Ear, Nose and Throat
Appendix B: Other Standards
Appendix B: Other Standards
FAA: Inner Ear: 2017 Edition of Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, p. 49.
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- Acute or chronic disease without disturbance of equilibrium and successful myringotomy, if applicable, for all classes, requires submission of all pertinent medical information to the FAA, with recommendation to issue a medical card if no physiologic effects.
- Acute or chronic disease that may disturb equilibrium, for all classes, requires submission of information to the FAA, and requires a decision on issuance by the FAA.
- Motion sickness, for all classes, requires submission of pertinent information to the FAA. If occurred during flight training, and resolved, issue card. If it requires continued medication, it requires FAA decision on issuance of card.
FMCSA: Benign positional vertigo: Most recent edition of the Medical Examiners’ Handbook states driver may be certified after a 2-month symptom-free waiting period. The Handbook also recommends not certifying a driver taking phenothiazines or benzodiazepines for vertigo, and to individually assess drivers taking antihistamines for vertigo for sedation that would create a safety hazard. (FMCSA Medical Examiner Handbook, pp 149-50).
NFPA 1582, 2018 Edition: Vertigo, impaired balance, ataxia, Meniere’s syndrome, labyrinthitis, tinnitus require restrictions or disqualification.
City of Alexandria, Virginia.: pages 12-13. https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/personnel/Police%20Medical%20Standards.pdf
5-3.2 Category B medical conditions shall include:
(e) Meniere’s syndrome or labyrinthitis.
(g) Vestibular neuronitis, vertigo, dizziness, disequilibrium.
Category B Medical Condition. A medical condition which, based on its severity or degree, may preclude a person from performing as a police officer in a training or emergency operational environment. This may be because the condition presents a significant risk to the safety and health of the person or others, or because it prevents the individual from satisfactorily being able to perform an essential function of his/her job. Whether reasonable accommodation can be made must be determined by an individual study of the candidate’s condition and the capabilities of the City of Alexandria to accommodate the disability.
California POST: These standards are silent on the topic of BPPV.
https://post.ca.gov/medical-screening-manual
New York State Municipal Police Training Council, Medical and Physical Fitness Standards and Procedures for Police Officer Candidates:
http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ops/docs/registry/policeapptsmed.pdf
- b) Ears and hearing. Requires a case-by-case assessment of each candidate to determine if the candidate is able to perform the essential functions of the position.
(5) Inner/middle/outer ear disorders affecting equilibrium. If the candidate has historically had episodes of vertigo, he/she may require further evaluation.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts – 2014, Human Resources Division, Physician’s Guide, Initial-Hire Medical Standards:
- Initial Medical Standards for Municipal Police Officers:
(a) Category A and Category B Medical Conditions
(b) A Category B Medical Condition is a medical condition that, based on its severity or degree, may or may not preclude an individual from performing the essential job functions of a municipal police officer, or present a significant risk to the safety and health of that individual or others.
(c) Ears and Hearing
- Category B medical conditions shall include:
- Meniere’s disease, labyrinthitis or any disorder of equilibrium,
The United States Department of Interior Law Enforcement Medical Standards
These standards are applicable to the following positions:
National Park Service Commissioned Park Rangers (Personnel Series 025) Criminal Investigators (Personnel Series 1811) Correctional Officers (Personnel Series 007)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent (Personnel Series 1812)
https://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/medical-standards-special-agent.pdf