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Hearing (Merged) Including Hearing Tests and Hearing Categories

SPM said:
Two weeks ago I received my notice that my appeal was successfully over turned. I am now currently on the Merit list. A long journey has ended an even longer journey ahead. Excited to hopefully hear a job offer soon so I can start in the military. Thanks to every one for reading this post and good luck with your applications.

Pun alert  ;) Congratulations by the way.
 
I thought I would post a follow-up to my original post in 2010. At that time, I did a second hearing test with an audiologist and was able to squeak by with an H3 rating. So my transfer was successful.

Since then, my career has progressed and I'm now preparing for my next (final) career promotion. Sure enough, at my age, my medical expires every 2 years so I'm going to have to do it again. It's also difficult to do the annual Force test without a current medical. I've been aggressively trying to protect my hearing since 2010... Custom earplugs in use anywhere there is loud noise, concerts, movies, gun firing, etc.  Somehow, I still feel my hearing is still not what it was 3 years ago.

Keeping my fingers crossed again....
 
I was told the same thing with Single sided deafness, being deaf in my right ear with no hearing being registered, but I can still do the work without harming personnel could or should I appeal this?

Thanks.
 
Spartan80 said:
I was told the same thing with Single sided deafness, being deaf in my right ear with no hearing being registered, but I can still do the work without harming personnel could or should I appeal this?

Thanks.

Not sure why this is such a hard thing to understand.  You may *feel* you are capable of doing the job, but ultimately the CAF has deemed otherwise.  I have a friend who's dream was to be in the military - he is also profoundly deaf.  Could he do some tasks? Yes. Can he meet the minimum requirements of the CAF? No.  What did you hope to appeal?
 
I'm not sure, I understand everything is based on how I'd do but I wouldn't just want to give it up just like that. that is all, I feel as if I am required to try, the medical officer told me I could still apply even after being told what he told me... why would he say that?
 
Spartan80 said:
I'm not sure, I understand everything is based on how I'd do but I wouldn't just want to give it up just like that. that is all, I feel as if I am required to try, the medical officer told me I could still apply even after being told what he told me... why would he say that?

No idea, you'd have to ask him.

Let me give you an example of how being deaf in one year is be an issue.  Radios are often set up to have different "nets" into a single headset, one in each ear. - while deployed in the field I listen to two separate radio communications at the same time.  Might be a bit of an issue if I have no idea my boss is talking to me while I am talking to others, no?

If you haven't been told your application will not be processed, by all means give it a try.  When you say things like "appeal" it implies you have already have been given a final answer.  While it may not be easily understood, the minimum standards typically exist for a good reason.
 
Thank you, I'm unsure if I was given a final answer, he just said "based on your report you do not fit medical standards for enlistment in CAF" "However if you'd like you can still apply" So that what he told me. What do you recommend I do?
 
There are obviously some details left out here.  I'm assuming you went into a CFRC with the following details about your hearing stated up front and were told that you wouldn't meet the requirements.  My assumption (you'd need to fill in some details here) is that he is telling you, in his professional opinion, that an application would not meet the minimum requirements due to this fact.  You aren't prevented from applying, but you are highly likely (read almost certainly) to get the same response when your application makes it to the medical.

There is nothing to appeal until your application is denied.  Not that I am advocating that route however.
 
He told you that because the system is not allowed to stop you from applying.  Once you do apply, then the appropriate part of the system (in this case medical) will assess you and then tell you that you don't meet the minimum required standard.

What should you do?  IMO you should not bother applying as all you will do is create more work for no gain.  Sorry you can't be in the CAF.  If you still want to give back to society, there are plenty of other ways.  Volunteer or join a service organization that doesn't have as strict standards as the CAF.

My two cents worth.  Take it or leave it.
 
I went and wrote my CFAT, but with my hearing being a big concern with my chance of success I had faxed over a copy of my most recent audio gram and a Sgt in the medical office had looked at it and called me back. I have within normal hearing in the left ear and no hearing in the right. so I decided to ask.What do you suggest I do in the route of giving back to the service members who have given their all to me? Also I truly do appreciate all the help I am getting, this really does bug me as I am unsure as what to do as a career now
Ayrsayle said:
There are obviously some details left out here.  I'm assuming you went into a CFRC with the following details about your hearing stated up front and were told that you wouldn't meet the requirements.  My assumption (you'd need to fill in some details here) is that he is telling you, in his professional opinion, that an application would not meet the minimum requirements due to this fact.  You aren't prevented from applying, but you are highly likely (read almost certainly) to get the same response when your application makes it to the medical.
 
Spartan80 said:
What do you suggest I do in the route of giving back to the service members who have given their all to me?

Since you already know the outcome, how about not wasting resources in the recruiting system? I appreciate that you're disappointed, but you're not going to receive some sort of special waiver that gets you past basic medical requirements.
 
Dude - I get that you're upset, but the fact is that you require binaural hearing and binocular vision to be enrolled.  That's it.  That's all.  You aren't the first to be told and I'm sure you won't be the last.  You can appeal if you like, it's your right, however suffice to say this - it's been challenged in court many a time and the SCC has upheld that CAF is still allowed to discriminate based on disabilities due to the potential and actual nature of employment.  Lots of people (even some doctors that have entertained me with claims about their patients) with ZERO military experience feel that they can do the job - we do/did the job and know what it entails and why the standards are what they are.

Honestly I'm sorry you got the "Dear John" letter.  I hope the next path that appears is right for you.

MM
 
I do too, thanks guys it does suck but that was the hand I was dealt. As someone mentioned there are some organizations that I can work for possibly to give back to service members?
 
My first instinct would be to recommend looking at CIC, but I am not sure what the medical requirements are to get into that area.

 
Spartan80 said:
I was told the same thing with Single sided deafness, being deaf in my right ear with no hearing being registered, but I can still do the work without harming personnel could or should I appeal this?

Thanks.

Since I know SPM in real life, I am prevvy to everything he did to be successful in the application process.


Basically he went to a hearing specialist that did a sound test, showed the doctor the hearing standards for the CAF, and then the doctor wrote a lil something up saying he was within those standards. Afterwards he wrote up a nice appeal, submitted it, and later won.


Now.. something he did have to do in October before getting a while back was do another medical since it had been a year... and according to him the people that did his medical before screwed it all up.. cause he was actually within the standard to begin with.


So... that's what you got to do.


And this...

SPM said:
Two weeks ago I received my notice that my appeal was successfully over turned. I am now currently on the Merit list. A long journey has ended an even longer journey ahead. Excited to hopefully hear a job offer soon so I can start in the military. Thanks to every one for reading this post and good luck with your applications.

Amazing.. job offer soon.. hah... we were so impatient lol. Although he did get a job offer in march.. for the wrong occupation.
 
Spartan80 said:
So, treemoss what do you recommend I do?

It seems that he's advising you to appeal the decision, however, IMO since you are deaf in one ear, your case is completely different than that of SPM (who Treemoss quoted).

I tend to agree with this comment:

Harris said:
He told you that because the system is not allowed to stop you from applying.  Once you do apply, then the appropriate part of the system (in this case medical) will assess you and then tell you that you don't meet the minimum required standard.

What should you do?  IMO you should not bother applying as all you will do is create more work for no gain.  Sorry you can't be in the CAF.  If you still want to give back to society, there are plenty of other ways.  Volunteer or join a service organization that doesn't have as strict standards as the CAF.

My two cents worth.  Take it or leave it.
 
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