Can my hearing loss be discussed in my personal statement?

[orchid123]

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I have recently graduated from college, and am planning on applying to medical school in June 2013. For my personal statement, I wanted to discuss how my hearing loss has affected my experiences/desire to pursue medicine; however, I am hesitant, as I don't want it to put me at a disadvantage or have admission committees doubt my capabilities. Currently, it is not significantly profound hearing loss, and does not impede my day to day interactions/activities, but is such that it would be improved through the use of hearing aids (though I do not currently wear/own any).

If anyone has any suggestions/recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[cliquesh]

Most, if not all, med schools will not take you if you're deaf. If your hearing isn't going to get any worse and if you can turn your hearing loss into a positive, then, yeah,you could write about it. I think it'd be better to keep it to yourself, though.

 

[Temperature101]

most, if not all, med schools will not take you if you're deaf. If your hearing isn't going to get any worse and if you can turn your hearing loss into a positive, then, yeah,you could write about it. I think it'd be better to keep it to yourself, though.

+1

 

[MedPR]

I have recently graduated from college, and am planning on applying to medical school in June 2013. For my personal statement, I wanted to discuss how my hearing loss has affected my experiences/desire to pursue medicine; however, I am hesitant, as I don't want it to put me at a disadvantage or have admission committees doubt my capabilities. Currently, it is not significantly profound hearing loss, and does not impede my day to day interactions/activities, but is such that it would be improved through the use of hearing aids (though I do not currently wear/own any).

If anyone has any suggestions/recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated!

Every med school has a list of requirements you must be able to fulfill (I'm sure they don't vary much between schools). Track that down and see if your hearing problems will prevent you from meeting the requirement.

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[Iliketoytles]

If your hearing problems don't affect day-to-day interactions and they won't impede your learning, then don't mention it. I also wouldn't put it in your personal statement, since turning something that isn't that severe into a positive seems silly. Not saying your hearing loss isn't severe; I don't know.

If it is, then perhaps put it in your PS (and turn it into a positive somehow), and also get yourself some medical aid before school starts!

 

[Mehd School]

I see no reason for this to be in a ps. It might hurt more than help.

 

[Goro]

It's OK to mention; rejecting you because of your hearing loss is a violation of Federal and state laws. We have had experience with this and if the AdCom feels you can handle the curriculum, and be a good doctor, they'll accept you.

I have recently graduated from college, and am planning on applying to medical school in June 2013. For my personal statement, I wanted to discuss how my hearing loss has affected my experiences/desire to pursue medicine; however, I am hesitant, as I don't want it to put me at a disadvantage or have admission committees doubt my capabilities. Currently, it is not significantly profound hearing loss, and does not impede my day to day interactions/activities, but is such that it would be improved through the use of hearing aids (though I do not currently wear/own any).

If anyone has any suggestions/recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MedPR]

It's OK to mention; rejecting you because of your hearing loss is a violation of Federal and state laws. We have had experience with this and if the AdCom feels you can handle the curriculum, and be a good doctor, they'll accept you.

Really? Every technical standards form I've seen has included something along the lines of "students are required to possess skills sufficient to perform auscultation..." if you can't hear, you probably can't meet that requirement, correct?

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[Bacchus]

Really? Every technical standards form I've seen has included something along the lines of "students are required to possess skills sufficient to perform auscultation..." if you can't hear, you probably can't meet that requirement, correct?

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He doesn't have significant hearing loss. Still, I would not include it unless necessary. That said, I know someone (n=1) who only recently got a cochlear implant while being an MS3.

The OP might not be able to hear some murmurs, but that doesn't make him different than the rest of us.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Really? Every technical standards form I've seen has included something along the lines of "students are required to possess skills sufficient to perform auscultation..." if you can't hear, you probably can't meet that requirement, correct?

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It is discrimination if that judgement is made before student x got a chance to perform the task. Since it is a slight hearing loss, we don't know what his/her capabilities are in terms of hearing. The students applying to medical school should be judged based on academics and ECs. If the hearing played a large role in denying admission when the other stats are stellar, then it is discrimination.

Of course decisions are done behind closed doors and so this can leave one to wonder what gets people accepted and denied (adcoms can choose not to make public reasonings in the decision process). Thus is the reason it is justified to not mentioned about a potential problem that would hinder one in medical school, unless asked about it of course.

He doesn't have significant hearing loss. Still, I would not include it unless necessary. That said, I know someone (n=1) who only recently got a cochlear implant while being an MS3.

The OP might not be able to hear some murmurs, but that doesn't make him different than the rest of us.

+1

As long the student can do the job it is fine.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

My cousin was told by the army (at West Point) that he couldn't join because he wouldn't be able to perform the duties they assigned. They said this because on his left hand, he is missing the distal phalanx in each finger. He petitioned to let him perform a task that they felt would adequately prove his abilities (I believe they chose assembling/disassembling a rifle in a set time period), he was given a few days of practice and then was asked to do it in front of a panel, not only did he do it, he was one of the fastest times they have on record.

OP, you say that it doesn't affect your day-to-day living, but would be improved through the use of a hearing device. My uncles have that deficit and it DOES affect their day-to-day life, and their ability to hear and understand certain tones without their devices. I would be VERY careful about stating this in your PS, especially without anonymously talking to an Admin person. Also, will a stethoscope fit in your ears with a hearing aid? Would you need it? Not sure...

Additionally, to those who say it is discrimination, umm sorry but a blind person isn't fit to be a doctor, neither is a person who is deaf. You cannot quickly communicate with a deaf doctor (in an emergency say), and they cannot hear heart, lung, etc sounds from a stethoscope, not to mention a whole bunch of other stuff.

 

[Bacchus]

My cousin was told by the army (at West Point) that he couldn't join because he wouldn't be able to perform the duties they assigned. They said this because on his left hand, he is missing the distal phalanx in each finger. He petitioned to let him perform a task that they felt would adequately prove his abilities (I believe they chose assembling/disassembling a rifle in a set time period), he was given a few days of practice and then was asked to do it in front of a panel, not only did he do it, he was one of the fastest times they have on record.

OP, you say that it doesn't affect your day-to-day living, but would be improved through the use of a hearing device. My uncles have that deficit and it DOES affect their day-to-day life, and their ability to hear and understand certain tones without their devices. I would be VERY careful about stating this in your PS, especially without anonymously talking to an Admin person. Also, will a stethoscope fit in your ears with a hearing aid? Would you need it? Not sure...

Additionally, to those who say it is discrimination, umm sorry but a blind person isn't fit to be a doctor, neither is a person who is deaf. You cannot quickly communicate with a deaf doctor (in an emergency say), and they cannot hear heart, lung, etc sounds from a stethoscope, not to mention a whole bunch of other stuff.

You have to get a more expensive aid that can fit the scope.