Can I ask for a second opinion on a hearing test?

PFC Don Jenks — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 10:53:32 -0500

I'm currently in reception reclassing to 19D after a 4 year break in service. I passed my hearing test at meps but I did not pass it here. My left ear shows some hearing loss. I was told it qualifies for the mos but not the army standards. I'm worried I will be discharged. They might make me go back to meps and get a wavor but I talked to my recruiter and he said there is a high chance it will be denied. So my question is can I request a second opinion and retake the test. At this point I'll do anything to stay in the army even reclass if I could.

Response by SPC Jae Taylor made Nov 24 at 2019 3:55 PM

SPC Jae Taylor — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 15:55:26 -0500

Did they say the hearing loss can be mitigated with hearing aids?

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Nov 24 at 2019 4:37 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 16:37:01 -0500

You need good hearing to be a Scout... One F up and every one's dead. I would re think.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2019 5:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 17:37:34 -0500

Ok I’m a little confused. You scored well enough to stay in a combat arms MOS but not meeting army standards? What profile did they assign to you? I am guessing they assigned you an H2 profile if you just have some hearing loss in the left ear only.

auditory fitness-for-duty system currently used by the Army, which characterizes a Service member’s hearing profile as H1, H2, or H3.

H1 Profile: The H1 profile is often assumed to indicate that a Service member has “normal” hearing, but it really means that the individual has no more than a “mild” hearing loss. In the Army, this means that the audiometer average level for each ear is no more than 25 dB at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz with no individual level greater than 30 dB, and not over 45 dB at 4 kHz. Note that no restrictions are specified for frequencies above 4 kHz. In general, Service members with H1 hearing profiles are considered to be fully qualified for all military occupations. However, certain occupations, like Air Traffic Control, Aviation, and Special Forces, may have more stringent standards.
H2 Profile: The H2 profile indicates a moderate hearing loss, which in the Army is defined as an individual who does not meet the H1 profile standards but has a pure tone average in each ear of no more than 30 dB, with no individual level greater than 35 dB at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz, and not over 55 dB at 4 kHz. In the Army, individuals who are monaurally deaf also qualify for H2 status, so long as they are able to meet a slightly more stringent audiogram requirement in the functional ear. Individuals with H2 profiles are monitored more carefully and counseled on the principals of hearing conservation, but they are still generally considered to be fully qualified for most military occupations. This may be an issue in occupations that require listeners to be able to accurately localize sounds to successfully complete their missions.
H3 Profile: An H3 profile, the worst of the three profiles, is assigned when a listener’s audiometric thresholds do not meet the requirements for the H2 profile, and the speech reception threshold in the best ear is not greater than 30 dB HL when measured with or without hearing aids. An H3 profile will also be assigned if acute or chronic ear disease is present. These profiles vary slightly for each Service branch of the military. A Service member with either an H3 profile or a significant threshold shift relative to a previous audiometric testing requires a diagnostic audiogram. Soldiers with H3 hearing levels are referred to the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Administrative Retention Review (MAR2) for a determination of their qualification to perform their MOS in a deployed environment or field condition. The audiologist provides a recommendation to the MAR2 based on the diagnostic evaluation, a 200-word Speech in Noise Test known as the SPRINT, and the number of years in service for the individual Service member. The MAR2 will make one of three decisions: 1) retain the Soldier in their current MOS; 2) re-classify the Soldier to a more suitable MOS; or 3) refer to the Disability Evaluation System (DES) for possible removal from military Service.

I guess my questions are did you just do another automated screening at reception where you sit in the booth with other soldiers like at MEPS and they play the tones or did you have a 1 on 1 evaluation with an audiologist?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Nov 24 at 2019 5:45 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 17:45:02 -0500

WTF? Some one actually stated, "it qualifies for the mos but not the army standards"?
That comment needs a written explanation because clearly someone is sounding stupid.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 24 at 2019 7:29 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 19:29:25 -0500

WTF, how can it qualify for the MOS but not the Army, MOS can not out rate the Army standard.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 24 at 2019 10:26 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 22:26:17 -0500

Ok, if at MEPS tu passed then you are qualified. The only think I can think of is that reception tested you and somehow either their system is not working properly or you punched too many the push button; of didn’t. The MOS standards are the Army standards.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Nov 25 at 2019 1:29 AM

SSG Brian G. — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 01:29:23 -0500

Ok, couple things. You are in reception at your school. So MEPS is out of it completely. This is all up to the service ie Army. They cannot send you back to MEPS. MEPS was just to get you in and make sure you were minimally fit for entrance.

Second. WTF? The MOS BUILDS on the Army standard, not vice versa. So if you qualify standard wise for the MOS then you more than meet the Army standard of hearing.

Request a re-test.

Response by PFC Don Jenks made Nov 25 at 2019 8:58 AM

PFC Don Jenks — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:58:17 -0500

So an update. I have h2 hearing in my left ear. They won't let me retest due to failing twice. Liason won't give me a waiver and I'm being told I have to go home to meps and get a wavor. It's extremely frustrating.

Response by SGT Fatih Senel made Dec 4 at 2019 9:43 PM

SGT Fatih Senel — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 21:43:48 -0500

ask for reclass. 19D Scouts are the eyes and EARS of the Army. that is why it has a stricter hearing test. you should be able to hear a feather drop from a mile away.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 11:18 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:18:46 -0400

This post is from 10 months ago How did it go? Did you get your waiver at reception?

I have the same problem and may fail with my left ear at reception? How does the initial hearing test differ from the meps one? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I WILL NOT sign any discharge paperwork from reception.