Train/tram driver and hearing aids

[Dousey]

Hi all

I've recently passed my psychometrics and MMI with a foc, sadly I failed the DMI but learnt a lot and am not too discouraged.
However, before I put myself through the torturous recruitment process with another toc/foc/tram company I wondered if anyone could advise on whether hearing aids are acceptable from a medical point of view or not.

Long story short, I suffered a head injury in 2004 which resulted in a perforated ear drum and significant loss of hearing in my right ear. I've lived with it until now, but having recently taken a hearing test it was confirmed that I would definitely fail the medical. 0.5khz and 1khz were within limits, but at 2khz the hearing loss exceeded the 30db limit.
I was advised that a hearing aid would significantly increase my hearing range and so I'd almost certainly pass the hearing test at a medical, but before I invest a significant sum of money in one I wanted to see if anyone knows or has experience of train driving and medical exams with a hearing aid and if they are considered acceptable in the industry.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[ExRes]

I'd suggest putting an hour or so aside and using the forum 'search' function, I know hearing has been discussed before so you may well pick up some relevant information, I resumed driving with a digital hearing aid but the time gap between then and now would make my experience outdated as I'm sure, I certainly hope, that dealing with hearing loss has now been brought into the 21st century, I would underline that if and when they set rules for you to follow you will have to follow them, there is no negotiation

 

[CardiffDan]

As part of the medical there is a criteria you have to reach without the hearing aid.
Regarding that, anything below 40db is a fail.

 

[New York Giant]

As part of the medical there is a criteria you have to reach without the hearing aid.
Regarding that, anything below 40db is a fail.

Does the hearing test involve the big cup style earphones and high/low frequency tones?

 

[glasgowceltic1]

Does the hearing test involved the big cup style earphones and high/low frequency tones?

Yes mate although I'm convinced there are no tones at all and my brain just makes them up.

 

[CardiffDan]

Yes mate although I'm convinced there are no tones at all and my brain just makes them up.

Same. I'm in police at the moment and that test is similar but I swear the trains had the volume on lowest setting. A few times I clicked in hope there was one lol

 

[trainmania100]

Yes mate although I'm convinced there are no tones at all and my brain just makes them up.

Same with me, I have hearing aids, when I do a hearing test they make constant beeps and the quiet ones I swear I can hear but cant make out if its really there or i'm making it up.

I'd love to work on the railways but my hearing is very dodgy. Sometimes it may be so bad in one ear I wont even bother with the hearing aid as it sounds distorted. Presumably wax, but you put olive oil in and then you have to have it out for a couple of weeks so whats the point.

Often I hear the AWS from sitting behind the cab , but its more the communication via the phone that is my main concern.

 

[Efini92]

You’re best speaking to one of the railway medical providers. They’ll be able to give you a definitive answer. Try medigold, they seem to do most TOCs now.

 

[Dousey]

You’re best speaking to one of the railway medical providers. They’ll be able to give you a definitive answer. Try medigold, they seem to do most TOCs now.

Thanks but tried ringing them several times and they never answer!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2022 ==

As part of the medical there is a criteria you have to reach without the hearing aid.
Regarding that, anything below 40db is a fail.

That would be ok, I'm at 25db loss at 0.5 and 1khz and 35db at 2khz. That's encouraging so thank you

 

[ComUtoR]

I resumed driving with a digital hearing aid but the time gap between then and now would make my experience outdated as I'm sure, I certainly hope, that dealing with hearing loss has now been brought into the 21st century

My TOC allows hearing aids.

 

[MDB97]

Hi @Dousey,

I recently went for my medical for a trainee driver position, last Friday. I have mild/moderate hearing loss and have 2x digital hearing aids.

Here is the standard for train drivers as per RIS-3451-TOM (Train Drivers - Suitability and Medical Fitness Requirements);

a) The hearing deficiency should not be higher than 40 dB at 0.5 and 1 kHz.
b) The hearing deficiency should not be higher than 45 dB at 2 kHz for the ear with the worst air conduction of sound.

For trackside workers the standard is higher (replace 40/45db of loss with 30/35db).

Do not bother trying to contact the medical providers as they will not tell you anything (I have tried this), also on the forum there is very little information on hearing loss/wearing of hearing aids amongst drivers especially prospecting ones.

As a entrant off the street your chosen TOC/FOC has no great responsibility to employ you with your hearing loss if you do not meet this standard (sorry for being blunt but they will just remove the conditional offer) but once you are employed with them they must make 'reasonable adjustments' to enable you to continue your employment, this would usually be allowing you to use hearing aids with spare batteries and risk assessing this on a periodical basis. Luckily for deaf/Deaf/Hearing Loss individuals, a fresh look at the medical standards found that users of digital hearing aids along with the implementation of incab radio equipment (GSMR) now creates minimal risk (GOGN3655 https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards-catalogue/CatalogueItem/GOGN3655-Iss-2).

Good luck with your future applications, this is a long process and for people with impairments of any nature it is one that often feels unforgiving.

 

[Dousey]

Hi @Dousey,

I recently went for my medical for a trainee driver position, last Friday. I have mild/moderate hearing loss and have 2x digital hearing aids.

Here is the standard for train drivers as per RIS-3451-TOM (Train Drivers - Suitability and Medical Fitness Requirements);

a) The hearing deficiency should not be higher than 40 dB at 0.5 and 1 kHz.
b) The hearing deficiency should not be higher than 45 dB at 2 kHz for the ear with the worst air conduction of sound.

For trackside workers the standard is higher (replace 40/45db of loss with 30/35db).

Do not bother trying to contact the medical providers as they will not tell you anything (I have tried this), also on the forum there is very little information on hearing loss/wearing of hearing aids amongst drivers especially prospecting ones.

As a entrant off the street your chosen TOC/FOC has no great responsibility to employ you with your hearing loss if you do not meet this standard (sorry for being blunt but they will just remove the conditional offer) but once you are employed with them they must make 'reasonable adjustments' to enable you to continue your employment, this would usually be allowing you to use hearing aids with spare batteries and risk assessing this on a periodical basis. Luckily for deaf/Deaf/Hearing Loss individuals, a fresh look at the medical standards found that users of digital hearing aids along with the implementation of incab radio equipment (GSMR) now creates minimal risk (GOGN3655 https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards-catalogue/CatalogueItem/GOGN3655-Iss-2).

Good luck with your future applications, this is a long process and for people with impairments of any nature it is one that often feels unforgiving.

Hi @MDB97

Thank you so much for this information, very helpful and reassuring.

Based on what you say I would pass the hearing test without the need for hearing aids so that is good news. The information I found online stated that there shouldn't be hearing loss exceeding 30db at 0.5, 1 and 2khz but if its 40/45 then I'll be ok.

Many thanks and good luck for your upcoming training.