Audiogram Wierdo

[highhope]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone could shed light on my particular situation:

I had a perforated eardrum when I was 5...this healed and unfortunatly, now I'm left with a slight hearing loss in the left ear at 2kHtz.

My results are as follows:

1000htz = 0dB
2000htz = 45dB
3000htz = -5dB

So you see, a real drop at 2kHtz, then right back up to just -5dB at 3000htz! The doctor actually had to check his machine wasn't malfunctioning!

No AME I've spoken to (and I've spoken to many) has come across this situation before. The JAR requirements assume that if you have a hearing loss, it'll be spread over a range of frequencies; mine is an isolated anomaly.

From the above though, I'm outside the limits for an initial class 1. My doctor tells me I have excellent hearing and I guarantee that this loss has never and will never pose a problem to either flying or life in general.

The 2 meter test can be completed with ease, as could a demonstration of satisfactory hearing under an environment similar to noise fields corresponding with flight deck conditions.

It's only in one ear, at one frequency but 10dB below the required level (this is worst case, I could perhaps get to 35dB @ 2kHtz if VERY lucky, just within limits)...can anyone suggest whether I'm flogging a dead horse by going for this medical; or are they likely to consider my overall hearing ability?

Thanks in advance,

Happy landings

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

When I was younger I had similar problems. I failed my initial CME - doctor thought I had a cold. Went back, still the same but I passed after passing that dreadful test where similar sounding words are spoken with a deafening engine noise as the background. Subsequent medicals all the same. One AME referred me to an ENT specialist. Audiogram showed loss at mid and lower frequencies but extreme sensitivity to high freqs. All then forgotten for many years.

About 20 years later did my medical at Heathrow and the doc said: "Used to shoot without ear defenders did you?" Yes - I did as an Air cadet in my teens. "That's why you have that hearing loss", he said! Apparently his son had identical problems due to the fact that we were never told to wear ear defenders for either .22 (indoors) or .303 (outdoor) shooting.

Now I'm in my 60s and my hearing is deteriorating I need the TV turning up so much my wife is nearly deafened (but she used to shoot too!). But, when we're out bird watching I can still hear the high pitch of Goldcrests, Tree Creepers and other birds which she cannot.

[highhope]

Thanks for the reply,

As I understand it, the AME upon discovering the loss is likely to refer my case to the AMS; this is the result of my hearing being *outside* the JAA regs but still having excellent characteristics.

Without wanting to second guess the doctor's opinion, they'll take either one of two paths:

1. The inflexible, short-sighted approach: 'we have to stick to JAA to the letter, I'm sorry but your hearing is outside the limits and there's nothing we can do for you.'

2. The fexible, encompasing approach: 'we understand that your hearing is impaired at this frequency but overall, your hearing is excellent and so is deemed to be of insignificance to flight safety.'

Both my ears have perfect hearing; the loss is an isolated drop at just one frequency. It'd be a crying shame for a potential career to be snuffed by something so insignificant. In eighteen years, it's not dropped a single dB, if anything it's improved.

It's a very odd case and one which JAR reg's does not account for. Having read JAR-FCL 3 and associated Aviation Medical Notes for AME's, it seems as though the system IS flexible in terms of dealing with individual cases. I just hope the AME's have enough responsibility to look at my hearing and paint an accurate, encompasing and correct picture of my overall ability to hear and issue the class 1 as a result.

At the end of the day, I'm a young, healthy chap with flying experience, a desperate drive to fly and no medical issues of any significance - I just hope the AME can see this because on face value, JAR can't!

[Flyin'Dutch']

You can talk to the folks at the AMC at Gatwick to get a heads up before you go but I suspect they will want to see you before they can make a decision.

Best bet is to speak to them on Monday and see what they suggest.