Do I "need to wear a hearing device while driving"?

straddler

straddler

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I'm applying for a learner's permit, and one of the questions on the application is "Do you need to wear a hearing device while driving?" I'm confused about how to answer this. I do wear a hearing aid most of the time, but I don't need to wear it while driving. People who have less hearing than I have are obviously legally allowed to drive without hearing aids or cochlear implants. If I were to get pulled over while I was not wearing my aids, would I be fined, ticketed, arrested, get points on my license, etc? I'm just confused as to how to answer this question. Any insight?
 
One way to look at this question is to think of it as wearing glasses. Do you need glasses to read the road signs, street signs, or building numbers? If so, then you'd put a check saying yes you need to wear glasses when driving.

With hearing aids, the fact you have said you wear hearing aids most of the time, ask yourself why do you wear your hearings aids? Do you need to hear a car horn, ambulance siren, something wrong with your car engine, or what? If so, then you'd put a checkmark saying you need to wear hearing aids when driving.

It is a trick question though, because if you are pulled over for whatever reason and are not wearing your hearing aids when your license says you need them to drive you will get a ticket. I have the same situation, I don't wear my glasses much, but I need them to see far-off distance things like street signs and building numbers. I don't need them if I know where I am going and don't need to read the street signs or a hosue number so I don't bother wearing them, but if I am pulled over, then eep, I am caught and get a ticket!
 
I agree with Lemontree. You have to wear hearing aids to protect you. If you don't wear hearing aids. You can't hear in background like honk, crash, and siren walling. Do you wear a glasses for read the sign?? What's wrong with hearing aids?? Glasses and hearing aids are the same! If you are application for a new job at truck. You have to wear hearing aids. Don't be shy or scare. That's silly to be shy or scare to wear. What kind of truck do you work for?? Semi Truck or Truck Delivery or Hauling? If you can't hear any noise. You will get risk. Hearing aids is protect you to hear. Glasses is protect for your vision. That's nothing wrong to wear aids. You will not get arrest by pullover. Just give you a ticket for speeding that all. I have to wear glasses all the times. I am not good at read sign. It's blurring. I always wear my hearing aids to hear anything.

straddler said:
I'm applying for a learner's permit, and one of the questions on the application is "Do you need to wear a hearing device while driving?" I'm confused about how to answer this. I do wear a hearing aid most of the time, but I don't need to wear it while driving. People who have less hearing than I have are obviously legally allowed to drive without hearing aids or cochlear implants. If I were to get pulled over while I was not wearing my aids, would I be fined, ticketed, arrested, get points on my license, etc? I'm just confused as to how to answer this question. Any insight?
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If you say you don't need hearing aid but claim you are deaf then they may will give you a restriction that you must have mirrors installed like driver's side and rearview or all three (Left rearview and right)

For example when I was living in NY, I would have restriction of F on front of driver license: Driver Loss of Hearing
 
I do NOT believe that hearing does help drivers drive better, it is just hogwash. AND I can prove easily!

Too many people are talking on cell phone, this can distract hearing drivers!

There are cars that was built as sound proof from outside of cars because hearing people can't stand the noises from outside of cars, yet they still drive and can't hear from outside hence soundproofing cars. If hearing is so important, then why build soundproofed cars? Don't believe ones that exists? Here is the link Are cars too well sound-proofed for drivers to hear emergency vehicles approaching? Text - Physics Forums Library which concerns about soundproofing cars with emergency vehicles! True business there is plenty out there.

What is most important part of driving? Of course your EYES! Without Eyes, you won't be able to drive, period.

finally there are plenty of people that cranked the volume up to the top in their cars, how can they hear from outside while inside the cars is damn too loud?

I think it is lame excuses for hearing people to look down at Deafies that they think can NOT drive just because they can't hear. FULL OF BALONEY!

Now you got my answer to your question!
 
Pinky678 said:
I agree with Lemontree. You have to wear hearing aids to protect you. If you don't wear hearing aids. You can't hear in background like honk, crash, and siren walling. Do you wear a glasses for read the sign?? What's wrong with hearing aids?? Glasses and hearing aids are the same! If you are application for a new job at truck. You have to wear hearing aids. Don't be shy or scare. That's silly to be shy or scare to wear. What kind of truck do you work for?? Semi Truck or Truck Delivery or Hauling? If you can't hear any noise. You will get risk. Hearing aids is protect you to hear. Glasses is protect for your vision. That's nothing wrong to wear aids. You will not get arrest by pullover. Just give you a ticket for speeding that all. I have to wear glasses all the times. I am not good at read sign. It's blurring. I always wear my hearing aids to hear anything.
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I disagree with you. Many of my deaf friends and brother dont have hearing aids and they never had any problems with driving. No accidents.

To the OP, many of them have been pulled over for tickets...never got ticketed for not having hearing aids.
 
Geez, a lot personal medical questions there.. But few items I can understand.. But deafness?? oh please.. I have pulled over quite few time and I made officer aware that I am deaf so they can communicate with me via notepad. No problem...

About time they requires cerification for mature drivers.. Some of them are driving very dangously.. for example, driving 45 in 65 which alot cars zips by.. I have seen few didnt make good judgement, like going thru red light (it happened to my grandpa!!)..

Boult said:
guys and gals,

this pdf is the application straddler was talking about on page 2 you will find the question

District of Columbia: Department of Motor Vehicles - Information - Tickets & Hearings - Tickets Payment

straddler, you can check "no" and add "I am deaf" and I think they may give you the restriction to have the driver side mirror requirement.
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shel90 said:
I disagree with you. Many of my deaf friends and brother dont have hearing aids and they never had any problems with driving. No accidents.

To the OP, many of them have been pulled over for tickets...never got ticketed for not having hearing aids.
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Whatever! By the way, I can't drive at all. I have many deaf and hoh friends to wear hearing aids. That's their decide to wear it for drive. I have other deaf and hoh don't have hearing aids too. I didn't say about not get a ticket because of hearing aids. You should to read this man scroll down. You can answer the question for him not me.
 
Wait a second. My fiance do have a bluetooth for his cellphone. Bluetooth alike a earphone and hearing aid. My fiance is very good at drive and never get problem with drive during speak on his earphone instead of hold hand the cellphone. He is sick of hold the hand cellphone. He like to use his hands on wheel drive while he is wear an earphone for cellphone. I know about hearing people are not smart to use a hand cellphone cause not attention. My fiance is very frustrate with people for not attention.

The deaf people do chat with sign language while drive. Some deaf driver need to focus on road and not chat with sign language. They didn't get crash for chat. It's big difference.

I am not drive at all. My doctor said no. I has a rp disease. I am a passenger person!

diehardbiker said:
I do NOT believe that hearing does help drivers drive better, it is just hogwash. AND I can prove easily!

Too many people are talking on cell phone, this can distract hearing drivers!

There are cars that was built as sound proof from outside of cars because hearing people can't stand the noises from outside of cars, yet they still drive and can't hear from outside hence soundproofing cars. If hearing is so important, then why build soundproofed cars? Don't believe ones that exists? Here is the link Are cars too well sound-proofed for drivers to hear emergency vehicles approaching? Text - Physics Forums Library which concerns about soundproofing cars with emergency vehicles! True business there is plenty out there.

What is most important part of driving? Of course your EYES! Without Eyes, you won't be able to drive, period.

finally there are plenty of people that cranked the volume up to the top in their cars, how can they hear from outside while inside the cars is damn too loud?

I think it is lame excuses for hearing people to look down at Deafies that they think can NOT drive just because they can't hear. FULL OF BALONEY!

Now you got my answer to your question!
Click to expand...
 
Well, I heard that the auto insurance company mentioned that deaf drivers are a better driver than hearing drivers. Cuz deaf people use their eyes to watch and pay attention lot than hearing drivers.
 
Boult said:
guys and gals,

this pdf is the application straddler was talking about on page 2 you will find the question

District of Columbia: Department of Motor Vehicles - Information - Tickets & Hearings - Tickets Payment

straddler, you can check "no" and add "I am deaf" and I think they may give you the restriction to have the driver side mirror requirement.
Click to expand...
That's a very interesting application form. The wording of the vision and hearing questions is not the same. :hmm:

It asks if eyeglasses are needed for taking the vision test, but it asks if hearing aids are needed for driving. Those are not equivalent questions. If they were, the questions would be "do you need glasses or hearing aids to drive", or "do you need glasses or hearing aids to take the vision/hearing test." Since there is no "hearing test" involved, then there shouldn't even be a hearing related question. Besides, I don't think the DMV's accept just the applicants say-so. They still require an actual vision test at the DMV to prove that the vision is OK.

On this line "What is your primary language if it is not English?" deafies can put down American Sign Language. :)

The whole application form needs to be reworked for sure.

Where would we be without paperwork and bureaucracy? :lol:
 
Do you need them ? - sounds like a personal question actually ...

Do you personally feel you need hearing devices in order to be a good driver ?
if you think yes, check yes ... if you feel that you are a safe, and aware driver regardless of if you wear hearing devices then select no.

If you select yes ... you will ALWAYS have to wear a HA while driving ... or you'll be in violation (then what do you do if your HA is in for repair and you aren't given a loaner etc)

also there's nothing on there that says you have to state that you're Deaf ...so that's information you can volunteer or not, depending on how you feel.

I personally would say "no" because I don't think wearing my HA actually increases my safetly ... especially since hearing people crank their stereos so loud THEY can't hear the sirens either ...

JMHO
 
I don't really wear my hearing aids when I drive. Not only to mention that a lot of cars today are built to muffle the outside sounds.
 
Pinky678 said:
Wait a second. My fiance do have a bluetooth for his cellphone. Bluetooth alike a earphone and hearing aid. My fiance is very good at drive and never get problem with drive during speak on his earphone instead of hold hand the cellphone. He is sick of hold the hand cellphone. He like to use his hands on wheel drive while he is wear an earphone for cellphone. I know about hearing people are not smart to use a hand cellphone cause not attention. My fiance is very frustrate with people for not attention.

The deaf people do chat with sign language while drive. Some deaf driver need to focus on road and not chat with sign language. They didn't get crash for chat. It's big difference.

I am not drive at all. My doctor said no. I has a rp disease. I am a passenger person!
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It is not holding the cell phone in your hand that causes problems with talking on the phone and driving at the same time. It is trying to pay attention to the conversation and the traffic and the road all at the same time. You are just as distracted by conversation using BlueTooth as by conversation on a hand held.
 
jillio said:
It is not holding the cell phone in your hand that causes problems with talking on the phone and driving at the same time. It is trying to pay attention to the conversation and the traffic and the road all at the same time. You are just as distracted by conversation using BlueTooth as by conversation on a hand held.
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Yep; and anyone who thinks they are otherwise is in denial.

I've also seen people with Bluetooth driving along gesticulating with both hands (not signing) off the wheel, "drifting" into other lanes, so I know they aren't giving full concentration to the road even though they're using a "hands-free" phone.
 
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