According to the available studies and the Indian Census 2011, 73.9% of the deaf are unemployed or marginal workers, and 99% of the deaf population in the productive age group of 15โ59 years are non-matriculates. If a handicap person is looking for work, it can be a daunting task for them as they may not know where to start.
Though the Government has reserved jobs for the deaf and handicap in Public Sector Undertakings, a Disability Certificate or a UDID card is required to apply for the job. This article will explain in detail the guidelines and the procedure to apply for a Hearing Disability Certificate.
Table of Contents
- Why Do We Need A Disability Certificate?
- Who Issues The Hearing Disability Certificate?
- Criteria for Disability Certificate in India
- How Is Hearing Disability Percentage Calculated?
- Hearing Loss Percentage Chart
- Hearing Loss Percentage Formula
- Hearing Loss Percentage Calculation
The Government of India has been constantly providing funds for the rehabilitation of the Hearing Handicapped. The popular ADIP Scheme (Assistance for the Disabled Persons) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment provides Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants at a subsidised rate or free of cost to children and adults from the low-income category. All the State Governments have Disability Schemes which are available at all levels including the District and village level.
Why Do We Need A Disability Certificate?
The benefit of the handicapped certificate is that the deaf candidate stands a higher chance of being selected for a job under the reserved quota. Jobs reserved under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) quota require that the candidate should have a Hearing Disability Certificate. The Government and Public Sector undertakings have reserved a 4% quota for the disabled; the private sector is not far behind in offering jobs to the disabled, many IT companies and large hotel chains regularly employ the deaf and hard of hearing. Besides job reservations, the unique disability identity card helps in getting concessions for travel etc. The unique disability card is handy to carry and no other documents are required.
Candidates who are eligible as per the guidelines should apply for the handicapped certificate to avail the benefits.
Who Issues The Hearing Disability Certificate?
The Government appoints a Medical Board at the State and District level to issue the Disability Certificate.
The following professionals are authorised to certify the hearing disability or the speech and language disability for the issue of the UDID card or the Viklang certificate.
Medical Superintendent or Chief Medical Officer or Civil Surgeon
ENT Specialist
Audiologist and Speech Language Pathologist (ASLP)
The Government has made provisions for handicap certificate online registration; candidates can apply and renew UDID Card online.
The candidates should contact the issuing authority which is nearest to their place of residence for the unique disability card.
Do I Have To Provide Any Documents?
The candidate should carry their Aadhar card, Birth Certificate and the proof of residence. Previous audiogram reports and medical history papers will help in the assessment process.
What Is The Validity Of The Disability Certificate?
The PWD Certificate is valid for 5 years. The candidate should apply for the renewal of the viklang certificate online after the validity expiry.
The Medical Board issues the Hearing PwD certificate as per the definition of Hearing Disability specified in the Rights of the Persons with Disability Act 2016 (RPwD Act 2016)
What is Hearing Disability?
Persons with hearing impairment having difficulty of various degrees in hearing sounds is a hearing impaired person. A minimum hearing disability of 40% is considered eligible for the disability card and other facilities and concessions available.
Definition As Per The RPWD Act 2016
โDeaf” means a person having 70 DB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears.
“Hard of Hearing” means a person having 60 DB to 70 DB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears.
Criteria for Disability Certificate in India.
The following assessment tests are recommended as per the Rights of the Persons with Disability Act 2016 (RPwD Act 2016). The procedure requires calculating the hearing disability percentage by conducting pure tone audiometry and the Speech discrimination test and applying the formula mentioned in the guidelines.
The certificate is issued only if the disability is permanent.
1. Pure Tone Audiometry
Pure tone Audiometry test is conducted for each ear (Left and Right) to measure the hearing threshold.
In case the hearing test is not reliable, the audiologist will use other means like Immittance test (Impedance test), Speech audiometry or ASSR Test (Auditory Steady State Response) to measure the hearing threshold levels.
Infants do not respond well to pure tone audiometry and responses from children are often unreliable. In this case, the audiologist will conduct an ASSR test to measure the threshold.
How Is Hearing Disability Percentage Calculated?
The hearing disability percentage is calculated by taking the average of the pure tone thresholds at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz and applying the formula below:
Hearing Loss Percentage Formula
Hearing Disability Percentage = (Better ear % X 5) + (Poorer ear %) /6 (divided by 6)
Whenever there is no response at any of the four frequencies (500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz) then it is considered as equivalent to 95 dB loss for the calculations.
Note: to know the percentage of hearing disability for thresholds other than the ones mentioned in the chart below, please request for the copy of guidelines for evaluation of disability as per the RPWD Act 2016. The Pdf will be mailed to you. The Government gazette contains the detailed table.
Hearing Loss Percentage Chart
Click on this link to refer to the complete hearing disability chart.
What is 40% Hearing Disability?
40% hearing disability is the eligibility or the minimum hearing loss required to apply for the disability certificate or the UDID card. Persons having hearing disability of less than 40% cannot apply for the disability certificate.
Hearing Loss Percentage Calculation
How To Calculate The Hearing Loss Percentage?
Example 1
Mr A has a hearing loss of 60 dB in his left ear and 65 dB in his right ear.
Referring to the Hearing Loss chart above
60 dB hearing loss = 40%
65 db hearing loss = 48.55%
Let us insert these values in the formula
Hearing Disability Percentage=(40 X 5) + (48.55)=248.55/6= 41.42%
Mr A has a hearing loss of 41.42%, as per the RWPD 2016 guidelines, Mr A is eligible for the Disability Certificate as his hearing loss is above 40%.
Example 2
Mr B has a hearing loss of 55 dB in his left ear and 70 dB in his right ear.
Referring to the Hearing Loss chart above
55 dB hearing loss = 23%
70 db hearing loss = 57.10%
Let us insert these values in the formula
Hearing Disability Percentage=(23 X 5) + (57.10)=172.10/6= 28.68%
Mr B has a hearing loss of 26.68%, as per the RWPD 2016 guidelines, Mr B is not eligible for the Disability Certificate as his hearing loss is below 40%.
The easiest way to remember is that the hearing loss in the better ear should be equal or more than 60dB.
Is Hearing Loss In One Ear Considered A Disability In India?
As per the RPWD 2016 guidelines and the hearing loss percentage formula above, a hearing loss of less than 60 dB in one ear will not be considered eligible as the total hearing disability will be less than 40%.
2. Speech And Language Disability
The following conditions are considered as permanent disability and are eligible for the disability certificate or the Divyang certificate.
- Laryngectomy or aphasia affecting the speech components
- Glossectomy
- Bilateral vocal cord paralysis
- Maxillofacial anomalies
- Dysarthria
- Apraxia of Speech
The detailed procedure and calculation of percentage for Speech intelligibility test, voice test and language test are described in the Government gazette. (Visit our Helpline and request for the Pdf of the Government Gazette. Please specify preferred language – English or Hindi)
Readers can visit the site for more information on various schemes and information for the hearing impaired.
We regularly post updates on the schemes, benefits available and the current job openings in the Deaf Jobs section of our site.
EarGuru has compiled a list of the Organisations and Charities offering one-to-one support and personalised career advice to help deaf and disabled job seekers to prepare them for employment.
Organisations willing to employ Hearing Impaired people can write to us with details. We will be happy to post the vacancy on our website, this service is totally free.
Hello,
I am diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in my left ear. I have a complete hearing loss in my left ear and I can hear properly in my right ear. Am I eligible for pwd certification?
Hi, Unfortunately, hearing loss in one ear is not considered as a disability. A minimum loss of 60 dB or 40% is the qualification criteria.
Sir I have tinnitus one ear it’s completely irritating me and daily work also disturbance and sleep is complete disturbance listening also not proper in on the road
Hello, Unfortunately there is cure for tinnitus. but there are treatments that can give relief from tinnitus. Read our article on 11 Tinnitus Therapy Techniques For Immediate Relief
Sir mere bete ka janm se ak kaan nh h or dusre kaan s b km sunai deta h kya uska viklang certificate bn skta h jisse uska bhavisya ujjul ho sake
Aap yeh blog pade, is me saare jaankaari di gayi hain. เคฆเคฟเคตเฅเคฏเคพเคเคเคคเคพ เคชเฅเคฐเคฎเคพเคฃ เคชเคคเฅเคฐ เคเคพเคฐเฅ เคเคฐเคจเฅ เคเฅ เคฒเคฟเค เคฆเคฟเคถเคพเคจเคฟเคฐเฅเคฆเฅเคถ
Helo sir in PTA test right ear 91dbhl profound hearing loss and 36.6 dbhl mild sensinuary hearing loss how many percentage of disability certificate issued
Kindly refer to the formula in our article to calculate the percentage.
Sir my right ear full deaf can I eligible for PWD certificate.if no can I apply anny government job as a fit person ? can there are anny fitness problem ?
Hi, Unfortunately, hearing loss in one ear is not considered as a disability. As per the calculation formula in our article, the loss should be minimum 40%
Dear Sir,
What is difference between hard hearing and hearing impairment.
Thanks
A deaf person has a hearing loss of over 70 dB, whereas a hard of hearing person has a hearing loss between 60-70 dB.
Hello sir,
Where can I get myself checked if I am eligible for reservations because I am completely deaf from one ear and another also has some hearing loss but I am not sure how much
The report of the Medical Officer of the Government Hospital in your area is required to apply for the Disability Certificate. To know the issuing authority in your area, read our article on the guidelines for applying for UDID card. https://earguru.in/deaf-jobs/hearing-disability-certificate/
เค เคเคฐ เคเคฟเคธเฅ เคตเฅเคฏเคเฅเคคเคฟ 40 เคชเคฐเคธเฅเคเค เคนเฅเคฏเคฐเคฐเคฟเคเค เคกเคฟเคธเคเคฌเคฒ เคนเฅ เคเคตเค เคเคธ เคธเคฐเฅเคเคฟเคซเคฟเคเฅเค เคเฅ เคเคงเคพเคฐ เคชเคฐ เคธเคฐเคเคพเคฐเฅ เคเฅเคฌ เคฒเฅ เคฒเฅเคคเคพ เคนเฅ เคเฅเค เคธเคพเคฒเฅเค เคฌเคพเคฆ เคเคฒเคพเค เคเคฐเคตเคพเคจเฅ เคชเคฐ เคเคธเฅ เคชเคนเคฒเฅ เคธเฅ เคฌเฅเคนเคคเคฐ เคธเฅเคจเคพเค เคฆเฅเคจเฅ เคฒเคเคคเคพ เคนเฅ เคเคธ เคธเฅเคฅเคฟเคคเคฟ เคฎเฅเค เคเคตเคฐเฅเคจเคฎเฅเคเค เคเฅเคฌ เคฎเฅเค เคจเคฟเคฏเคฎเคพเคจเฅเคธเคพเคฐ เคเฅเคฏเคพ เคนเฅเคเคพ
เคตเคฟเคเคฒเคพเคเคเคคเคพ เคชเฅเคฐเคฎเคพเคฃ เคชเคคเฅเคฐ เคเคฟเคเคฟเคคเฅเคธเคพ เค เคงเคฟเคเคพเคฐเฅ เคฆเฅเคตเคพเคฐเคพ เคเคเคฟเคค เคชเคฐเฅเคเฅเคทเคฃ เคเฅ เคฌเคพเคฆ เคเคพเคฐเฅ เคเคฟเคฏเคพ เคเคพเคคเคพ เคนเฅเฅค เคฏเคน เคเฅเคตเคฒ เคคเคญเฅ เคเคพเคฐเฅ เคเคฟเคฏเคพ เคเคพเคคเคพ เคนเฅ เคเคฌ เคฌเคนเคฐเคพเคชเคจ เคธเฅเคฅเคพเคฏเฅ เคนเฅเฅค
Is there certificate for Hard of hearing in one year as I have seen in many government jobs a category called hard of hearing
Disability certificate is not issued for hearing loss in one ear. “Hard of hearing” means person having 60 DB to 70 DB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears, and โDeaf” means persons having 70 DB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears.
Dear Sir
I have loss 54 and 95 db in both ear. Is i am eligiablr for disbility card.
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss in one ear or less that 60 dB does not qualify for the certificate.
Sir, i have only one ear and from the other one i am not able to hear properly, so can i apply for a pwd certificate
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss in one ear does not qualify for the certificate.
But sir, i have only one ear since birth as my mother suffered from rubella so my right ear is pure absent and in the other one i have a hearing loss upto 60 db.
Sorry, we misunderstood your question. You are eligible for the Disability certificate since the hearing loss in both the ears is 60 dB. Please note that audiometry report of authorised hospitals is accepted.
Hello Sir,
I am from Bangalore.
I have undergone Tympanoplasty in my right ear… and has Central perforation in Left Tympanic Membrane..
Now my Right Ear has 21.6DB and my Left Ear has 45DB. Will I be eligible for disability certificate from Chief Medical Officer
A minimum hearing loss of 60 dB or 40% in both the ears is the eligibility criteria. Unfortunately, you may not qualify for a disability certificate.
Hello sir,
Mein left ear se poori tarah deaf hoon lekin mera right ear normal hai, toh mera overall percentage kitna hoga aur kya mein pwd card banwa sakta hoon
Hello,
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss less than 60 dB in pone ear does not qualify for the certificate.
Hello sir ,
if there is loss of hearing more that 60 dB in ear then am I eligible or not?
please reply.
Hello,
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss of 60 dB in one ear does not qualify for the certificate.
Hii
My right ear is total deaf and left ear 23% deaf I am eligible for hearing certificate
A minimum hearing loss of 60 dB or 40% in both the ears is the eligibility criteria. Unfortunately, you may not qualify for a disability certificate.
Hello sir,
My sister cant hear and speak. But she can use to speak few words only. But her disability % is 100% On disability certificate. So is this called ‘multiple disability including deaf and dumb” or should mention in other words “hwaring impaired or deaf and dumb” only.?
She is only deaf and dumb. So why on disability certificate they mentioned “multiple disability including deaf and dumb”… ? And they are not agree to correct it. Is it right? And if yes so how?
Hello,
One can get a disability certificate if a person is only deaf or only speech impaired, since your sister is deaf and dumb, it is considered as a multiple disability.
DearvSir
I have loss 56 and 57 db in both ear. Is i am eligiablr for disbility card.
Hello,
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss less than 60 dB does not qualify for the certificate.
Dear Sir,
As per Doctor I have Sensorineural Hearing Loss in both ears ( BONES ARE WEAK IT IS PERMANENT HEARING LOSS SNHL ) but it is less than 50 DB in left ear and 48 DB In Right ear, It is eligible to get handicap certificate.
Sunil
Hello,
As per the RPwD guidelines, a Disability Certificate can be issued if a person has a permanent hearing loss of 60 dB and above in both the ears. Hearing loss less than 60 dB does not qualify for the certificate.
hello , I have also disability certificate with 45% in both ear and its permanent and in my certificate mention as DEAF , but I can speak clearly so in future have I faced problems in job or not , please help me to out of this . I am in depression
Hello Suresh,
You have been issued a disability certificate for Hearing Loss and not for Speech impediment. Nobody can question you. In fact you have an advantage as you can speak. You should search for a suitable job as per your qualifications.
Hi. My son with bilateral sensoneural hearing loss more than 60db in each ear. He using cochlear implant in one side. Is he eligible to get handicap certificate if he fulfil the criteria of disability during an audiogram after removal of CI speech processor? In some places doctor saying he can hear with CI so cannot get disability certificate. Thank you
Hello,
An audiogram taken with the CI switched off is considered for issue of the Disability Certificate if the hearing loss is more than 60 dB or 40%.
Sir I have profound loss in left year and more than 70 dB Loss In right still I was given diability certificate for 3 years validity which has to be renewed afterwards .why sir?
Hello,
In case of Conductive hearing loss which is considered as a temporary hearing loss, the disability certificate has to be renewed.
In case you have a Sensorineural Hearing Loss, you should get a permanent certificate.
DOES TINITUS HAVE ANY DIABILITY?
I lost left ear hearing in a head injury. (More than 80db)
Suffering hogh sound of tinitus also. Tinitus sound disturbing better ear hearing also. Totally upset because of tinitus. Why tinitus dont have any disability..Why tinitus excluded in Disability formula
Hello,
Tinnitus as such is not listed under the RPwD act as a disability.
In case you have a 60 dB or above hearing loss in both ears along with Tinnitus you can apply for a disability certificate.
SIR, WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING ,WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EACH DISABILITY CERTIFICATE AND WHAT DOES EFFET WHEN I WANT TO USE IT FOR RESERVETION IN GOVERNMENT JOB .PLEASE SAY ME IN BOTH CONDITION DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING.
Hello,
As per the definition in the RPwD guidelines, โDeaf” means persons having 70 DB and above hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears and “Hard of hearing” means person having 60 DB to 70 DB hearing loss in speech frequencies in both ears.
For Government jobs, disability of 60 dB and above which is equal to 40% is accepted. In case the hearing loss is not permanent, a temporary disability certificate is issued which has to be renewed.
Hello Sir, I have conductive hearing loss more than 75 db (64% hearing loss) in both ear, but doctor are not giving me permanent disability certificate.. Sensorineural hearing loss(40-50 db) in both ear. I am also suffering from Tinnitus.
What should I do now?
Now, in one ear hearing aid is not helpful.. I can only listen from one ear only.
Hello,
Conductive hearing loss is not considered a permanent disability as it can be cured in most cases.
A temporary disability certificate is generally given in such cases.
A permanent disability certificate is given if one suffers from Sensorineural hearing loss which is 60 dB or more in both the ears.