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A hearing-aid does not clarify sound as much as it may increase the volume, and this can be a distraction to the driver, especially in town areas. A hearing-aid is not comparable with spectacles. The latter can improve vision to such an extent that it becomes normal. A hearing-aid does not make hearing perfect. There have been suggestions that a certificate of sound hearing should be incorporated in every application for a driving licence.
In view of the statistics, however, this would seem unreasonable. We all suffer at times from the other driver who thinks we must be deaf, just because we don't do exactly what he wants us to do. He shows this by hooting and bad manners. There is reason to believe that the driver with poorer hearing is spared some of this sort of annoyance, as well as the distraction of a talkative passenger.
The only thing that may possibly suffer a little as the result of the disability is perhaps, the gearbox! To sum up, I would maintain that the deaf driver is as safe as the rest of us and I would never support any legislation against him.Teacher: Michael Many articles taken from 'A word with the doctor', by Dr. John Windsor.
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