Has the Army Gone Deaf to the Soldiers' Hearing Needs?

Thousands of US soldiers suffer hearing loss each year most of them in training because the Army doesn't supply protection against the ear damaging noises of tanks, artillery, firing ranges and helicopters. The Army is unable to count them all. The breadth of such a problem is being analyzed already. According to the Army's top hearing specialist, around half of the total men who train for combat each year don't go through to the actual combat because of hearing loss.

The army hospital's chief audiologist based his estimate on research at Fort Jackson, where men lost their jobs because of hearing loss cases. A hearing loss rate of 113 is needed for such a decision to be made. More than half of the soldiers assigned to Fort Jackson had this rating. More than 20 percent on the other hand had a 112 rating.

The surgeon general's office advised the use of ear plugs for each Army recruit back in 1963. No one followed this recommendation. Earplugs were provided in some cases but not fitted. And this spring, Army hearing specialists discovered that even the wearing of the standard issue ear plugs wasn't enforced on the rifle ranges at the basic training camp at Fort Dix, NJ.

The specialists added that use of ear plugs were discouraged by officials despite the adverse effects it may have on a person's hearing. The experts' reports motivated fort officials to require the use of ear plugs. Those at Fort Knox accept the possibility of partial deafness. A soldier who wears ear plugs experiences pain in his eardrum when a cannon is fired.

Around 832 rounds were fired in a training session at Fort Knox that included the trainees and the instructors. A reporter who was there for only two hours could still hear a ringing in his ears after 16 hours. Ear damage can be further avoided if tank operators wore ear muffs.

Hearing loss is also a problem for helicopter flight and ground crews, states a commander of the army aero medical research unit at Fort Rucker, Alaska. The helicopter helmet used by the Army does not do a good job of screening noise. A navy helmet is recommended as a replacement for the Army one.

The Army does not believe in the strength of the helmet to protect its wearer from a crash. This is also what the Canadian air force says regarding the helmet. The same helmet is recommended for the crews riding in tanks whose helmets are actually just football helmets that have been repainted.

Many soldiers complain that the ear plugs issued by the Army are uncomfortable. They would rather use cigarette filters in their ears. Though uncomfortable, these alternatives won't offer as much protection.

Article Source: http://www.newsarticlessite.com

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