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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 wear hearing aids may I take the hearing test with my hearing aids in in the audio booth test.I can not pass the whisper test
@David
FMCSA wants you to able to hear, so hearing aids are fine. You will need to have the examiner mark ‘must wear hearing aids’ on your medical certificate.
They will not allow me to wear hearing aids for audio test. Can they do that? Thank you
@David
During the testing phase they may request no hearing aids to complete the initial test. And after the test they should determine that you need them and make the recommendation that you wear hearing aids whenever you are driving.
Passed the DOT Physical with my hearing aids in. But they only gave me a one year cirtification because of my eye glasses and hearing aids. I’ve had both for many years. And I’ve always got a 2 year cirtifacation. So what has changed?
@Gerald
Nothing changed, so I would ask what other issues where present that reduced your certificate. If all else was normal, then you should have gotten a two year card.
If you are concerned about not being able to pass the “forced whisper” test. then apply for a hearing exemption that the FMCSA issues. This started in Feb of 2012 with 40 exemptions issued and now have over 300 exemptions issued. The exemptions can be renewed up to every 2 years. Please see: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/medical/driver-medical-requirements/driver-exemption-programs
Plan ahead, obtaining an exemption takes about 6 months if all paperwork is filled out and provided correctly. Once an exemption is issued, bring it with you when you go in for your medical examiner’s card and you’ll be exempted from the “forced whisper” test. You MUST keep the hearing exemption on you at all times. If you are not sure how the process works for the hearing exemption or if you have more questions, you can contact me. I would be more than happy to help you. Please get the word out, share this information! So many professional drivers are losing their jobs needlessly.
i have hearing aids and i have trouble with the whisper test on the dot med exam, i have talked to my audiology teck At the vet administration) and informed me the whisper test is unfare do to the many different levels of sound tones. what do i do as i need my driving job.
Many hearing doctors say the whisper test is totally unfair to many. I agree. A high percentage of people have trouble with noise behind them and certain voices.
It is NOT supposed to be behind you but beside you. It’s still a bunch of crap, but at least this may help.
Hi I am glad I found your comment on getting the forced whisper exemption waiver. Can you tell me how I get the form and if I can call someone to find out how to get it. I had a terrible time trying to get my physical passed even though I have hearing aids and had my audiologist give me the chart showing I passed it and a letter from her and the medical examiner was really being a jerk. After checking with someone else she must have realized my hearing specialists opinion and testing trumps hers and she had no choice but to pass me. She was really out to fail me. I am wanting to get this before I try again next year. I would appreciate any info on how to apply for the exemption waiver. Thank You
these exemptions are only good for interstate driver not intrastate drivers
All of you references are to “hearing” a forced whisper. You don’t specify being able to understand what she said. I could “hear” that she was whispering just fine, in both ears, I just couldn’t understand what she said. I couldn’t “understand” the 3 words that she said, so she failed me.
Is this correct, or should I have passed since I could easily hear her?
@Ken
See the answer in the Comments right below – for Jamelle on Dec 19, 2015. This should give you a good reference for how the test is being administered.
Sorry to be such a pain in the tuchus. You clarified that the tested ear should be turned toward the whisperer…I did not realize that (my back was to her).
My question was: do I have to understand the words or numbers? You used the word perceive, which means discern, recognize, become aware of… I easily perceived her whisper, but could not understand what she said. I probably could have perceived her whisper at 10, and even 15 feet.
BTW-I am going to an audiologist today, but I feel that the test method and results should be clarified better to the examiners.
Thanks again for your time.
If your audiologist can document that your hearing is below an averge of 40 decibels.. 34 in one ear, 40 in other ear, for average of 37 you passed. you need to be below 40 no matter !
I have had CDL hearing tests ever since they changed to CDLs.I moved to Kansas and still drive part time.The examiner has to be elligable to give the test.Every test I have been given in all those years they simply ask,”can you hear me”.This lady whispered two short words and even tho I answered correctly she insisted I tell her what she said.I could not distingwish the words.She failed me.I assume the hearing test to to alert us to sirens,train whistles,car horns an such.I when to another examiner,he whispered “can you hear me” and I passed.Problem is I had to pay out of my pocket the cost of two examines.
I have read that Fed guidelines state that a whisper test should be given with the ear being tested turned towards the Dr. My test was given with Dr standing behind me. . Was this a legal test. I did fail the test.
@Jamelle
The test is to have you hear a forced whisper at five feet or better in at least one ear. Not sure why someone would want to play games with this simple test. If you feel that the test was done unfairly, then get a second opinion or have an audio test done by a professional and take the results back to the examiner. Also if the examiner is a female, men have more difficulty hearing high pitch sounds. Have a male administer the test and see if this makes a difference.
They always turn around or make us turn around, and whisper as low as possible such an unfair test.ohio
I drive tour bus in Indiana I’m deaf in my right ear but have a hearing aid in my left ear. Will I be able to get my dot physical next year
@Jim
Should not be an issue if you can hear a forced whisper at five feet with your good ear and the use of your hearing aid.
https://nad.org/issues/employment%20and%20vocational%20rehabilitation/Commercial%20Driver's%20Licenses
I am deaf in my right ear but hear fine out of my left ear. With the new guidelines will I pass the d.o.t. physical in Texas if I can hear the forced whisper?
@Scott
FMCSA requires that you be able to hear a forced whisper in at least one ear, so you should be good to go.
Thank God I just had ear surgery and haven’t regained my hearing in one ear
Can I take a Michigan DOT test if I am completely deaf?
@Carolyne
Each state has different rules and regulations. So check with your state Drivers License Department-DLD, and see what they have to say about your situation. Contact information for Michigan.
DOT regulations are not state-dependent. They apply to all states at all times. Individual states may have different requirements for issuing driver licenses but DOT rules are the same not matter what state the driver is from.
@ Dr Alan Shackelford
For all class A drivers, that is correct. It is not true in all states for lesser class cdl holders or non cdl holders.
What is the formula for calculating an audiometer test, to DOT standards?
@Sherri
There is no formula, just testing standards from the FMCSA guidelines.