National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) DOT Practice Exam

If a driver perceives a whispered voice at 5 feet in the right ear and 4 feet in the left ear, what should the examiner do?

1. Disqualify the driver because he "failed" the whispered voice test.

2. Certify the driver for 2 years.

3. Certify the driver for 1 year.

4. Require an audiometric test for the left ear.

The correct answer is: Certify the driver for 2 years.

In the context of the whispered voice test, the results indicate that the driver has hearing abilities within an acceptable range. The whispered voice test is a basic screening tool used to assess the hearing ability of commercial drivers. A driver who can perceive a whispered voice at 5 feet in one ear (the right ear) and 4 feet in the other ear (the left ear) demonstrates sufficient hearing capability to meet the standard required for safe driving. By being able to hear a whispered voice, even if the distances differ slightly between the ears, the driver has not failed the test outright and does not automatically disqualify themselves. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allows for certification if the driver has at least some hearing ability, which this assessment shows. Given this context, certifying the driver for two years aligns with the regulations that account for a functional hearing capability despite the discrepancies noted in the distances for each ear. Since adequate hearing is critical for a commercial driver to recognize sounds in their environment—such as horns, sirens, and other traffic noises—this certification period reflects an understanding of their ability to function safely on the road. The choice to certify for a duration rather than requiring further testing or disqualifying the driver acknowledges the practical