{"id":1665,"date":"2020-12-02T19:59:41","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T00:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlestonhearing.com\/?p=1665"},"modified":"2020-12-02T19:59:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T00:59:41","slug":"is-hearing-loss-common-in-service-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearingsc.com\/is-hearing-loss-common-in-service-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Hearing Loss Common in Service Members?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. This can be the result of leisure activities, like attending concerts; chores, like using a leaf blower; or work, like on a military base. Hearing loss<\/a> that is the result of noise or chemical exposure in the workplace is known as occupational hearing loss.<\/p>\n

Reports show that the military is one of the leading industries that expose employees to unsafe noise levels, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimating that more than 60,000 military members are on disability for hearing problems from their service<\/a> just within the past two decades.<\/p>\n

How Noise Damages Hearing<\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/h2>\n

Within the inner ear are tiny hair cells responsible for amplifying and converting soundwaves into electrical energy the brain interprets as meaningful sound. When dangerously loud sounds pass through the ears, they can damage or even destroy these delicate cells. Once dead, they cannot regenerate, and the result is permanent sensorineural hearing loss.<\/p>\n

Any sound over 85 dB \u2013 about the volume of highway traffic or a busy caf\u00e9 \u2013 can cause permanent damage with enough exposure. This damage can be instantaneous for sounds louder than 140 dB, and almost all firearms surpass that threshold.<\/p>\n

The Connection Between Hearing Loss and Military Service<\/h2>\n

Military service members are regularly exposed to loud sounds like gunshots and heavy machinery. But even off-duty service members are at risk of exposure to hazardous noise levels. According to Dr. Theresa Shulz, chief of the DoD Hearing Center of Excellence, \u201cA significant amount of noise exposure occurs off-duty.\u201d<\/p>\n

The military does not have a great track record for preventing hearing loss, as hundreds of lawsuits have been filed in the last few years against 3M, a government contractor that designed faulty earplugs for military personnel for over a decade. This resulted in hearing loss and tinnitus for thousands of service members.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, despite this, in March the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence reported that rates of noise-induced hearing loss is declining among active-duty service members. The percentage of service members with hearing impairment decreased from 21% to 15% from 2012 to 2018.<\/p>\n

For more information about occupational hearing loss<\/a> or to schedule an appointment for a hearing test, call The Hearing & Balance Center.<\/p>\n

Learn More About Hearing Loss<\/h3>\n