Those who have served our country put themselves in many high-risk situations. We know that those who serve in active duty put themselves at risk of losing life and limb. In addition to these risks, other health conditions are higher among veterans than the civilian population. Some of these might be linked to service directly while others are the result of other aspects of military service. Mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder are more common among veterans than many other groups, and this condition often has to do with service.
Another condition linked to military service is hearing loss, and you might imagine how it can be that so many veterans have hearing loss and its sister condition, tinnitus. In fact, tinnitus and hearing loss are the number one and number two conditions that bring veterans into the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. How can these conditions be so prevalent among veterans? Understanding more about noise-induced hearing loss can point us toward an explanation of these conditions that plague our veterans.
The Causes of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Many of the veterans who seek care for tinnitus and hearing loss have suffered from noise-induced damage. Although anyone can have noise-induced hearing loss, those who have engaged in training and active duty in the armed forces are often exposed to much higher noise levels. How exactly does noise-induced hearing loss occur? The tiny hairlike organelles of the inner ear called stereocilia are quite sensitive to subtle differences in soundwaves. This sensitivity makes it possible to discern language and to tell the voice of one person from the next, but it also makes these organelles subject to damage. When too much sound pressure encounters the ears, it can cause permanent bending or breaking of the stereocilia.
That excess of sound pressure can come in the form of a sudden blast, explosion, or shock, and many veterans have been exposed to the sounds of gunfire, artillery, and bomb blasts during training simulations or active duty. In addition, a sustained noise of relatively lower volume can also cause damage, and those who use transportation in the armed forces can be exposed to this type of noise damage. Pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians are faced with a high risk, but those who use other forms of transportation such as trucks, tanks, boats, and ATVs also experience high levels of noise in the line of duty.
Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
What can be done to help our veterans who have incurred hearing loss and tinnitus during their time of service? The first step is to provide adequate protection during military service. With budgets to support the most advanced hearing protection, the armed forces are in a good position to protect the hearing of military service members. And yet, many who serve neglect to wear proper protection during training and active service. Another risk is the provision of shoddy protection. In some of the worst cases, companies such as 3M have provided faulty hearing protection that was issued to military service members.
The most important step is to make sure that the protection these contractors provide is of the highest and most effective quality and that service members are using devices to their full benefit. Limiting exposure, when possible, is another important step. Some simulations can take place with weapons that are silenced or quieted to limit the effect of training on hearing ability. Finally, we can advocate for treatment provision for those veterans who seek services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers. These centers provide a wide range of services for our veterans, but they need the resources to provide the best hearing aids and assistive devices to those who have served our country.
If you are concerned about a veteran in your life, you can aid them in seeking out a hearing test and possibly hearing assistance, as well. If the hearing test returns results that suggest hearing assistance would be a benefit to the veteran in your life, your role might be crucial in helping them accept the help. Though many veterans have experienced hearing loss and tinnitus due to their service, you can help them get the help they need!
