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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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How can I obtain a DL 51B form to apply for a California Intrastate medical exemption?
@ TonyH
Your medical examiner should have this form already for you. If not, Google, type in DL 51B, then download pdf and print the sections of the form you need.
do you have to have a restriction on your physical drivers license for wearing hearing aids in the state of Colorado
@ Thurman P
Each state is different. Check with the Colorado drivers license department for your best answer.
I have trouble with the whisper test, even with my hearing aides I can hear them but cannot make out what word or number most of the time. I not only have hearing loss but tinnitus also. Does the dot require that I hear the pronunciation or just be able to hear the whisper.
@ Don T
If a women is preforming the test, you will have difficulty due to her higher frequency voice. Ask if a man can perform the test. You will need to hear and repeat what the examiner said.
DOT Recognizes Deaf and Hard of Hearing Truck Drivers! Anyone with hearing issues should look into this. Great agency working for the hard of hearing.
In a historic victory for deaf and hard of hearing truckers, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today, after decades of prohibition, that deaf drivers can operate commercial motor vehicles such as large trucks. Today, the DOT granted 40 applications filed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) seeking exemption from the hearing standard that has barred deaf drivers from obtaining commercial drivers’ licenses (CDLs). In announcing this historic decision, the DOT cited research demonstrating that deaf drivers are as safe as hearing drivers.
You must repeat what is whispered. You are allowed no closer than 5 ft. They are supposed to whisper from your side. NOT FROM BEHIND AS THEY ALL DO. If you fail you lose your job. Few will give you a break. You should be able to get a waiver. But the wait can take months and same for the renewal. Submit your renewal pkg. at least 3 months in advance of expiration. The pkg. will consist of copy of 3yrs. Of driving record, med cert., front and back of your cdl, a written request poss. More. There is a well hidden link called hearing exemption renewal procedure on the internet. And no ..FMCSA from Washington DC to the field offices had no clue. I had to discover this myself . They were clueless if you could even get them to answer the phone or emails. They don’t tell you about the three month submission pre expiration except in the link if your lucky enough to find it. They will send you a stack of worthless links(maybe). Per national association of the deaf, This is institutional discrimination and prejudice.In short, the medical examiners, the FMCSA, your employer, and the cops are bound and determined to end your career if you don’t hear that exact word or number or get that waiver.
@ Ron A
Don T could have a hearing test performed by an audiologist and take the results in with him on the next DOT/FMCSA examination, too. That could help save his job.
So, I wear hearing aids, and my boss and I submitted information to FMCA….they responded saying it can take up to 180 days. In the meantime, my medical card expires on July 7….and that is WITH a 3 month extension…. what are my options
@ Shannon S
You do not need a hearing waiver for a class A medical card unless your hearing is less than adequate to pass the medical examination. if you can pass the whisper test with your hearing aids in place, then all the medical examiner has to do is mark that you need to wear your aids while driving.
My examiner was wearing a mask. Can I ask to try taking the test again without her wearing a mask?
@ Dave G
Ask if a male can do the test. Male drivers lose the female voice frequencies early in life, so a female behind a mask would be difficult at best for any driver.
Ya but, I’m a women trying to pass a whisper test. Is it the same, I had a women doc doing the whisper test on me, and with a mask on????
@ Nancy F
The mask will lower your ability to hear a forced whisper. Have them retest with the mask off. Men seem to lose high frequency earlier in life. Women, not so much.
I am unable to pass the whisper test even with hearing aids. The center had me do an auditory hearing test & made me remove my hearing aids prior to the test. I failed again. Seems like taking your glasses off for the eye test. Is removal of the hearing aids a standard for the auditory test?
@ Rich S
There is no need to remove your hearing aids for the DOT/FMCSA hearing test. If a female is the examiner, then ask to have a male perform the test on you. Most men lose the females higher frequencies early in life.
I barely passed the forced whisper test at my DOT physical. I wear a hearing aid in one ear but can’t hear a thing in the other. How do I apply in advance for the waiver prior to my next exam.
@ Ben C
You do not need a waiver as long as you can pass the forced whisper test with a hearing aid in your one good ear. Since men lose high frequency sounds, like a women’s voice, try to get a man to administer the whisper test.
When I pulled one of my drivers driving record, it stated he must wear a hearing aid. This restriction just popped up recently. He DOES NOT need hearing aids, and has tried numerous times to have it removed. He even presented his DOT physical, and no where does it state that he needs ant type of hearing aids. Any suggestions will be helpful…
@ Kimberly R
It’s a state thing, so unfortunately you have to deal with the state drivers license department.
If you dont pass the whisper test, what are the actual numbers needed from an audio test to be considered passing? I had a test done and it actually said passed as the results but the doctor said my numbers were too high.
@ Lorne
DOT/FMCSA requires a hearing loss be less than 40 db., and/or corrected with a hearing aid.