Hearing Loss

[doofusFrog]

Hello all,

I got my licence suspended 2 weeks ago and I'm currently on sick leave.
I live in Dublin and fly for an Irish airline on A320.
My licence was suspended because my Audiogram was really bad.
My ENT doctor told me I was not death enough to consider Cochlea Implant but I could consider hearing aids and see if it could be approved by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Does anyone know if there has ever been a Professional Pilot approved to fly with hearing aids ?
Any info/comment appreciated.

[mad_jock]

nope but I know loads though that have gone and sat in the cockpit and done a function test with a company trainer and continued to fly without problems.

The company training department just send a letter back to the medics saying your hearing was tested and found to be sufficient to operate effectively in the company aircraft and that's it.

[ASK-13]

I was advised after doing an Audiogram approximately eighteen month's ago in the Dublin Aviation Medical Centre that my hearing was just within limit's. If you want to PM me I would be happy to discuss the matter further with you and discuss some possible solutions.

[iSeven]

Hello to all.

I have obtained a class 1 medical certificate. However, my audiogram is just within limits as well.

Do you know if having the class 1 certificate suffices for airline applications and career opportunities or do airlines have more rigorous entry tests?

What I aim to is to understand if I should risk the high costs of ATPL training, knowing that I have such condition.

Any insights would be appreciated

Thanks and regards!

[Jumbo93]

I had sudden hearing loss in one ear a few years ago. Off sick for a few months while I was tested for many causes that could have meant the end of my flying career.

Recovered a small bit of hearing, but well outside of standards in one ear. I currently wear an aid in the poor ear. This gets me to the maximum allowed db loss. Although, I still am required by my AME/company to complete a functional hearing test during my annual line check.

I know of an EU pilot that wears a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) on one side due to single sided hearing loss.

It can be done, but the only examples I know are for single sided hearing loss. I think that it would be difficult to enter the career with hearing issues. Keep in mind that the flight deck is noisy, so throughout a career one can expect further hearing loss. I religiously wear a custom ear plug in my good ear to keep what I have.

[iSeven]

Thanks for the quick answer Jumbo93!

I'm glad you were able to keep flying the dream. I did not know we were authorised to wear hearing aids, but that certainly keeps my hopes up. It makes sense, if we compare it to wearing glasses, which is also allowed up to a limit.

I also use both ear plugs whenever I'm in a noisy environment, so I don't worsen my condition... I want to keep the odds high. My ENT doctor and my AME both warned me about general audition getting worse with age, but if I take care of it, I may be able to make it last.

Since my audiogram has stayed the same in a 1-year period, I think I will risk it. Audiograms are only repeated each 5 years for the Class 1 Medical, as far as I know... To fly is my dream since a very young age.