Serving in the Air Force with Hearing Loss

The Air Force has strict medical standards for military service. Waivers to these standards, however, can be granted in certain circumstances. The Air Force Accessions Center recently updated and expanded their waiver policy in regard to hearing loss. They will now consider requests from individuals who have “hearing loss in one ear that has been diagnosed as moderate hearing impairment,” as long as “the opposite ear meets the standards of mild hearing impairment” (Air Force Medical Service, 2025). Career fields under these expanded waivers will be limited “to ensure members will not be put in career fields that will put them at increased risk to worsen their medical condition.”  

Reference

Air Force Medical Service (2025). DAF updates waiver policies for asthma, hearing loss, food allergies. (accessed January 2, 2025).