Expert-assessment of suitability for a driving license in otorhinolaryngology

An absolute requirement for acquiring a driving license according to German law consists in the suitability for driving a motor vehicle. The "driving license decree" defines these requirements; in case of doubt the administra tive authority may demand a medical certificate. According to raw (enactmen t: 1.1.99) these medical certificates must be refunded by either appropriat e medical specialists, company doctors or public health officers. The crite rions for appraisal are set down in the guidelines for driving ability whic h are edited by the advisory board for traffic medicine;a new edition will be published soon. Concerning otorhinolaryngology hearing impairment and di zziness are the most relevant diseases. Bilateral deafness is no general ex ception for confering a driving license for the classes A and B; for classe s C and DE hearing loss, established from the pure tone audiogram must not exceed 60%; an exceptional case is a three year demonstration of reliabilit y in class B. Permanent dizziness or vertigo attacks are in most cases inco mpatible with confering driving licenses. The most important issue for medi cal appraisal is to determine the amount of compensation of the impaired se nse organ. Therefore in cases of multiple disabilities more stringent crite rions must be established.