

Level-dependent earplugs however use a filter that enables soft noises to be conveyed at full strength yet eliminate high-frequency or impulse noise. Traditional earplugs effectively prevent hazardous noise from entering the ear canal, but they can interfere with mission communication requirements, such as being able to hear speech or low-level combat sounds. With today’s increasingly sophisticated technology, soldiers do not have to choose between protecting their ears or their lives.īelow are some of Hearing Health Foundation's suggestions for hearing protective devices (HPDs) that protect without compromising safety: Earplugs

There is a misconception hearing protection inhibits vital communication and mission readiness. Military personnel commonly experience these disorders after exposure to loud noise, such as working in an airplane hangar, or exposure to high-intensity noise, such as an explosion. This condition, called auditory processing disorder, is associated with blast exposure. Additionally, many Veterans who score normally on hearing tests have trouble understanding speech. In 2016, Veterans Affairs had 1,610,911 compensation receipts for tinnitus and 1,084,069 for hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) are the top two health conditions among military veterans. Proper fitting and consistent wearing of hearing protective devices (HPDs) help prevent hearing loss and tinnitus. Paying an average of $348.15 each, the VA buys one in five hearing aids sold annually in the U.S., according to that 2010 spending report, the last year that data was available. This condition, auditory processing disorder or central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), is often associated with blast exposure.Ī study in 2015 found that 72% of Veterans with tinnitus also had a diagnosis of anxiety, 60% had depression, and 58% had both conditions. In addition, many Veterans who score normally on hearing tests have trouble understanding speech. In 2017, there were 1.79 million disability compensation recipients for tinnitus and 1.16 million compensation recipients for hearing loss. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Tinnitus and hearing loss are the number one and two health conditions, respectively, among military veterans at U.S. military is losing the war on hearing, and read about his experience on our blog and as published in Stars & Stripes. Watch veteran Jon Barton to understand how the U.S.
