2010 BC Guide in Determining Fitness to Drive

6.5 Requesting functional assessmentsDefinitionsEpisodic impairmentis the result of a medical condition that does not have any ongoingmeasurable, testable or observable impact on the functions necessary fordriving but that may result in an unpredictable sudden or episodicimpairment. Episodic impairments generally result in suddenincapacitation.For example, the medical condition that gives rise to the impairment maybe testable, e.g. the size of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, or known, e.g.epilepsy, but the precipitating event that negatively impacts the functionalability to drive, e.g. the rupture of the aneurysm or an epileptic seizure, isnot predictable. The source of the potential impairment is known and theinevitability of functional impairment is known in the event that theepisodic impairment occurs, but when it will occur is not known.Functional assessmentis any kind of assessment that involves direct observation or measurementof the functions necessary for driving. Functional assessments include:paper-pencil testscomputer-based testseye testshearing testsdriver rehabilitation specialist assessments, androad tests.Persistent impairmentis an ongoing or continuous impairment to a function necessary fordriving. The potential impacts of persistent impairments on the functionsnecessary for driving are generally measurable, testable and observable.Although the condition may be progressive, the progression is usuallyslow and sudden deterioration is unlikely. Persistent impairments may bestable, e.g. loss of leg, or progressive, e.g. arthritis.42