Hearing loss coupled with diminished reaction and cognition on the road is a recipe for disaster. Learning to drive while deaf is different from gradual hearing loss after many years of driving. I'm not certain, but it would make sense that hearing impairments are noted on licenses as special circumstances or restrictions. Thinking everything is okay because you don't hear sirens or honking, because that's how you remember it was when you heard perfectly as a younger driver, is more dangerous because adaptive actions have not been learned.
Thank you for this very informative article. There are lots of people in old ages who still wants to drive even though they are not in a condition to do so. They might have been great drivers and was passionate about driving in their better days. My dad too was a great driver, but after he suffered with strokes years back, his mobility was restricted. The one thing he misses most is driving. He is having so much trouble to even control his electric wheelchair, agecomfort He knows he can’t drive anymore, but wishes to do it.
What a great idea of driver rehabilitation and education. I am all for an elder to keep driving as long as they are safe drivers and the traffic in their area is limited. It's difficult enough driving at any age in a huge metro area compared to living in Mayberry.
I wishes my parents would have kept driving. Mom eyesight stopped her. Dad had a mild heart attack and was told to stop driving for 6 months. He never went back to driving. I then become their "driver" and that is coming up on 6 years now.... and now I really HATE to drive because of the stress of asking for time off from work once again.... then the stress of making sure my parents are ready on time for appointments..... and the stress of the large metro area traffic.
And the major stress of using my parents vehicle, which feels like I am trying to maneuver the Queen Mary 2. I get car sick just backing the car out of the garage :P
When I tell my parents my issues with driving, they look at me like deer in headlights saying "but who would drive us?"..... [sigh].
Hearing loss shouldn't be an issue, other wise the one million people in the U.S. who are deaf [born deaf or become deaf as they grown up] would never be able to drive.
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Does Your Family Member Need Driving Rehab?
I wishes my parents would have kept driving. Mom eyesight stopped her. Dad had a mild heart attack and was told to stop driving for 6 months. He never went back to driving. I then become their "driver" and that is coming up on 6 years now.... and now I really HATE to drive because of the stress of asking for time off from work once again.... then the stress of making sure my parents are ready on time for appointments..... and the stress of the large metro area traffic.
And the major stress of using my parents vehicle, which feels like I am trying to maneuver the Queen Mary 2. I get car sick just backing the car out of the garage :P
When I tell my parents my issues with driving, they look at me like deer in headlights saying "but who would drive us?"..... [sigh].