Politics Aside, Army Aces Hearing Health
Audiology has a long history with the U.S. Army and modern warfare. According to the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), "Audiology was born out of the armed forces rehabilitation programs during and following World War II."1
All these years later, audiology has grown into a full-fledged profession, and America is in the midst of another war. Unsurprisingly, hearing issues have arisen as a result of the war and, setting politics aside, it seems the Army should really be commended for the way they've handled these issues, if an Army Times article is any indication.
According to the article, Army audiologists report that "one in four soldiers returning home report hearing loss, dizziness or ringing in the ears." This is despite the fact that the conflicts in the Middle East are the first in which soldiers have worn hearing protection.
The inherent danger is outlined by Major John Merkley, Army Hearing Program manager for U.S. Army Europe, who says the effect of a roadside blast on an eardrum is "like taking a mallet to a snare drum and putting a giant hole in it. That eardrum is going to work as well as that snare drum would."
I know the article is in an Army publication, and so it's prone to be biased, but it does seem as if the Army cares about the hearing health of its troops. Earplugs are mandatory yet, according to the article, many do not wear them because they do not want to sacrifice any tactical advantage they might have by hearing even the softest sounds. In an effort to entice soldiers to take the appropriate precautions, the Army has sought feedback and updated its hearing protection multiple times.
The article focuses on a new earplug aid that allows in-ear operation to regulate the amount of sound that enters the ear. This would allow soldiers to keep the tactical advantage, while also allowing them to quickly protect themselves in dangerous auditory environments.
I think this is a big plus, and I'm happy the Army is taking the hearing health of our soldiers seriously. Hopefully it will reduce the frequency of soldiers reporting hearing problems upon return, because our soldiers deserve far better than what the current numbers indicate.
References
1. Academy of Doctors of Audiology, Careers in Audiology. Accessed online at www.audiologist.org/pages/students/careers.php.