Hearing Loss /Casa.

[tuggie2]

I have an audiogram coming up part of my class 1 medical renewal.
I have some hearing loss (tinnitus) in an ear due to who knows what! this has arrived since my last audiogram 2 yrs ago.(thanks) Has anybody experienced the same?
How tough is Casa when it comes to this. My hearing is fine apart from that.

[catch]

I would not stress about it. From experience, as long as you have already held a medical and your hearing is still within the required limits you should be fine.
I have had a perforated eardrum since childhood and as a result have a minor hearing loss in my right ear. However I have continually managed to renew the CASA and NZCAA class 1 medical.

All the best!

[Arm out the window]

If you fail the straight-up hearing beep test, you would probably then be referred to a specialist who does more tests and sees if there's anything serious going on.

I've been through a bit of trouble with my hearing standard at times - one good thing is you can be approved to do a flight check with an ATO who can be the final link in the chain, so to speak, and if they deem your hearing to be OK then it's OK.

If it's only a bit of tinnitus I wouldn't stress.

[VH-XXX]

There's a drug for Tinnitus, it's very common particularly in the elderly population as it helps with Meniere's disease. It works by promoting blood flow to the inner ear by opening up the tiny blood vessels. Great for cognitive health also (makes you smarter). The name escapes me right now but I'll keep looking for you. It's non-prescription so you can get it at the chemist.

[AussieNick]

@VH-XXX: As a tinnitus sufferer i'm very interested to hear about this.

@Tuggie2: Don't stress about it mate, i've got tinnitus quite bad in my right ear, with noticable hearing loss, especially in the higher frequency range and have never had a problem with the hearing requirements for a Class 1 Medical. Unless it's severe I think you should be fine.

[zlin77]

I have heard of a natural remedy called FEVERFEW that is supposed to ease the symptoms...

[VH-XXX]

The name of the medication still escapes me but I know it has "Ginkgo biloba" in it.

[compressor stall]

Several captains of airliners I know of using hearing aids for normal day to day stuff.

From the regs from memory, if you fail the CASA audiogram you then do a speech test.

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

I have some hearing loss (tinnitus) in an ear due to who knows what!


Left ear? Maybe taxiing around with the window open?
Shooters also suffer degradation of the second highest hearing band they test, same as phyluts.

[AussieNick]

@Compressor: If i remember from my last medical, if you fail the audiogram, you have a speech test done, the doctor stands 3 or so meters behind you and ask you questions etc while you face away. if you fail that you can request a CASA examiner to conduct a test in an aircraft to prove your operationally fit.

[swh]

There's a drug for Tinnitus, it's very common particularly in the elderly population as it helps with Meniere's disease.

Maybe you are referring to Betahistine Dihydrochloride sold under a number of different brand names like Betahistine, Betaserc, Hiserk, Serc, Veserc.

It was developed in Australia, and normally is sold as "Serc" in OZ/NZ.

[VH-XXX]

Perhaps not.... when I'm at the chemist I'll have a look. I specifically remember it being released about 8 years ago and when it came out all of the chemists sold out in a day because all of the oldies rushed in to buy it. I bought some as I have a little and a workmate got some because he once took a drug that caused his tinnitus.

[poohead]

Quote:
I have some hearing loss (tinnitus) in an ear due to who knows what!
Left ear?
Maybe taxiing around with the window open?

Or maybe you're the driver of your family car and the other half is always on your left? I kid you not.

Seriously if you are concerned about the actual test, give yourself every chance possible on the day. Don't have the radio on or up too load on the way to the test, stick ear plugs in or ear muffs till just prior to turning up, drive with the windows up, don't ride your Harley Davidson, try not to go out clubbing or clay pigeon shooting the day/night beforehand.
I've personally seen people do these things regularly when I previously conducted audio grams in a previous life, it can work.

If you really don't know the cause maybe you should have it checked out, don't just google what it could be caused by, that'll just scare you.

[Mainframe]

VH-XXX,


The pharmaceutical product you are referring to is Tebonin.


It is a non prescription drug and alleviates Tinnunitis and Vertigo.


It costs typically $39 for a pack of 30, the active ingredient is a patented
version of high concentrate Gingko Biloba.


It takes about 3 months to achieve a noticeable reduction or elimination of tinnunitis symptoms, results vary by person.

[VH-XXX]

Thanks Mainframe, that's the one :ok:

[swh]

It is a non prescription drug and alleviates Tinnunitis and Vertigo.

I think everyone in the world would like to see the evidence for the claims made by the manufacturer on the role of Tebonin brand of Ginkgo biloba. In the TGA ruling resulting from a number of complaints, e.g. 2-0606 and 13-0906 resulted in a requirement to withdraw various advertisements and representations.

The Consumer Health Watchdog AusPharm was prevented by a court order from publishing a review of the product ironically under the Trade Practices Act see Schwabe Pharma (Aust) Pty Ltd v AusPharm.Net.Au Pty Ltd (with Corrigendum dated 12 July 2006) [2006] FCA 868 (5 July 2006) (http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2006/868.html) . The science in the report was not tested, just the process and procedures in making the report. From what I understand cost of the legal action against the Consumer Health Watchdog forced them to shut down.

Will let you read about it in the Aust Prescr 2006;29:120 Injunction impedes independent information - Australian Prescriber (http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazine/29/5/artid/828/)

Before using the product, I would encourage you to speak to your health care professional to see if the product is suitable for you, and also to see if they have evidence that this "complementary medicine" in their view does anything.

[Squawk7700]

I can’t help with the drug, however at my last hearing test I said I had Tinitus and the tester said that they can set the tone to a pulsing sound rather than a long tone. It’s much easier to hear and it doesn’t affect the test or it’s validity.

[Uplinker]

A word of caution to the OP.

I would not mention this to your AME at all - unless it is affecting your hearing and you have already mentioned it to your medical doctor.

I once innocently told my AME about my impending divorce, and it was noted down in my record as having anxiety !! It was nothing of the sort, just stress from the greed and unreasonableness of the other half's family.

So, I would not mention tinnitus at all, unless it is intrusive or debilitating. If you pass the hearing test, everybody is happy.

3 Weeks before your medical, self treat both ears with olive oil drops or other such wax removal remedy, and then have both ears syringed out to ensure there is no wax on the eardrums. During the audiometry test, close your eyes, and concentrate really hard on listening for the beeps. This will give you maximum chance of passing the test.

At home when using power tools, or at work, always use ear protection. 99.9% of pilots do their walk-arounds without wearing hearing protection, and the cumulative effect of walking near the APU damages your hearing - As does the engines of other aircraft taxiing past. (It also compromises the walk-around because they want to do it as quickly as possible and get back inside, away from the noise). You cannot feel hearing damage as it is happening; you just gradually lose the high frequencies. There is no cure once the damage has been done.

You can buy a compact set of ear defenders that fold into themselves into a ball about the size of both your fists together. Very easy to have in your flight bag and very easy to use. :ok:

[Checkboard]

Travel sickness drugs Cinnarizine ( Brand name: Stugeron ), and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®), can be used to reduce tinnitus.

[Clinton McKenzie]

Here's how Avmed will likely react if informed of your tinnitus.

1. Google “tinnitus”.

2. Pick whichever of the results are the worst for you.

As a Sunday evening exercise, I’ve done 5 minutes of googling and realise you could be an aeromedical disaster waiting to happen. My google results indicate that tinnitus could be happening in conjunction with hearing loss.

My 5 minutes of googling indicate that “hearing loss” could be caused by:

- trauma – such as perforation of the eardrum, fractured skull or changes in air pressure (barotrauma)

- disease – certain diseases can cause hearing loss, including meningitis, mumps, cytomegalovirus and chickenpox. Severe cases of jaundice can also cause hearing loss

- other causes

- Meniere’s disease and exposure to certain chemicals.

3. Avmed realises you could be an aeromedical disaster waiting to happen. The safety of air navigation demands that you undergo one or more or all of:

- Electronystagmogram or videonystagmography (ENG or VNG). These tests measure balance by studying eye movement. One part of the test looks at eye movement while your eyes follow a target. One part studies eye movement while your head is put in different positions. A third test, called the caloric test, follows eye movement by using temperature changes to trigger a reaction from the inner ear. Your health care provider may use warm and cold air or water in the ear for the caloric test.

- Rotary-chair testing. Like a VNG, this test measures how well your inner ear works based on eye movement. You sit in a computer-controlled chair that spins from side to side, which triggers activity in your inner ear.

- Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) testing. This test uses sound to make parts of the inner ear active. It records how well muscles react to that sound. It may show common changes in the affected ears of people with Meniere's disease.

- Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). This test shows which part of the balance system you rely on the most and which parts may cause problems. The parts of the balance system include vision, inner ear function, or feelings from the skin, muscles, tendons and joints. While wearing a safety harness, you stand barefoot on a platform. Then you keep your balance under different conditions.

- Video head impulse test (vHIT). This test looks at how well the eyes and inner ears work together. vHIT uses video to measure eye reactions to sudden movement. While you focus on a point, your head is turned quickly and unpredictably. If your eyes move off the target when your head is turned, you have a reflex issue.

- Electrocochleography (ECoG). This test looks at how the inner ear reacts to sounds. It can help see if you have inner ear fluid buildup. But this test isn't given only for Meniere's disease.

4. But my googling also indicates that more lab tests, imaging scans and other tests need to be used to rule out other conditions. You could have a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis. So, it’s off for CT scans and an MRI for you.

And it could get complicated if Avmed finds out you’re taking drugs for anything.

[tossbag]

Travel sickness drugs Cinnarizine ( Brand name: Stugeron ), and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®), can be used to reduce tinnitus.

​​​​​​​Are you talking long term treatment? Or just come medical time?

[Checkboard]

I'm not a doctor, and don't suffer from tinnitis - but as I understand it, the drugs target nerves about the ear (which is why they reduce travel sickness), and provide some temporary relief for tinnitis sufferers.

[Sunfish]

Avmed will immediately suspect ménière’s disease ( affects balance) and will at least ground you until that is ruled out. Expect to pay many thousands for pointless testing.

Why not just turn up the volume on your headset?

[cLeArIcE]

I wouldn't mention anything. You either pass the test or you don't... And guess what, if you don't pass, just go to an audiologist do a speech recognition test. Highly likely that you won't have any trouble with that and move on. Or you can let AVMED assume that you are a danger to everyone and that your inner ear anatomy is seconds away from forcibly exiting from your asshole and subject yourself to thousands of $ of tests for no reason.
Your choice. I don't usually buy into all this conspiracy stuff and that them "govements" are out to get you but... AVMED is 100% out to get you. Give the bastards nothing.

[Seabreeze]

I use one when flying and can change the volume on each side independently.

Why cant I use this when my hesring is tested?

[thunderbird five]

Years ago, I'm sure there was a deaf pilot who owned a 210, and he flew everywhere - himself.

[Chronic Snoozer]

Years ago, I'm sure there was a deaf pilot who owned a 210, and he flew everywhere - himself.

Let me guess. Everyone told him he couldn’t do it but he couldn’t listen?

[john_tullamarine]

As I recall, at AN we had a 767 captain who lost his right hearing due cancer. Eventually came back to the line with a trumpet hearing aid device which had the trumpet near his right ear and fed back over to his left ear.

[aroa]

OP.
Wth total hearing loss in the left ear, I always had a PPL. An ATO flight said, using headsets..never a problem. You should do the CpL exams, which I did. Denied due ‘lack of experience’…only a couple of 100 at the time. !?? Que.

Only hiccup came when I wasted time and money with that stupid CAsA brain fart …the commercial drivers licence..fail
cl2 with Dame…pass.
Apart from not being able to source a noise..no 2 ear DF…the ‘leans ‘ come easy.
With just partial you should be OK…but I am well past dealing with the modern (sic) Avmad. Thankfully.