DOT Physical Exam

I have never had my hearing tested by machine. The doc always justs lowers his voice a little, uses his hand to hide his mouth, and says something. If I can hear it, it is OK. Some carriers probably are more thorough. The rules say you must hear a forced whisper at 5 feet,then it goes on to list the requirememnts if you use a machine. Hearing aids are OK.
If you are totally deaf in one ear, I would be surprised if you passed the physical, but you can apply for an exemption, or waiver. Good luck.

 

Depends on where you get your physical, im not telling you to lie but there not ganna have your personal medical records to look at. You might....you may not. If it was a Werner physical you would pass. Do you have good enough hearing that you wouldnt put lives in danger? Be truthfull with yourself before you answer. Good luck to you!

 

Well Partner Welcome to the Forum, I am not a MD but the test is simple and since this has been this way since birth you have learned to adapt to it, what they have done in both of my DOT Phys. is they step away from me in the exam room and turn their head and whisper at a very high audible level and say a word for example "Hello" and then they get on the other side of me and say another word for example "Good Bye" and you repeat it back again, it is pretty dang easy. I don't know you can check wioth the school and see what they say. I hope this helps.

 

You can Google a DOT form, and it gives some parameters.

 

You should be alright then....all you can do is try.

 

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=391.41

Your's is a strange situation because they assume both ears work or don't work. All I've read refers to minimums in the better ear. But I did read one part about minimums in the worse ear.

Are you able to improve the bad ear with a hearing aid?

Here are some reads....

Page 24 about halfway down

http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/30000/30400/30459/Hearing_DOT-FMCSA_-_FINAL_8-29-08.pdf

Medical Examiners Certificate with instructions for the examiner. A little past halfway on the scroll bar.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safetyprograms/Medical-Report.pdf

You can go here and dig some more and even email them.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/medical/medical.htm

I think you should be able to. This sounds like one of them things one doctor might approve and the next doctor might not. It all depends how they interpret things.

Good luck!