updated 1:20 p.m. MT, Fri., March. 7, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Large numbers of soldiers and Marines caught in roadside bombings and firefights in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming home with permanent hearing loss and ringing in their ears, prompting the military to redouble its efforts to protect the troops from noise.
Hearing damage is the No. 1 disability in the war on terror, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and some experts say the true toll could take decades to become clear. Nearly 70,000 of the more than 1.3 million troops who have served in the two war zones are collecting disability for tinnitus, a potentially debilitating ringing in the ears, and more than 58,000 are on disability for hearing loss, the VA said.
"The numbers are staggering," said Theresa Schulz, a former audiologist with the Air Force, past president of the National Hearing Conservation Association and author of a 2004 report titled "Troops Return With Alarming Rates of Hearing Loss."
One major explanation given is the insurgency's use of a fearsome weapon the Pentagon did not fully anticipate: powerful roadside bombs. Their blasts cause violent changes in air pressure that can rupture the eardrum and break bones inside the ear.
Also, much of the fighting consists of ambushes, bombings and firefights, which come suddenly and unexpectedly, giving soldiers no time to use their military-issued hearing protection.
"They can't say, `Wait a minute, let me put my earplugs in,'" said Dr. Michael E. Hoffer, a Navy captain and one of the country's leading inner-ear specialists. "They are in the fight of their lives."
In addition, some servicemen on patrol refuse to wear earplugs for fear of dulling their senses and missing sounds that can make the difference between life and death, Hoffer and others said. Others were not given earplugs or did not take them along when they were sent into the war zone. And some Marines weren't told how to use their specialized earplugs and inserted them incorrectly.
Hearing damage has been a battlefield risk ever since the introduction of explosives and artillery, and the U.S. military recognized it in Iraq and Afghanistan and issued earplugs early on. But the sheer number of injuries and their nature — particularly the high incidence of tinnitus — came as a surprise to military medical specialists and outside experts.
The military has responded over the past three years with better and easier-to-use earplugs, greater efforts to educate troops about protecting their hearing, and more testing in the war zone to detect ear injuries.
The results aren't in yet on the new measures, but Army officials believe they will significantly slow the rate of new cases of hearing damage, said Col. Kathy Gates, the Army surgeon general's audiology adviser.
Considerable damage has already been done.
For former Staff Sgt. Ryan Kelly, 27, of Austin, Texas, the noise of war is still with him more than four years after the simultaneous explosion of three roadside bombs near Baghdad.
"It's funny, you know. When it happened, I didn't feel my leg gone. What I remember was my ears ringing," said Kelly, whose leg was blown off below the knee in 2003. Today, his leg has been replaced with a prosthetic, but his ears are still ringing.
"It is constantly there," he said. "It constantly reminds me of getting hit. I don't want to sit here and think about getting blown up all the time. But that's what it does."
Sixty percent of U.S. personnel exposed to blasts suffer from permanent hearing loss, and 49 percent also suffer from tinnitus, according to military audiology reports. The hearing damage ranges from mild, such as an inability to hear whispers or low pitches, to severe, including total deafness or a constant loud ringing that destroys the ability to concentrate. There is no known cure for tinnitus or hearing loss.
The number of servicemen and servicewomen on disability because of hearing damage is expected to grow 18 percent a year, with payments totaling $1.1 billion annually by 2011, according to an analysis of VA data by the American Tinnitus Association. Anyone with at least a 10 percent loss in hearing qualifies for disability.
From World War II and well through Vietnam, hearing damage has been a leading disability.
Despite everything that has been learned over the years, U.S. troops are suffering hearing damage at about the same rate as World War II vets, according to VA figures. But World War II and Iraq cannot easily be compared. World War II was a different kind of war, waged to a far greater extent by way of vast artillery barrages, bombing raids and epic tank battles.
Given today's fearsome weaponry, even the best hearing protection is only partly effective — and only if it's properly used.
Some Marines were issued a $7.40 pair of double-sided earplugs, with one side designed to protect from weapons fire and explosions, the other from aircraft and tank noise. But the Marines were not given instructions in how to use the earplugs, and some cut them in half, while others used the wrong sides, making the devices virtually useless, Hoffer said. Today, instructions are handed out with the earplugs.
In any case, hearing protection has its limits. While damage can occur at 80 to 85 decibels — the noise level of a moving tank — the best protection cuts that by only 20 to 25 decibels. That is not enough to protect the ears against an explosion or a firefight, which can range upwards of 183 decibels, said Dr. Ben Balough, a Navy captain and chairman of otolaryngology at the Balboa Navy Medical Center in San Diego.
The Navy and Marines have begun buying and distributing state-of-the-art earplugs, known as QuietPro, that contain digital processors that block out damaging sound waves from gunshots and explosions and still allow users to hear everyday noises. They cost about $600 a pair.
The Army also has equipped every soldier being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan with newly developed one-sided earplugs that cost about $8.50, and it has begun testing QuietPro with some troops.
In addition, the Navy is working with San Diego-based American BioHealth Group to develop a "hearing pill" that could protect troops' ears. An early study in 2003 on 566 recruits showed a 25 to 27 percent reduction in permanent hearing loss. But further testing is planned.
And for the first time in American warfare, for the past three years, hearing specialists or hearing-trained medics have been put on the front lines instead of just at field hospitals, Hoffer said.
Marines and soldiers are getting hearing tests before going on patrol and when they return to base if they were exposed to bombs or gunfire.
"You have guys that don't want to admit they have a problem," Hoffer said. "But if they can't hear what they need to on patrol, they could jeopardize their lives, their buddies' lives and, ultimately, their mission.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 comments:
Not much of a comment on the Hearing Loss issue.
Can you please change the URL Link for Blue Star Mothers to: http://utah-bluestarmothers.org
Thanks, BSM Webmaster
It was rather interesting for me to read the blog. Thank you for it. I like such themes and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.
It is very interesting for me to read the blog. Thanks for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to them. BTW, why don't you change design :).
[color=#ddaa77]
Приветик! Может-быть... есть cупер мысль по[url=http://www.pi7.ru] видео[/url] порталу Думаю вам понравится
[url=http://www.pi7.ru/]Каникулы строгого режим[/url]
aнекдот для разнообразия :)
Разговаривают две блондинки:
- Ты знаешь, я сегодня узнала, что такое куннилингус!
-??? и что это?
- Это как минет, только наооборот!
- Подожди, это что, в НЕГО дуть что ли надо?!
Я 9 часов блуждала по сети, пока не вышела на ваш форум! Думаю, я здесь останусь надолго!
рпошу прощения за опечатки.... очень маленькая клавиатура у PDA!
[/color]
Great post as for me. I'd like to read more about this theme. Thanks for sharing this information.
Joan Stepsen
Cyprus escorts
Technology really has become one with our daily lives, and I think it is safe to say that we have passed the point of no return in our relationship with technology.
I don't mean this in a bad way, of course! Societal concerns aside... I just hope that as technology further develops, the possibility of transferring our memories onto a digital medium becomes a true reality. It's a fantasy that I dream about almost every day.
(Posted on Nintendo DS running [url=http://cryst4lxbands.sosblog.com/-b/Will-the-R4-or-R4i-work-b1-p2.htm]R4i[/url] DS S3)
breathing kouper tkuk alajuela shapes acquirer blockquote surprisingly optional triangle orbit
lolikneri havaqatsu
[color=#ddaa77]
Не знаеш который час в этом городе? мм.. есть cупер мысль по[url=http://www.pi7.ru] видео[/url] порталу Думаю вам понравится
[url=http://www.pi7.ru]повторение цитологического анализа [/url]
aнекдот для разнообразия :)
Скажтие, а ротивогаз не мешает вашей интимной жизни?
- Ну что вы, наоброот! Во-первых жена молчит, во-вторых, я не вижу ее лица, ну и в-третьих,когда я закрываю клапан, она начигает енмножко шеевлиться.
Я 5 часов луждала по сеит, пока не вышела на ваш форум! Думаю, я здевь останусьт надолго!
прошу прощения за опечатки..... очень маленькая клавиатура у PDA!
[/color]
agency black dating online [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]dating internet online services[/url] military singles http://loveepicentre.com/ singles weekend shore trips
Howdy,
When ever I surf on web I never forget to visit this website[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url]utahstatevablog.blogspot.com is filled with quality info. Frankly speaking we really do not pay attention towards our health. Let me present you with one fact here. Research indicates that closely 70% of all U.S. adults are either fat or overweight[url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips].[/url] Therefore if you're one of these people, you're not alone. Its true that we all can't be like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, and have sexy and perfect six pack abs. Now the question is how you are planning to have quick weight loss? Quick weight loss can be achived with little effort. If you improve some of your daily diet habbits then, its like piece of cake to quickly lose weight.
About me: I am webmaster of [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/lose-10-pounds-in-2-weeks-quick-weight-loss-tips]Quick weight loss tips[/url]. I am also health expert who can help you lose weight quickly. If you do not want to go under hard training program than you may also try [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/acai-berry-for-quick-weight-loss]Acai Berry[/url] or [url=http://www.weightrapidloss.com/colon-cleanse-for-weight-loss]Colon Cleansing[/url] for effective weight loss.
http://rxonline.in/reglan/lethal-dose-of-reglan
[url=http://rxonline.in/zovirax/zovirax-substitute]pharmacy terminology acronyms[/url] teen stories about drugs [url=http://rxonline.in/remeron/remeron-and-sleep]remeron and sleep[/url]
walmart pharmacy in coralville iowa http://rxonline.in/zithromax/vaginal-infections-treated-with-azithromycin-or-zithromax
[url=http://rxonline.in/restlessness/edison-restlessness]drugs called foxey[/url] overnight perscription drugs [url=http://rxonline.in/propranolol/propranolol-for-blood-pressure]propranolol for blood pressure[/url]
case studies on the mentally ill and drug addictions http://rxonline.in/rhinitis/atrophic-rhinitis-in-humans
[url=http://rxonline.in/hydroxyzine/what-does-hydroxyzine-tre]biogen oral multiple sclerosis drug[/url] nationnewspaper drugs in schools in barbados [url=http://rxonline.in/zyrtec/clairitin-zyrtec-work-way]clairitin zyrtec work way[/url] rexall pharmacy store locations [url=http://rxonline.in/ziprasidone/ziprasidone-oral-suspension]ziprasidone oral suspension[/url]
the man and his automobile http://automoblog.in/saleen/ford-mustang-saleen-model-kit alabama automobile license
[url=http://automoblog.in/porsche/porsche-914-f-zero]archer volkswagen[/url] energy efficient convertible automobile [url=http://automoblog.in/seat-car/kashimax-handler-seat]kashimax handler seat[/url]
franklin tn automobile inspection carothers http://automoblog.in/volkswagen/carter-volkswagen
[url=http://automoblog.in/motor-co/seadoo-rebuilt-motor]automobile listings[/url] insane racing [url=http://automoblog.in/ford/ford-f-150-king-ranch-rubber-floor-mats]ford f 150 king ranch rubber floor mats[/url]
automobile insurance houston http://automoblog.in/romeo/museco-storico-alfa-romeo
[url=http://automoblog.in/audi/audi-100-engine-keep-shutting-off]durans auto[/url] volkswagen dealers michian [url=http://automoblog.in/opel/opel-corsa-1998-model-3-cylinder-good-or-bad]opel corsa 1998 model 3 cylinder good or bad[/url]
what movie won the academy award fro the best picture in 1976 [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-arlington-road/19836database/]Arlington Road[/url] movie dancer in the dark [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-los-simpson/30567database/]Los Simpson[/url]
download movie themes [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-knocked-up/15268database/]Knocked Up[/url] cast of super troopers the movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-evangelion-you-are-not--alone/13608database/]Evangelion You Are(not) Alone[/url]
watch a gay movie [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-right-at-your-door/25243database/]Right at Your Door[/url] atlantic station movie theatre [url=http://full-length-movies.com/dvd-quality-movie-pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-worlds-end/20415database/]Pirates Of The Caribbean At Worlds End[/url]
soundtrack for the movie fast and furious tokyo drift [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-beowul/15109database/]Beowul[/url] free pathfinder movie [url=http://worldmovs.co.cc/full_version-play-misty-for-me/4103database/]Play Misty for Me[/url]
bond shoes http://www.thefashionhouse.us/armani-stylish-top-for-women-golden-item2547.html fashion florida photographer [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/men-page51.html]clark shoes[/url] designer shower curtain
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=1956 boy wears girls clothes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/black-orange-color208.html]shoes for diabetic[/url]
hotels attractions travel http://xwl.in/adventure/adventure-racing-team-durango-col travel cheap airfare
[url=http://xwl.in/plane-tickets/cheap-round-trip-plane-tickets-to-canada]restriction on air travel with minors[/url] air travel under 18 years [url=http://xwl.in/cruise/crown-princess-cruise-ship]crown princess cruise ship[/url]
north carolina travel brochures http://xwl.in/cruises/vacation-your-way-cruises
[url=http://xwl.in/disneyland/map-of-disneyland-attractions]golf travel ohio[/url] travel mexico city air fares [url=http://xwl.in/airlines/thailands-airlines]thailands airlines[/url]
ae travel http://xwl.in/vacation-packages/hawaii-vacation-travel-packages oregon travel trailer dealers [url=http://xwl.in/car-rental/disney-discount-tips-car-rental]disney discount tips car rental[/url]
zest bingo http://xwn.in/keno_ohio-keno horseshoe casino las vegas
[url=http://xwn.in/lottery_lflorida-lottery-result]printable customized bingo cards[/url] former actors to play the joker [url=http://xwn.in/slots_learn-how-to-play-poker-slots]learn how to play poker slots[/url]
casino wharf fx 228 http://xwn.in/bingo_free-holiday-bingo-cards-to-print-out
[url=http://xwn.in/bingo_blank-baby-bingo-card]britain betting houses[/url] spil baccarat [url=http://xwn.in/lottery_knights-of-columbus-home-lottery-saskatoon]knights of columbus home lottery saskatoon[/url]
casinos in st louis http://xwn.in/poker-online_poker-accessories rate top vegas casinos [url=http://xwn.in/gambling-online_gambling-age-in-canada]gambling age in canada[/url]
book casino cheap sport http://wqm.in/poker-online_software-poker-time-clock thunder valley gambling casino sacramento ca
[url=http://wqm.in/gambling-online_online-gambling-site-that-do-not-shuffle-after-every-hand]bingo machine online play slot[/url] southern california lottery [url=http://wqm.in/casino-playing-cards_jumbo-playing-cards]jumbo playing cards[/url]
what slot machines are at french lick casino http://wqm.in/casino-playing-cards_sport-playing-cards
[url=http://wqm.in/lottery]free printable bingo card[/url] blackjack 2 sgh i617 samsung silicone case [url=http://wqm.in/slot_slot-car-s16d-custom-armature-rewinding]slot car s16d custom armature rewinding[/url]
montecarlo casino las vegas http://wqm.in/slot_best-portable-dvd-players-with-sd-card-slot md lottery set for life [url=http://wqm.in/blackjack_joe-blows-blackjack]joe blows blackjack[/url]
casino bonuses baccarat online gambling http://lwv.in/roulette/roulette-wheel-bar louisiana state troopers stolen casino chips off table
[url=http://lwv.in/poker-online/vegas-poker-jan1]kids joker costume[/url] desperate housewives bingo [url=http://lwv.in/jackpot/jersey-cash-5-highest-jackpot-ever]jersey cash 5 highest jackpot ever[/url]
north carolina lottery powerball numbers http://lwv.in/roulette/roulette-video
[url=http://lwv.in/poker-online/used-poker-tables-and-chairs-for-sale]casinos keno casino game[/url] free bingo spingo games online [url=http://lwv.in/online-casinos/hardrock-casinos]hardrock casinos[/url]
the importance of point of view in the lottery http://lwv.in/baccarat/how-to-play-baccarat-online bingo prize [url=http://lwv.in/gambling-online/gambling-addiction-borderline-personality-disorder-stress]gambling addiction borderline personality disorder stress[/url]
Уменя началась своя жизнь. И вот через полгода он звонит мне ночью (а не выделись мы месяца 4), опьяневшим голосом говорит: прости, с Валей я был просто так, я взял в толк что ты мне нужна.
[IMG]http://v7em.com/go/vnimanue.png[/IMG]
Post a Comment