What is hearing loss?

The American Academy of Audiology defines hearing loss as a partial or complete loss of hearing. About one to three in 1,000 newborns have a detectable level of hearing loss, and up to 20% of children may experience some degree of hearing loss by age 18. People with hearing loss may also be referred to as deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH).

Why is it important to think about driving and hearing loss?

All drivers need to know how their health conditions may impact their ability to drive safely. For D/HH individuals, learning to drive may present unique challenges. Depending on where you live, there may also be legal requirements for driving with hearing loss, such as notifying your state licensing agency. Be sure to check for any specific regulations related to hearing loss and driving.

How can hearing loss affect your driving?

Hearing loss may impact your ability to hear important sounds in the driving environment, such as:

• Emergency vehicles approaching with sirens, such as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks
• Honking and tire screeching, indicating a potential crash situation
• Traffic signaling devices, such as beeping crosswalks and turning signals
• Warning sounds in the vehicle, such as low fuel warning, engine service and proximity alerts

Being unable to hear these sounds may make it difficult to respond quickly and safely.

How can you be a safer driver?

While hearing loss may impact driving performance, there are strategies that can help, including:

• Consider getting an audiological evaluation before getting behind the wheel. Consult your primary care provider to assess your ability to drive safely and an audiologist to clarify hearing sensitivity and obtain appropriate hearing technology. If needed, contact a local Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) who has training and experience working with D/HH individuals. Individuals with hearing loss may also have additional medical conditions or comorbidities that can affect driving performance, and a CDRS can help assess how these combined factors relate specifically to safe driving. You can search for a local specialist at aded.net.
• Use hearing device technology. D/HH individuals may benefit from hearing device technology that improves access to sounds, such as air conduction hearing devices, bone conduction hearing devices and cochlear implants. Many modern vehicles are equipped with Bluetooth capability, which streams sound from the car’s audio system to hearing devices.
• Visit your audiologist routinely for a hearing evaluation and hearing device check, if applicable. Clean your hearing devices regularly and replace batteries as needed.
• Be sure to complete annual vision exams. D/HH individuals rely more on visual information so you should wear prescription eyewear or lenses as needed. Ensure your glasses/contact lenses are suited for driving and have appropriate coatings to reduce glare and enhance visibility.
• Check your mirrors regularly. Since hearing loss may make it difficult to hear emergency sirens or others on the road, it is important to utilize visual cues.
• Keep the car windows closed. Open windows introduce high noise levels such as wind and road noise, making it more challenging to hear important sounds.
• Use automobile technology. Many vehicles have standard features that can help individuals compensate for hearing loss. These include visual or vibrational alerts, flashing lights for door warnings, rearview cameras, blind-spot detection systems, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. These features may be added to older cars.

Resources

Download a printable version of this resource.

Visit teendriversource.research.chop.edu for free teen driver safety information and resources.
Automobile Technology: Visit mycardoeswhat.org to learn more about automobile technology.

Visit mycardoeswhat.org to learn more about automobile technology.