Hearing test

What'd he say???

 

Huh, Oh carry a small p/a and a mic. Just tell them its for a webcast.

 

Many companies wont even do the whisper test. I've had 4 physicals and only 1 did. I got a tip from a fellow driver of what the phrase was. One was "the sky is blue", and the other is "the grass is green". I dont know if the phrase is universal though. Try getting it done at a truck stop doctor. You can probably ask another driver what the phrase is or they might skip whisper all together. Your normal doc that may not do DOT exams regularly will go by the book. A clinic that does tons of dot exams norm check blood pressure, get height and weight....ask if you have any trouble sleeping, do vision check, grab you balls and tell you your good to go with no hearing test.

Real hearing aids are covered by insurance most of the time if you do have a serous hearing problem.

 

That test is bogus and unscientific and cant believe that it is used as some kind of medical test.
Of all the things i see on this forum that people say they are going to sue for -- "Not passing " their "whisper" test should be put on the list.
Just curious, so what happens after you fail that "Whisper test" , do you get sent to a real doctor to get hearing tested -or is that it, you get sent home ?

 

I have CAPD (a disability that OTE's wont help with.) Just find the right doc and you will be fine. The company docs don't care. If you fail claim you had wax in your ears and need another shot. (or just don't go first and ask one of the 30 other guys what the phrase is) Deaf can drive cars just fine and there is no research showing they are any more likely to get in an accident. In cars statistically they are less likely to get in an accident. deaf use vision as their primary sense and thus are more observant when driving. One state has a piliot program for deaf truckers but its just so stupid, not all states allow. Deaf can drive just as safely as hearing. Its just like fmcsa making HOS changes without actually knowing anything.

 

Ask for a proper test with an audiometer, the only way to tell the hearing range of each ear. If that location doesn't have one, they will refer you to one, and incorporate that into the results.

 

Unfortunately DOT regulation doesn't specify using any equipment and you can be failed with them literally whispering.