Analysis on hearing test standard for student pilot selection

Abstract

Objective To discuss the feasibility of modifying the standard of hearing test for student pilot selection.Methods ①The records of hearing test of 5673 candidates for Air Force student pilot selection were reviewed.Referring to the current standard (defined as Standard 1),the qualifiers and the qualified rate were counted.② Those with the hearing loss at low and middle frequencies (0.25,0.5,1,2,3 kHz) who were in accordance with Standard 1 and the total hearing loss of two ears at high frequencies (4,6,8 kHz) was ≤270 dB were divided into 3 groups according to the hearing loss at high frequencies:Group A (hearing loss≤210 dB),Group B (210 dB＜hearing loss ≤240 dB) and Group C (240 dB ＜hearing loss≤270 dB).Those with hearing loss more than 45 dB at 4 kHz on the worse ear in Group A were counted and those with hearing loss ≤45 dB at 4 kHz on the worse ear in Group B and Group C were counted.③By trying to set the Standard 1 to the Standard 2:that the hearing loss at 4 kHz was ≤45 dB and the total hearing loss of two ears at high frequencies was ≤240 dB,and to the Standard 3.that the hearing loss at 4 kHz was ≤45 dB and the total hearing loss of two ears at high frequencies was ≤270 dB,the qualifiers and the pass rate were counted correspondingly to the new set standards.The qualifiers whose average thresholds of hearing at 0.5,1,2 and 4 kHz were higher than 25 dB were respectively counted referring to Standard 1,Standard 2 and Standard 3.The qualified rate and percentage of hearing disorder in qualifiers were calculated and compared.Results ①According to Standard 1,there were 5310 qualifiers out of 5673 candidates.②There were 63 candidates with hearing loss ＞45 dB at 4 kHz on the worse ear in Group A.There were respectively 30 and 25 candidates whose worse ear hearing loss was ≤45 dB at 4 kHz in Group B and Group C.③ According to Standard 1,Standard 2 and Standard 3,the pass rates were 93.60％ (5310/5673),93.02％ (5277/5673) and 93.46％ (5302/5673),and they were not statistically different each other.The constituent ratio of hearing disorder (average thresholds of hearing at 0.5,1,2 and 4 kHz higher than 25 dB) for the qualifiers was 2.56％ (136/5310),1.57％ (83/5277) and 1.77％ (94/5302) respectively corresponding to 3 standards.Standard 1 let significantly higher constituent ratio compared with that referring to Standard 2 and Standard 3 (x2=12.76,7.77,P＜0.01).The ratio showed insignificant difference between those referencing Stand 2 and Standard 3.Conclusions It is applicable to modify the hearing test standard in student pilot selection as setting the standard of hearing loss to ≤45 dB at 4 kHz and setting the total hearing loss of two ears to ≤ 240 dB in high frequencies.Such changes would be helpful to reduce the percentage of slight hearing disorder in qualifiers and would not influence the passing rate so much. Key words: Hearing test; Eligibility determination; Personnel selection; Reference standard