Failed DOT Med Cert for whisper test

Of all the senses to lose, I would enjoy no hearing, but I don't think wearing foam earplugs while driving is a good idea, unless you have a Detroit with straight pipes. I'm 70, and use foam earplugs a lot to sleep,, for outside noises, but for practically my entire life, I've been subjected to loud noises. Ex-wife aside, chain saws, dirt bikes, construction equipment, loud trucks, of course rock & roll didn't help, you name it, and never had any ear protection at all. I found out about foam earplugs upon attending a top fuel dragster event. Those things are on the threshold of pain. Today, I have a constant, and annoying ringing, very typical of older people, and like grandpa used to say, "oh, I hear what I want to hear", but it's no joke. I have a difficult time hearing people, but it's not all me. People generally don't talk to each other anymore and mumble when they do, and are actually offended when I say, excuse me? And that's another thing, most hearing devices are merely amplifiers, and cost hundreds, not covered by Medicare. The real good ones amplify only the sounds you need, and those are thousands, not covered. It's a crazy world alright, good luck.

 

Its mostly because my front axles leafs are pretty much shot so it bottoms out a LOT and when it does it BANGS like you wouldnt belive. Im just waiting on parts at this point. But yea your not wrong. My issue is i get ear infections at the drop of a hat, so i literally cant use earplugs without issues. So its the headset or nothing lol. Not that it matters, #### near everyone is going around texting, watching vids or with their feet on the dash. While its POSSIBLE they will nail me and if they do i gets what i get..well im somehow not that worried.

 

A fellow driver years ago was asked by his doctor if he smoked and he said yes why do you ask . His doctor said his left ear had way less hearing than his right which is typical for truck driver who crack the left window for long periods of time. Wind noise is hard on the hearing she said.

 

I was worried about losing my hearing, but my attorney assured me I wouldn't.

 

Another one people don't think about is cutting grass. I always put in ear plugs and then ear muffs over those when doing the lawn.

 

That's great news glad for you. Doc must be a Florida fan haha

 

That constant ringing is tinnitus and almost always the result of too much exposure to loud and damaging noises. Also, most people with hearing loss don't know they have the problem while everyone they deal with routinely recognizes the hearing loss in that person first. For the person with hearing loss, especially those that are alone almost all of the time, they can just increase the volume on whatever they want to hear.

MOST foam ear plugs are awful and painful. Those ear plugs that are shaped like a 55 gallon drum, with straight sides, and rough sides are what most people think about, and reject the option of wearing, when the topic of ear plugs are mentioned. I rejected them also. That's why I looked for the more comfortable alternatives. Ear plugs are like sunglasses, not welder's goggles. Imagine a truck driver or pilot rejecting the use of sunglasses despite the fact his job requires him to drive maybe in the direction of the sun for hours at a time routinely. NOT wearing the protection is the unreasonable decision.

Hearing aids in the US are very very expensive, often thousands of dollars per ear. That's because in the US they are regulated like prescription medicine. In Europe they are regulated more like a consumer flashlight. In Europe they cost 10% of the US price. Costco and Sam's Clubs sell Hearing Assist Devices which are not regulated by the FDA and cost what the European devices cost and they don't require a prescription and expensive professional exams by doctors. I'm not telling anyone what to do. I'm explaining that going deaf is not necessary even if you drive a truck for decades. Going deaf is not a matter of people not being tough enough or not having the will to face down loud noises. If people are asking you to repeat what you said often or commenting on how loud the volume of the TV, etc, is then what's going on is they recognize your hearing loss and you don't, yet. If you work alone it's very easy to not recognize your own hearing loss. Save your hearing or don't save your hearing it's a choice.

 

I have my tinnitus due to childhood ear infections. I've had it since AT LEAST kindergarten but my hearing has always been good enough for flying or DOT exams. I just don't want to have less hearing later since it means only hearing more tinnitus. There are pretty easy ways to prevent ear infections with very inexpensive items in a drug store, like hydrogen peroxide and/or mineral oil. Driving with headphones one is just asking for a ticket, that's my only concern. I would drive with ANC headphones if I could and not get a ticket. The law is the law and nobody can see if you are rocking out to Metallica at 118 dB or just hearing your own heartbeat. All they can see is you have on headphones which every state outlaws while driving, except for firefighters on a fire call.