Tinnitus

G

Guest

Guest
To start with, I do not have a diagnosis of any kind.

What are the ramifications of tinnitus regarding a private pilot?

Last week, I developed a ringing in my left ear. I can still hear from it, but I've got that ringing. Also, when watching TV or listening to the radio in the car, the sound in my left ear is super-tinny and it sounds like what I'm hearing is just outside my ear on that side, instead of coming from the source (TV/radio/etc.)

If I have no hearing loss am I clear? Is this something that needs to be disclosed on my next 3rd class exam? What about Basic Med?


Thanks all.
 
The common standard in the AME's office is that you can hear and understand him when he speaks to you in a soft voice with your back turned from a distance of 5 or 6 feet.

As long as tinnitus does not interfere with that, you should be okay.
 
A flight physical confirms that you can hear. As long as you can pass that, no problem. I’ve had diagnosed tinnitus with occasional physician’s care for 20 years. In my case I have very little hearing loss when tested. I believe that’s fairly typical for tinnitus.
 
Guest said:
To start with, I do not have a diagnosis of any kind.

What are the ramifications of tinnitus regarding a private pilot?

Last week, I developed a ringing in my left ear. I can still hear from it, but I've got that ringing. Also, when watching TV or listening to the radio in the car, the sound in my left ear is super-tinny and it sounds like what I'm hearing is just outside my ear on that side, instead of coming from the source (TV/radio/etc.)

If I have no hearing loss am I clear? Is this something that needs to be disclosed on my next 3rd class exam? What about Basic Med?


Thanks all.
Click to expand...

If you can hear and understand what is being said I don't think you will have a problem with the medical.

I have a severe case of Tinnitus that makes communication extremely difficult if I can't read lips. Women with soft voices on the phone are hell for me. The problem with tinnitus is that sounds are distorted sometimes to the point of being unintelligible. In my case the volume is there but words that may sound similar are difficult at best to determine which one was said. I fly with a friend and he has Bose headsets. I still find myself looking at him when he speaks and fast talking controllers leave me in the dust. It is a problem I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

How did I get here? Read the MSDS on 100LL and maybe you'll get a partial answer. I had significant exposure to that while plying my trade as an A&P. To top it off I later discovered I was sensitive to hydrocarbon chemicals.
 
Make sure you don't have earwax build up putting pressure on your drum.
 
I've had tinnitus for far longer than I have been a pilot. The standard for the third class is hearing normal spoken voice. Even if you fail that, you can get a "must wear amplification" restriction just like if you needed to wear glasses. The only other issue is whether you have any other ear pathology (Meuniere's or whatever) but just too much rock music or whatever isn't an issue.

For me the tinnitus is only an issue in quiet environments (which airplanes are not). I even have the option on my hearing aids to play masking noise. My hearing isn't so bad that I can't pass the medical without them on. (I probably couldn't if both my hears were as bad as my bad one).
 
I've had it since I was probably 15 from motocross, loud cars, music, planes, etc. You'll be alright
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
and then some clown brings up the subject and "rrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng".
Click to expand...
Brrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnngggggggggg! Yup! Yup! Yup! Yup! Yup! Yup!

AfHVGa.gif
 
If it persists, see an ENT. Unilateral tinnitus can be a neurological finding. Otherwise it should not affect your third class medical. If you see an ENT, they will order a hearing test, which you can present to the AME as evidence of adequate hearing. Your health insurance should cover it.
 
Ringin here for about 2.5 years now.
If I push on my head behind my ears (cochlear area) it gets a little better. If I push on my head in other areas it gets much worse.
Also diet and other factors seem to affect it.
Coffee
High sugar
low sleep
 
N659HB said:
If it persists, see an ENT. Unilateral tinnitus can be a neurological finding. Otherwise it should not affect your third class medical. If you see an ENT, they will order a hearing test, which you can present to the AME as evidence of adequate hearing. Your health insurance should cover it.
Click to expand...

This. Sudden onset of tinnitus in only one ear that persists needs to be checked out.
 
N659HB said:
If it persists, see an ENT. Unilateral tinnitus can be a neurological finding. Otherwise it should not affect your third class medical. If you see an ENT, they will order a hearing test, which you can present to the AME as evidence of adequate hearing. Your health insurance should cover it.
Click to expand...
Yes to this answer.

Even if it grounds you, your hearing is one of the most precious gifts you have.
Ask me how I know.
How did that song go:

... You don't know what youv'e got till its gone...
Click to expand...

If it persists, even for just a couple of days, see an ENT.
 
Doctor, speaking softly with his head turned: "How many brothers have you?"

Me: Huh?

Result = limitations on third class medical: Hearing augmentation required.

And I use headphones and that is considered "augmentation"
 
I've had tinnitus for about 15 years. Mine came on drastically/suddenly overnight, along with other weird symptoms (metal taste in mouth, headaches, sunlight sensitivity). Took my doctor quite a few tests to determine I had gotten heavy metal poisoning while on a camping trip...we still aren’t sure exactly HOW I ingested a heavy metal while camping; illegal dumping maybe? Fortunately, all my other symptoms subsided within a year, except for the severe tinnitus. Also fortunately, it hasn't been an issue with my medicals or affected my health in other ways.
 
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