Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE)

Service-related occupational noise can include activities like jackhammers, gunfire, jet and ship engines, and bomb blasts to name a few. Contact your hearing conservation program manager or audiologist to discuss your specific hearing protection needs. For more about hearing protection, visit: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Hearing-Protection-Selection-Tools-and-Resources

develops in some people who have experienced trauma or a life-threatening event. Stress reactions are normal to these types of events and most feel better after a few weeks or months. If you or someone you know is struggling with PTSD, seek help as soon as possible: www.health.mil/ptsd

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs! Thank you for 94 years of excellent service and support to our veterans. 🎂

Planning on doing some yardwork this weekend? A gas-powered lawnmower averages about 95 decibels, so be sure to wear hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs when you mow your lawn or operate other loud equipment. Learn more about hearing protection: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Hearing-Protection-Devices

Currently there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to reduce symptoms, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Common approaches include sound therapy devices (including hearing aids), behavioral therapies, and medications. For more information, visit: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus tinnitus

Research has found that noise-induced hearing loss is prevalent in service members exposed to weapons training environments, however, adequate hearing protection can help reduce the risk of hearing loss. Advances in filtered earplugs and amplified earmuffs with active noise reduction can provide enhanced protection options to help meet communication challenges in tactical environments. Talk with your hearing conservation program manager to learn about your options. https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Hearing-Protection-Devices

HCE has developed a resource that helps service members select the most appropriate personal protective equipment for their environment and missions. The list provides standardized methods for selecting hearing protection based on noise reduction, communication, and situational awareness requirements. Learn more: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Hearing-Protection-Selection-Tools-and-Resources

Of the roughly 8.1 billion people in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.1 billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure in recreational settings. They can protect their ears by wearing hearing protection during noisy activities like listening to loud music, motorcycle riding, target shooting, and jet skiing, just to name a few. https://hearing.health.mil

? There’s a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) form that documents when personnel get their hearing protector fit testing done. HP fit testing is required for service members and civilians in certain situations as part of the policy change to the Department of Defense Instruction 6055.12 "Hearing Conservation Program.” You can find the form here: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd3126.pdf

Organizations across the Military Health System offer a variety of recreational therapy programs as treatment interventions to help wounded warriors recover from physical and mental injuries. Get to know Warrior Care and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence or check out your local military hospital or clinic to learn more. www.health.mil/warriorcare | www.health.mil/nicoe

is upon us! With so many sun-filled fun activities to enjoy, don’t let take a backseat. https://www.health.mil/summersafety

Providers: Are you looking for the latest diagnostic and coding guidance? Several documents developed to assist you with evaluating and treating auditory and vestibular disorders are available here: https://hearing.health.mil/For-Providers/Diagnostic-and-Coding-Guidance

Happy Independence Day!

As we celebrate our nation's independence, please do so safely.

Make this memorable for all the right reasons and celebrate responsibly.

HCE’s Dr. Andy Merkley joined Maj. Tamarah Murphy, chief of Audiology at Hill Air Force Base, and MAJ Brandon Rawlings, U.S. Army Reserve audiologist, to conduct hearing health outreach at the Warriors Over the Wasatch air show, June 29-30 at Hill AFB. The outreach team handed out about 800 earplugs at the HCE booth and talked with more than 1,000 attendees about hearing loss prevention, comprehensive hearing health, assistive listening devices, amplification, and guided some through hearing screenings using boothless audiometry. About 150,000 are estimated to have attended the event. Shout out to Air Force Audiology and Public Health for donating the hearing protectors, which were needed when noise levels topped 100 dBA when the F-35, F-18, and the Thunderbirds were performing! https://hearing.health.mil

With Independence Day just around the corner, many families may plan to celebrate with fireworks. ? Fireworks produce a sound output in the 150 to 175 decibel range, so wear hearing protection if you’ll be close to a fireworks show to avoid hearing damage. https://hearing.health.mil

Happy Birthday Air Force Medical Service! Thank you for 75 years of service, sacrifice, and dedication to providing "Trusted Care, Anywhere."

HCE research audiologist Dr. Quintin Hecht presents a poster June 25 on a Characterization of Acute Short-term Military Population Auditory Shifts (CHASMPAS) study to characterize noise and overpressure exposure during Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System live fire exercises at the Marine Corps Engineer School, during the AIM Health R&D Summit in San Antonio, Texas. The poster included detailed information about occupational exposure during MAAWS training, accounting for differences based on individuals’ roles and types of ammunition fired. https://hearing.health.mil

? The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - CDMRP Hearing Restoration Research Program was established in 2017 to pursue promising research into auditory system injury. Since establishment, several research projects are underway, such as pharmaceutical treatments for inner ear hair cell regeneration, for hearing restoration. Here’s more about the program: https://cdmrp.health.mil/hrrp/default

Audiologists: HCE’s website has many downloadable educational and motivational materials that can be used in your local clinic. To download, visit: https://hearing.health.mil/Resources/Print-Materials/Posters

The Characterization of Acute Short-term Military Population Auditory Shifts (CHASMPAS) study has been working to characterize noise and overpressure exposure of Marines taking part in live-fire exercises at the Marine Corps Engineer School at Camp Lejeune, NC. Researchers collected data during urban breaching and Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) training to assess auditory function before and after exposures. Results found that while most participants showed no significant pure-tone changes, many experienced diminished distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) amplitudes measured post-exposure, suggesting DPOAEs are more sensitive to detecting early onset cochlear damage. The CHASMPAS team recommends future research to further investigate safety thresholds for daily cumulative blast overpressure exposure and auditory damage. https://hearing.health.mil

Feeling a little off balance? Otolaryngologists or audiologists can help people experiencing dizziness or balance problems. If you need help finding a certified DOD or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provider, visit https://hearing.health.mil/Resources/Help-and-Support/Find-a-Provider

Ahh… first day of summer! Be sure to protect your ears while enjoying fireworks, outdoor concerts, and other summer activities. https://health.mil/summersafety

? Hearing protector fit testing is used to measure the amount of noise reduction you’re getting from your hearing protection. It’s now required to be conducted for all U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) personnel enrolled in hearing conservation programs. For details, visit: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Hearing-Protection-Fit-Testing

According to the CDC, exposure to certain chemicals at work can cause damage to different parts of the ear. Sometimes, exposure to these “ototoxic” chemicals can make ears more sensitive to the harmful effects of noise. For more, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/chemicals.html

Interested in conducting hearing or vestibular research? New funding announcements are found here: https://hearing.health.mil/HCEHome/Research/Research%20Funding/Current%20Funding%20Announcements

We wish all fathers a happy Father’s Day and honor their hard work, devotion, and guidance.

Happy ! Since its adoption in 1777, the U.S. flag has been changed 27 times. The final star, for Hawaii, was added in 1960.

Pondering over what to get dad for Father’s Day? Consider giving hearing protection, especially for dads who do noisy activities like wood working, mowing, and using power tools and w**d eaters. For HPD selection tips, here’s some downloadable information: https://hearing.health.mil/-/media/Files/HCE/Posters/HCE854-Hearing-Protection-Information-Sheet/HCE854-Hearing-Protection-Information-Sheet.ashx

According to the NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, musicians, conductors, and others working in the music industry face the danger of hearing loss and other hearing disorders. Musicians are 400% more likely to have a hearing loss and 57% more likely to have tinnitus than the public. For more information, check out: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2015/07/07/musicians-hearing-loss/

Hearing loss and tinnitus remain among the most prevalent service-connected disabilities for veterans, but it can be prevented by being aware and wearing protective gear. Learn more prevention tips here: https://hearing.health.mil/Prevention/Preventing-Noise-Induced-Hearing-Loss