Hearing Flashcards
Does the medical examiner have any discretion regarding applying the hearing standard?
No. Failing the hearing exam means the driver cannot be certified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.
Name the two tests that are done to check for hearing.
Forced whisper test and audiometric test
-either test can be given first
-test both ears
-you don’t have to give the second test if the first test that you give is passed
If you use a hearing aid to pass the hearing test portion of 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.
What is the forced whisper test?
Driver covers the non-tested ear and turns head towards examiner on the tested side. Examiner stands five feet away form driver, exhales, and repeats a sequence of numbers. Driver passes if they repeat it back correctly.
So, driver must first perceive a forced whisper voice in one ear at not less than 5 feet with or without the use of a hearing aid.
The driver who can’t pass the forced whisper test must be referred to have an audiometry test. The driver who fails the forced whisper test isn’t automatically disqualified. If they pass an audiometer test, they can still receive certification.
What do you do if the driver who is wearing a hearing aid fails the forced whisper test?
Refer the driver for audiometry testing – send them to an ENT or a hearing aid center with a licensed audiologist with certification for that brand of hearing aid. You may not perform in-house audiometry.
The audiologist will have more advanced devices to measure true hearing loss. They can supply the medical examiner with a printed result of audiometry testing.
What is the audiometric test?
You check for average hearing loss at three intensities: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. The average hearing loss in one ear can be no greater than 40 dB. These hearing frequencies are the ones tested because normal conversational hearing travels and frequencies of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz.
What do you do if the driver fails the forced whisper test?
The driver who can’t pass the forced whisper test must be referred to have an audiometry test. The driver must pass an audiometer test in order to receive certification.
You check for average hearing loss at which three intensities ?
500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz
