor and pay out of pocket for the physical? Also, if I pass the new physical, am I legal then? I’m deaf in one ear and wear a hearing aid in the good ear! Problem I’m having is understanding what was said in the wisper! Can hear it but do not understand!
@ Barry W
Most men have difficulty hearing and understanding a women’s voice, so try to have this test done by a male examiner. If you pass, it will be good and over-ride the no pass. It will indicate wearing a hearing aid while driving on your medical card.
I was diagnosed with rt. Ear menieres disease back in 2020. Got a Dot release from my Dr. Saying I’m fine. As I’m also diabetic I must get tested yearly. First few physicals went fine then about the third physical Dr. Says he can’t certify me. Showed me the DOT regs . But The regulations said if I’m fine according to the doctors and I have that statement I should be good to go. I had to point that part out. He passed me. Has anything changed in the last year? I haven’t had any problem medically in over 2 years. Thanks for any input. Please reply.
@ Rick
You should be fine, no major changes, just make sure you bring the letter from your treating physician.