Excerpts from AME Guide |
Excerpts from Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
Application Process for Medical Certification
Examination Techniques
Item 49. Hearing
Order of Examinations
- The applicant must demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the Examiner, with the back turned to the Examiner.
- If an applicant fails the conversational voice test, the Examiner may administer pure tone audiometric testing of unaided hearing acuity according to the following table of worst acceptable thresholds, using the calibration standards of the American National Standards Institute, 1969:
Frequency (Hz) 500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 3000 Hz Better Ear (Db) 35 30 30 40 Poorer Ear (Db) 35 50 50 60 - If an applicant is unable to pass either the conversational voice test or the pure tone audiometric test, then an audiometric speech discrimination test should be administered. A passing score is at least 70 percent obtained in one ear at an intensity of no greater than 65 Db.
Discussion
- Conversational voice test. For all classes of certification, the applicant must demonstrate hearing of an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at 6 feet, with the back turned to the Examiner. The Examiner should not use only sibilants (S-sounding test materials). If the applicant is able to repeat correctly the test numbers or words, "pass" should be noted and recorded on FAA Form 8500-8, Item 49. If the applicant is unable to hear a normal conversational voice then "fail" should be marked and one of the following tests may be administered:
- Standard. For all classes of certification, the applicant may be examined by pure tone audiometry as an alternative to conversational voice testing or upon failing the conversational voice test. If the applicant fails the pure tone audiometric test and has not been tested by conversational voice, that test may be administered. The requirements expressed as audiometric standards according to a table of acceptable thresholds (American National Standards Institute [ANSI], 1969, calibration) are as follows:
- Audiometric Speech Discrimination. Upon failing both conversational voice and pure tone audiometric test, an audiometric speech discrimination test should be administered (usually by an otologist or audiologist). The applicant must score at least 70 percent at an intensity no greater than 65 Db in either ear.
Frequency (Hz) | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 3000 Hz |
Better Ear (Db) | 35 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
Poorer Ear (Db) | 35 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Equipment
Frequency (Hz) | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 3000 Hz |
Decibels Added * | 14 | 10 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Under some circumstances, the use of hearing aids may be acceptable. If the applicant is unable to pass any of the other FAA Medical tests without the use of hearing aids, he or she may be tested using hearing aids.
Exam Techniques
Other Regions of Head and Neck
- Head and Neck
- External Ear
- Pathology of the Middle Ear
- Unilateral Deafness
- Bilateral Deafness
- Hearing Aids
- Nose
- Evidence of Sinus Disease
- Mouth and Throat
- Larynx
Note: Numbers correspond to the required entry in the AME portion of the FAA Form 8500-8