Hearing impaired person applying to medical school

[cp40]

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Hi Everyone! I am hearing impaired (with bilateral cookie bite hearing loss) and wear hearing aids. I can only hear sounds above 95dB without my hearing aids. I am a non-traditional looking to apply to medical school this coming cycle (2020).

Do medical schools look down upon/discriminate against those who have sensory disabilities? I am planning on talking about my hearing loss in my personal statement as my identity as a person with hearing loss intersects with my interest to pursue medicine. However, I am scared that this gives reason for ADCOMs to use this against me. Does anyone have any experience or advice with navigating the medical school application process with a sensory impairment? What schools would be least/most likely to look down upon this? Are there any current medical students out there with hearing loss who have any insight or advice to impart?

While I definitely recognize that my hearing impairment may interfere with my responsibilities as a physician, I do not believe it affects my intellect or competency in any capacity.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Hi Everyone! I am hearing impaired (with bilateral cookie bite hearing loss) and wear hearing aids. I can only hear sounds above 95dB without my hearing aids. I am a non-traditional looking to apply to medical school this coming cycle (2020).

Do medical schools look down upon/discriminate against those who have sensory disabilities? I am planning on talking about my hearing loss in my personal statement as my identity as a person with hearing loss intersects with my interest to pursue medicine. However, I am scared that this gives reason for ADCOMs to use this against me. Does anyone have any experience or advice with navigating the medical school application process with a sensory impairment? What schools would be least/most likely to look down upon this? Are there any current medical students out there with hearing loss who have any insight or advice to impart?

While I definitely recognize that my hearing impairment may interfere with my responsibilities as a physician, I do not believe it affects my intellect or competency in any capacity.

You are protected by federal law from overt discrimination. Does latent bias occur? Possibly, but make sure you know your rights. Schools and jobs must provide you reasonable accommodations to succeed.

As far as it being a part of your story, please do! One of my former students back in 2016 has almost the exact same story and she became a teacher for the hearing impaired before taking the MCAT.

Reach out if you would like me to network the two of you. She's an absolutely wonderful woman and I imagine a great resource!

You got this!

David D, MD - MCAT and USMLE Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Moko]

One of my co-residents had cochlear implants, as does one of my current colleagues. They are not hindered by their hearing loss apart from occasionally needing to change batteries and face whoever they are talking to (which is best practice anyways). Your experience being hearing-impaired will help contribute to the diversity and learning of the class. Subconscious biases no doubt exist; however, your academic performance, letters and ECs will speak for your intelligence and competencies.

 

[Goro]

Hi Everyone! I am hearing impaired (with bilateral cookie bite hearing loss) and wear hearing aids. I can only hear sounds above 95dB without my hearing aids. I am a non-traditional looking to apply to medical school this coming cycle (2020).

Do medical schools look down upon/discriminate against those who have sensory disabilities? I am planning on talking about my hearing loss in my personal statement as my identity as a person with hearing loss intersects with my interest to pursue medicine. However, I am scared that this gives reason for ADCOMs to use this against me. Does anyone have any experience or advice with navigating the medical school application process with a sensory impairment? What schools would be least/most likely to look down upon this? Are there any current medical students out there with hearing loss who have any insight or advice to impart?

While I definitely recognize that my hearing impairment may interfere with my responsibilities as a physician, I do not believe it affects my intellect or competency in any capacity.

I've had a student who had profound hearing loss....probably at your level of loss.

He's now a PGY2.

If we believe that you can handle med school, and we accepted you, we obligated to do what it takes in terms of accommodations to see that you graduate.

 

[CoitusInterruptus]

Do medical schools ...discriminate

no

 

[LizzyM]

Did you learn to speak before you lost your hearing? If you are able to speak without the "accent" common in those who have been hearing impaired from birth, you should be fine. An inability to speak clearly could be more detrimental than an ability to hear without hearing aids. As long as you can function with hearing aids, you should be fine in meeting the technical requirements for medical school just as people who wear glasses can meet the technical requirements.

 

[Eponine1912]

Not an AdCom, but my dermatologist growing up was deaf. She would read patient’s lips and did have a slight “accent” when speaking. I thought she was an excellent doctor and she has a very successful practice. Best of luck to you! 🙂

 

[Robin-jay]

At my school it has happened a couple times.

 

[rph3664]

I've definitely heard of deaf people becoming physicians, as have blind people, quadriplegics, people with extreme dwarfism (Dr. Jen Arnold is probably the best example of this), in addition to people who had other assorted disabilities or obstacles that other people may not have to deal with.

I used to practice in a small city that had a doctor who was old enough to have had polio, and walked with crutches and had heavy braces on both legs. It turned out that he had not had polio; he grew up on a farm and probably would have taken it over had he not fallen off a silo when he was a teenager and severely broken both legs.