"I love this country. Serving in the military like my dad and grandfather is an honor. I was told I would need to make sacrifices in life, but no one told me it would be my hearing," said a decorated service man and veteran. "I don't think any young man or woman joining the military thinks in four years or 40 years, you will come away from your experience serving your country with a hearing loss, or being deaf."
The truth is, noise impacts the vast majority of service men/women and veterans. It remains greater than that of the general population.
Hearing acuity is a necessity in the soldier's effectiveness both on and off the battlefield. Those serving in the military will eventually be exposed to various degrees of high intensity noise. Some develop hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as a result of noise exposure.
The specific noise levels that cause the hearing loss will vary based upon the type of noise, duration of exposure and the frequency spectrum.
According to the Center of Disease Control, in 2011 the amount of military veteran hearing impairments such as hearing loss and tinnitus were the most common service-connected disability.
The post 9/11 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are increasing in the amount of hearing loss and tinnitus. Veterans are 30 percent more likely to have a severe hearing impairment than the civilian population. The CDC noted "the era of overseas contingency operations (including Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom), were four times more likely than nonveterans to have a SHI (severe hearing impairment)." In 2012, it was noted some 414,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars reported service related hearing loss, tinnitus or both. According to the Veterans Administration, hearing loss and tinnitus are the top two compensated disabilities.
I provide audiological services to a lot of service men and women. Many are very good and consistent at wearing their hearing protection both now and while in the military. The military does provide hearing protectors, often double sets (both plugs and muffs used separately or together), for those serving. This is good.
A soldier needs to be able to communicate and hear important acoustical cues from the unit or the enemy. Hearing difficulties may be the reason for disruptions of their services. Individuals with difficulty in listening to high frequency noise, such as whistles or buzzers, may present difficulty differentiating speech sounds if they are in areas with background noise.
This problem does not only occur within the United States military, but throughout the world. The helicopters, ships, aircraft, guns and explosives, to name a few of the noisy parts of war, are increasingly becoming louder.
There is a process the veteran must go through to have his/her hearing checked. The VA is trying to help. It has both VA and civilian audiologists working to address the hearing loss and tinnitus management.
I will continue to serve those who have served this country through any assistance I may provide related to hearing and tinnitus. Veterans are the one group of individuals who, I believe, are truly entitled better health care and respect. They have braved foreign soil, life, limb and hearing and communication skills. From me to all those currently serving and have served, as well as their loved ones, I thank you.
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Patricia Larson Shields, AuD FAAA MA CCC-SP/L is a doctor of audiology with her degree from The School of Audiology of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in February, 2003. She has been in business in Mitchell, SD since September, 1991.