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March 27 - Hearing loss has become the leading disability among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. More than 58,000 veterans are currently collecting disability for hearing loss and almost 70,000 suffer from tinnitus, a related disorder.
Factors such as roadside bombs and sudden, unexpected fire fights are the chief suspects in this health problem. These situations give soldiers little or no time to utilize protective equipment such as earplugs. Some soldiers also cited a lack of instruction on their use or a lack of protective equipment altogether.
The Institute of Medicine report Noise and Military Service: Implications for Hearing Loss and Tinnitus recommends better enforcement of existing requirements for use of hearing protection by military personnel and for monitoring of auditory capacity during and at the conclusion of military service. In addition, it urges expanded research into hearing loss associated with noise exposure during military service.
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