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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 have a FMCSA hearing exemption that expires soon and I cant find out how to renew, any ideas. There is no information on the paperwork or their website, I have sent many messages and left many messages on their voice mail with no response. I cant pass the test even with a hearing aid due to ringing in my ears. I can hear fine when looking at someone or talking on the phone but cant distinguish voices behind me.Im running out of time and need my job. thanks
@ Tom
Check with your local DOT examiner and see if they have a local list of SPE examiners. You will probably need a new SPE examination to acquire the new hearing exemption. FMCSA does not seem to be very available for these types of things anymore. Also check with your local drivers license department and see if they have any information available too
I am completely deaf in one ear however the hearing in my other ear is excellent. Will I be able to keep my CDL if I pass whisper test on only one ear ?? If you only need to pass one ear than why do they test both?
@ Mike
Perfect hearing in one ear will pass the DOT medical examination. Why test both, confirmation as to whether a hearing aid would be beneficial.
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you meant posted Q & A by readers. My question is answered.
I really do not understand why an ambiguous word like PERCEIVE is used, instead of the straightforward word UNDERSTAND…typical government doublespeak!
And yes, it is BS, as others have said. For safety, a driver needs to “become aware of” sounds around him/her. To “hear” a whispered word, but not to understand it, is all that should be required for safety. Understanding is irrelevant! A person driving with the windows up, A/C running, and music turned up loud wouldn’t hear an ambulance siren in the lane next to him/her.
-kn
I may be late in this question but I think I can explain “perceive”. In my classes we are taught that perceive means to not just hear the sound, but to understand and know what it is, especially with speech. People can hear someone speaking and not understand it and this creates huge problems.
They must hear it and know what they are saying.
Yes, as long as you can PERCEIVE a forced whispered voice in one ear…
What does the word perceive mean?
Definition:
1.
become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand.
Become aware of is not the same as understand. A person can become aware of the “forced whisper” (whatever that is), but not understand what is whispered.
Thank you for your interpretation of this for me, -kn
Class (8) vehicles all have led warning lights on there instrument panel, to put this another way, you don’t need a perceived whisper to drive safe, however you do need good vision. I’ve been driving class 8 trucks for 53 years and have no violations to date as of this posting, my hearing has been compromised due to early class 8 trucks that had very little noise abatement protection, moreover the, (American hearing association) an advocate for the the hearing impaired, concluded drivers with hearing impairments are among the safest drivers. In conclusion I think most drivers in any category are safer because they have their eyes on the road not hearing loud music on the radio !
I am a school Bus Driver in the State of Indiana. I have lost 100% hearing suddenly in 1 ear. Am I leagal to Drive Bus. I have 100% hearing in the other ear.
Been CDL B driver for 20 years in Maryland. Moved to Florida late 2015. Diagnosed with Meniere’s in right ear in Oct. 2016. Had the Microwick procedure performed and ringing in ear has cleared up. DOT doctor said that because I was diagnosed with Meniere’s, that there is a possibility that I could get Vertigo and he must revoke my DOT medical card and CDL license at this time. Because of this, I will lose my job. Have not had an issue at anytime with Vertigo.
You need to make sure that you were diagnosed with Tinnitis( ringing in the ears) and not Menieres.
What is the deal with this whispering hearing test, that’s the biggest bunch of crap I have ever heard of. The only people that whisper are the trouble makers. When in the hell when you’re driving to do hear a truck horn whisper or a car horn whisper even a train how about an ambulance or cop car even your wife doesn’t whisper, this is the biggest bunch of BS I have ever heard of. Talk in a normal voice and everything is fine!!!!!!!!!
ever wonder if they whisper something an they didn’t to trick cdl driver to get medical help to use us like test animals I know these people make harder for americans easy for imigrants to drive in us
As a CDL holding Truck Diver for 40, I have had hearing lose where I have had to have hearing aids for the last 30 years. I noticed that I was not hear as well with hearing aids in. Went in to have an audio test for up grades. This is what they found my right ear has a speech discrimination of 40 with an average decibel loss of 83 and my left ear has a speech discrimination of 60 with an average decibel loss of 85. In the retuned info issue/contention statement says “Individual Unemployability” never heard this before went to DOT and State Patrol and they can’t give me an answer as to what I can do from here. Does this mean that I’m done as a CDL Driver? Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
@Bob
With your hearing aids in, can you hear a forced whisper in at least one ear? If so, then you still pass the DOT medical certification examination. If not able to hear a forced whisper then you might want to check into intra-state only driving. That would put you under the states variances and not FMCSA.
Trucker Doc,
I can hear that some one is talking but can not decode about 35 to 40% of the words. Have to move with in 2 feet to under stand most words and lean good ear to person talking. Thanks Bob
@Bob
Is this with or with out hearing aids?
Yes with them in!
@Bob
It appears that, based on your answer, that you should check into either a hearing waiver from rhe Federal DOT, or intra-state driving. Intra-state puts you under the states variances and not FMCSA/Federal regulations.
Force whisper is not allowed aided. Aided requires that when tested wearing your hearing ads you have to have a pure tone average of 30dB or better in one ear and 85% discrimination or better with hearing aids in and at 65dB in sound field presentation level. So you either can purchase stronger hearing aids to pass the requirements or consider obtaining a cochlear implant which when tested you should pass after implanted. Most Audiologist give you a 30 day trial period so you would have the opportunity to see if the stronger hearing aids will help pass the testing before considering the implant. The implant is not a quick fix it is a surgery and the implanted device that takes months to acclimate to. If you cannot afford new hearing aids I suggest contacting Vocational Rehabilitation services for your state. They help in these matters.