Hearing test info

[James1945]

Hello

I was wondering if anyone had some information regarding the hearing test conducted on the medical to become a trainee train driver.

I have mild tinnitus in one ear and slight hearing loss of higher frequencies in the other. I know this doesn't sound good to start with but I went for a hearing test today and the results came back ok using the parameters below, which I have found on a few railway forums, but I can't be sure how reliable they are?

"It should be noted that the widely adopted hearing standard for persons who are required to maintain their own safety when working on or near the line is that hearing loss should not exceed 30 dB averaged over frequencies 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kHz in either ear"

My hearing drops off in one ear after 4khz and I am wondering if this is outside of the parameters being tested for? Also because of the tinnitus the audiologist changed the tone of the hearing test to a different sound so it didn't interfere, is this something that is acceptable?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[Stigy]

Hello

I was wondering if anyone had some information regarding the hearing test conducted on the medical to become a trainee train driver.

I have mild tinnitus in one ear and slight hearing loss of higher frequencies in the other. I know this doesn't sound good to start with but I went for a hearing test today and the results came back ok using the parameters below, which I have found on a few railway forums, but I can't be sure how reliable they are?

"It should be noted that the widely adopted hearing standard for persons who are required to maintain their own safety when working on or near the line is that hearing loss should not exceed 30 dB averaged over frequencies 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 kHz in either ear"

My hearing drops off in one ear after 4khz and I am wondering if this is outside of the parameters being tested for? Also because of the tinnitus the audiologist changed the tone of the hearing test to a different sound so it didn't interfere, is this something that is acceptable?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

I can’t answer your question about the actual parameters, but I have slight tinnitus in both ears. I don’t notice it routinely, only when I think about it. I say that, but it’s never been diagnosed, I just here a slight ringing in my ears. I only noticed this when I had my medical for Trainee Driver last year and it wasn’t mentioned in the medical itself, and I passed without any issues.

Good luck!

 

[James1945]

I can’t answer your question about the actual parameters, but I have slight tinnitus in both ears. I don’t notice it routinely, only when I think about it. I say that, but it’s never been diagnosed, I just here a slight ringing in my ears. I only noticed this when I had my medical for Trainee Driver last year and it wasn’t mentioned in the medical itself, and I passed without any issues.

Good luck!

Thanks, same here with the tinnitus I only notice it when there's no other noise to cancel it out! Did you mention it on your medical?

 

[TheGoldfish]

Thanks, same here with the tinnitus I only notice it when there's no other noise to cancel it out! Did you mention it on your medical?

At GWR you get a medical questionnaire to complete before you go ... it asked about tinnitus and if u have any known hearing problems .. it also asks if you’ve ever fired a gun or been in an explosion


I think at 30dbs from 0.5 to 2.0 kHz it’s a fairly generous test and if you can function day to day ( in normal conversations and hearing your phone ringing on a reasonable vol etc) and you don’t otherwise need a hearing aid you’ll probably be ok ?

 

[Stigy]

Thanks, same here with the tinnitus I only notice it when there's no other noise to cancel it out! Did you mention it on your medical?

I didn’t declare it as I hadn’t been diagnosed with it and otherwise my hearing felt okay. I work for GWR and @TheGoldfish said, at you get a medical questionnaire to fill out prior to the medical, but I didn’t put anything on that either. I could hear all the tones in the test so it obviously didn’t affect me that much.

If it’s been diagnosed, I’d probably declare it. They should judge everything on its own merit, and you’ll still attend the medical you've been invited to, it just gives them a head’s up.

 

[TeaTrain]

I was tested with major tinnitus in one ear and passed the medical just fine for trainee driver very recently. I also only use mostly one eye when both are open (I wont go into details, not necessary) And still passed the eye tests. Everything was declared and was told there is no problems. I am now a trainee. So if you have mild or minor tinnitus you are fine. Don't worry.

Edit: I was a guard before too

 

[James1945]

Thanks for the replies, puts my mind at ease knowing a few others have gone through the same thing!

 

[Efini92]

If your medical is with Medigold just watch for the flashing lights

 

[TeaTrain]

Flashing lights? I was with Medigold. Where were the flashing lights? Or do you mean something else?

 

[Stigy]

Flashing lights? I was with Medigold. Where were the flashing lights? Or do you mean something else?

If it’s anything like my first one with SWT (as they were at the time), the machine was outside the booth and every time there was a “beep” a light came on, on said machine. They covered it up with a sheet of A4 paper but you could still see the light beneath it.

 

[TeaTrain]

Lol I see! All I could think about in the booth was that I could hear/feel my heart beating above all else.

 

[ruben]

I have hearing aids for mild hearing loss and I’m a driver. I wouldn’t worry about it