War veterans at risk for hearing loss

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at greater risk for hearing loss

In a large study of more than 500,000 veterans, nearly 8% (7.78%) of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans was diagnosed with hearing loss. 6.5% were diagnosed with tinnitus, and 6.2% had both hearing loss and tinnitus.

Those who had been exposed to blast exposure were naturally more likely to have hearing loss, tinnitus or both hearing loss and tinnitus.

Veterans who had post-deployment conditions such as TBI, PTSD, depression, comorbid sensory dysfunctions such as visual problems, vertigo and dizziness or headache related pain had significantly increased rates of auditory dysfunctions.

Older males who had served in either the Army or the Marines Corps were most likely to have hearing loss. Furthermore, Caucasians were more likely to experience hearing loss and/or tinnitus than African Americans.

The study “Prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: A Chronic Effect of Neurotrauma Consortium study” was published in Hearing Research 347, 2017

 If you or a loved one has served in the military or other field with exposure to loud noise, please contact Sound Hearing Care for an appointment today.