How To Pass Meps Hearing Test
The military enforces hearing requirements every bit part of the qualifications for enlistment.
Proper hearing is essential to receiving orders and perceiving situations on the battlefield.
Before you enlist, brand sure that yous are aware of armed services hearing requirements and disqualifications.
Throughout this article, we'll hash out conditions such as tinnitus, Meniere's Syndrome, Mastoiditis, Ear Infections, equally well equally bear on what to expect from the hearing examination at MEPS.
Read on to larn more.
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Military Hearing Requirements
Hearing loss is a frustrating outcome for people of all ages as it impacts one of the traditional five senses.
Auditory science determines the quality of your hearing through behavioral tests like ABR or OAE.
The tests measure hearing thresholds by examining recognition of unlike frequencies.
Though hearing tests are non 100% accurate, they tin usually find some form of hearing loss.
It's important to remember that not all types of hearing loss indicate that someone is deaf.
In fact, many people live with balmy to moderate hearing loss.
This may affect your quality of life, even so it doesn't force you to have to rely on hearing aids or sign language.
Hearing loss is attributed to several factors including heredity, built weather condition, presbycusis, and acquired problems from long-term exposure to loud noises or chemicals.
Infections can as well contribute to hearing loss.
The U.S. Military machine make it mandatory to take dependable hearing, namely because of the unusual threats and dangers associated with the military machine.
List of Hearing Disqualifications
The armed forces requires new recruits to go through a medical examination at a Military Entrance Processing Station, commonly referred to as MEPS.
Service members likewise are subject area to a Periodic Health Cess (PHA) while on agile-duty.
The Military exam a diversity of weather condition during a medical examination including your dental and hearing health.
Whatsoever hearing issues that preclude suitable hearing or prevents a person from correctly wearing protective headwear (helmet, face protection, etc) can be disqualifying.
Hither are some of the most important rules of military hearing requirements and disqualifications:
Physical Examination
The military begins by taking a physical examination of the ear before it judges your hearing.
It is mandatory that you vesture military headgear without it interfering with the proper fit and use of the equipment for safety reasons.
Therefore, whatsoever malformation of the ear is grounds for disqualification.
The military studies congenital defects like atresia, or the abnormal narrowing of an opening or passage in the trunk.
The U.Due south. Armed services also considers microtia (a deformity of the external ear) and chronic otitis externa grounds for disqualification.
Hearing Test
The military machine tests your hearing to make sure yous are able to perceive sounds without the use of a device like a hearing aid.
However, the armed forces standards for hearing are not extremely selective which means you yet might pass the physical exam with some hearing loss.
All you need is normal hearing levels that evidence yous don't need to read lips, utilize a hearing assistance, or speak through sign language.
The electric current military standards for all branches mandate the following:
A hearing threshold level in either ear of greater than a pure tone of 500, i,000, and 2,000 cycles per second for each ear of not more 30 decibels with no individual level of greater than 35 dB at those frequencies.
Any hearing examination which fails to meet those guidelines is disqualifying.
Y'all also demand to make yourself enlightened that a current hearing threshold level in either ear is disqualifying if:
- Greater than a pure tone level of not more 45 dB at iii,000 cycles per second.
- Greater than a pure tone level of not more than 55 dB at 4,000 cycles per 2d.
You also cannot accept a history of using a hearing aid to rely on proper hearing.
Eardrum Concerns
The tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, is a frail part of your hearing that you need to protect.
When it gets punctured or perforated the military volition disqualify you from service.
However, later on 120 days of having the issue resolved in surgery, you may receive blessing from a military medical professional.
Eardrum damage normally gets linked to loud noises or extreme pressure.
For instance, it is non uncommon for a SCUBA diving accident to result in temporary disqualification for a soldier recovering from eardrum damage and receiving handling for the problem.
Ear Infections
Acute otitis media (AOM) is a painful ear infection that is backside the eardrum.
Information technology is grounds for disqualification in the armed services.
A type of noncancerous peel growth, called a cholesteatoma, also disqualifies you from service if it'southward abnormal and requires surgery or cochlear implants.
Still, the military may grant a waiver for the successful handling of ear bug or eardrum repair.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is a bacterial infection that alters the mastoid bone.
The mastoid bone is behind the ear.
It is extremely fragile and while rare, a difficult affair for patients to deal with due to the frequent treatment and drainage to treat the issue.
If y'all accept mastoiditis with any abnormal or surgically made passage (fistula) y'all are not immune to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Meniere'southward Syndrome
Unfortunately, any diagnosis of Meniere's Syndrome is disqualifying in the military.
A history of the syndrome is also grounds for denying enlistment.
The cause of the disease remains unknown just since it affects the inner hear and contributes to deafness, it is a disqualifying hearing event.
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MEPS Hearing Test Explained
Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) evaluate new recruits for wellness concerns which might prevent the individual from remaining in service.
Every new recruit goes through MEPS to make sure they yet qualify for the Armed Forces, among other war machine requirements.
MEPS not only study your physical qualifications (like hearing and dental) only aptitude and moral standards besides.
Your local recruiter conducts some MEPS prescreening prior to your arrival at an official outpost.
In one case you schedule an appointment at a Military Entrance Processing Station set up for a long mean solar day of examinations.
The military machine will study your body and mind from head to toe.
One of your requirements is a mandatory vision and hearing exam though it is zippo out of the ordinary.
The MEPS hearing exam provides yous with a headset and button.
You button the push button every time you hear a noise, regardless of the volume of the noise.
The military is able to measure the results to see if you lot missed any sounds at tone levels that would disqualify yous from service.
Hearing Exam Qualifications
The test measures your hearing levels at 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 cycles per 2d at varying decibel levels.
Tones go presented in no logical or articulate pattern to forbid you lot from cheating on the test.
After a series of tones get recognized on the test the government averages the decibel levels to present you lot with a score on the hearing exam:
- Normal Hearing = 0-20 dB
- Mild Hearing Loss = 20-40 dB
- Moderate Hearing Loss = twoscore-threescore dB
- Severe Hearing Loss = 60-80 dB
- Profound Hearing Loss = Greater than eighty dB
The military accepts anyone that falls in or below moderate hearing loss with a threshold of threescore dB.
However, moderate hearing loss may disqualify you from certain Armed forces Occupational Specialities.
Unfortunately, you cannot practice the MEPS hearing test beforehand though it is important non to stress nigh the examination.
It is a basic and straightforward exam and as long as you don't accept serious hearing impairment, rely on hearing aids, or struggle with an ear infection or abnormality you'll be fine.
The military does recommend that you avert listening to loud music upwardly to three days before MEPS, and attempt to maintain shut to total silence for 12 hours prior to the examination.
It is about the only prep work you can practise for the hearing test portion of MEPS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the armed forces hearing requirements and disqualifications:
Can you join the military machine if you're hard of hearing?
It depends on the level of your hearing.
The military accepts anyone that is able to pass their hearing examination at a "moderate level".
The current moderate level is 40-60 dB when all the hearing scores get averaged together.
Those that score astringent hearing loss (60-80 dB) and profound hearing loss (larger than 80 dB) do not pass the exam.
In general, people with severe or profound hearing loss rely on hearing aids, reading lips, and sign linguistic communication to comprehend language.
If that is not the case your "hard of hearing" might mean yous have minor hearing damage but not enough to constitute a military disqualification.
Can you bring together the military if you're deaf in 1 or both ears?
The answer is probably not though a few circumstances may get made.
The Section of Defense tests you in both ears so if you are able to score high enough in the "good" ear y'all may have a satisfactory score.
Nevertheless, the military may require you to receive a waiver for the condition.
In general, the military does non enlist people with deafness that require assist with the issue like hearing aids or sign language.
If you lot exercise receive a waiver, the number of Military machine Occupational Specialties you qualify for volition exist express.
Can you lot habiliment a hearing aid in the military?
No, the military does not provide waivers for military machine personnel that require aid with their hearing.
An example of this is hearing aids because it could prevent yous from receiving the correct orders or misinterpreting information in the oestrus of a battle.
Related Article – Military machine Dental Requirements and Disqualifications
What happens if I experience hearing loss while already serving?
The military requires service members to participate in Periodic Wellness Assessments (PHA).
The assessments are comparable to MEPS yet not as demanding or time-consuming.
1 event with the military is that soldiers are around extremely loud weapons and machinery.
Those that deal with aircraft can attest to the severity of hearing loss that may occur working around these types of things long-term.
Therefore, expect the armed services to continue and study your hearing though equally long as the trouble is correctable you tin can hope for the best and apply for a waiver.
Are at that place dissimilar hearing tests for specific military jobs?
Yes, there are certain War machine Occupational Specialties that require you to have better hearing than the basic guidelines of the Armed services.
Consequently, it is possible to authorize for certain MOS and disqualify for others based on your hearing examination score.
Each military branch treats hearing and other physical impairments a piddling differently.
Yous may receive a waiver but in that location is no guarantee.
Highly selective and competitive armed forces specialities like pilots, airborne, and special ops might make it a petty more hard to make it though it's not as big of an consequence compared to your vision.
Pilots, for example, demand outstanding vision with no color incomprehension.
Can you join the military if you lot have tinnitus?
The armed forces considers tinnitus a disqualifier.
Those that suffer from tinnitus have a condition that the armed forces considers not perfectly fine or fit for service.
In that location are other chronic ear diseases which are unfortunate disqualifiers.
Conclusion
Military hearing requirements and disqualifications are role of the procedure for screening new recruits.
Thankfully, the military hearing requirements are not too stiff as long as you don't rely on hearing assistance (hearing aid, sign language, etc) or have a serious ear disease.
Additionally, the armed services does disqualify whatsoever recruit that is unable to properly wear headgear because of an ear deformity or health condition.
Speaking with a local military recruiter near whatever potential bug tin help make up one's mind if your condition is eligible for a health waiver.
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Rob V. is the founder of OperationMilitaryKids.org. While he never really served in the US Armed services, he has a passion for writing about military related topics.
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Applied science with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is besides a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flying Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
Affiliate Disclosure: This mail service may contain affiliate links. If y'all click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I merely recommend products I accept personally vetted. Learn more.
Source: https://www.operationmilitarykids.org/military-hearing-requirements-and-disqualifications/
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