The Department of Defense Epidemiologic and Economic Burden of Hearing Loss Study

Cooper, Sharon P.; Alamgir, Hasanat; Whitworth, Kristina W.; Gorrell, Natasha S.; Betancourt, José; Cornell, John E.; Delclos, George L.; Douphrate, David I.; Gimeno, David; Marko, Dritana; Kim, Sun Young; Sagiraju, Hari Krishna Raju; Tucker, David; Whitehead, Lawrence W.; Wong, Nicole J.; Hammill, Tanisha L.; Senchak, Andrew J.; Packer, Mark D.

doi:10.7205/milmed-d-14-00100

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…One of stated objectives of the Department of Defense Epidemiology and Economic Burden of Hearing Loss Study (DEEBoHLS), which is led by The University of Texas School of Public Health in conjunction with the Department of Defense Hearing Center of Excellence, is to comprehensively examine the economic losses and other burdens associated with auditory system disabilities [ 14 ]. Throughout the course of this ongoing study, the team has conducted a thorough and extensive review of existing studies on this topic and has noted a critical gap in the available evidence on the impact of auditory system disabilities on QOL in the active-duty military population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The terminology used in this commentary includes “hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury” (HINIHI), which is based on our review of the peer-reviewed literature and congressionally mandated reports [ 14 ]. Using this definition allows for the inclusion of acute acoustic trauma that occurs due to a single exposure from a sudden eruption of sound, hearing loss as a result of a more insidious cause from continuous or intermittent noise exposure that often develops over time, and tinnitus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury on quality of life in the active-duty military population: challenges to the study of this issue

Alamgir¹,

Turner

Wong

et al. 2016

Military Med Res

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The objectives of this research were to 1) summarize the available evidence on the impact of hearing loss on quality of life (QOL) among U.S. active-duty service members, 2) describe the QOL instruments that have been used to quantify the impact of hearing loss on quality of life, 3) examine national population-level secondary databases and report on their utility for studying the impact of hearing loss on QOL among active-duty service members, and 4) provide recommendations for future studies that seek to quantify the impact of hearing loss in this population. There is a lack of literature that addresses the intersection of hearing impairment, the military population, and quality of life measures. For audiological research, U.S. military personnel offer a unique research population, as they are exposed to noise levels and blast environments that are highly unusual in civilian work settings and can serve as a model population for studying the impact on QOL associated with these conditions. Our team recommends conducting a study on the active-duty service member population using a measurement instrument suitable for determining decreases in QOL specifically due to hearing loss.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury on quality of life in the active-duty military population: challenges to the study of this issue

Alamgir¹,

Turner

Wong

et al. 2016

Military Med Res

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“…When highly trained and skilled employees or leaders are disqualified for work, employers incur substantial costs associated with the time and expense of training replacements (Yankaskas, 2013). Since noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent and irreversible, reducing the incidence of NIHL is vital for better hearing as other factors (e.g., medical comorbidities, toxic chemical exposures, and age-related hearing loss) can negatively affect hearing (Cooper et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Hearing Protection Device Noise Attenuation Through Fit-Testing in an Occupational Health Clinic

Hayes

Hammond

Montgomery

et al. 2022

Workplace Health Saf

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Background: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common medical disability for military veterans and accounts for 24% of all hearing loss in the United States. Hearing loss negatively affects health and billions of dollars are spent annually for direct and indirect medical costs and lost work productivity. Proper hearing protection device (HPD) fit can prevent NIHL. Quantitative fit-testing systems to determine personal attenuation rates (PARs) are available, but not widely utilized. Without quantitative testing, validating appropriate fit and attenuation to a permissible exposure level to prevent NIHL is difficult. Methods: A quality improvement project measured 100 employees enrolled in a hearing conservation program (HCP) to determine if they obtained a target PAR after inserting the HPDs in their “usual” fashion. Those who did not obtain target PAR ( n = 27) received an evidence-based intervention that demonstrated proper HPD fit by a skilled trainer followed by a repeat attempt by the participant to replicate the feel of the demonstrated HPD placement. PAR was subsequently measured to assess for appropriate noise attenuation. Findings: Seventy-one percent achieved target PAR (≥ 20 decibels) at baseline testing. After the intervention, 91 of 100 participants had achieved target PAR, a 20% improvement. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Findings suggest this evidence-based intervention was an effective strategy for improving HPD fit for employees enrolled in HCPs. This intervention may prevent occupational hearing loss and decrease the health and socioeconomic impacts of NIHL.

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Hearing testing in the U.S. Department of Defense: Potential impact on Veterans Affairs hearing loss disability awards

et al. 2017

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Hearing loss is the second most common disability awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to former members of the U.S. uniformed services. Hearing readiness and conservation practices differ among the four largest uniformed military services (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy). Utilizing a data set consisting of all hearing loss claims submitted to the VA from fiscal years 2003-2013, we examined characteristics of veterans submitting claims within one year of separation from military service. Our results indicate that having a hearing loss disability claim granted was significantly more likely for men, individuals over the age of 26 years at the time of the claim, individuals most recently serving in the U.S. Army, and those with at least one hearing loss diagnosis. Importantly, individuals with at least one test record in the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System-Hearing Conservation (DOEHRS-HC) system were significantly less likely to have a hearing loss disability claim granted by the VA. Within the DOEHRS-HC cohort, those with at least one threshold shift or clinical hearing loss diagnosis while on active duty were more than two and three times more likely to have a hearing loss disability claim granted, respectively. These findings indicate that an established history of reduced hearing ability while on active duty was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of an approved hearing loss disability claim relative to VA claims without such a history. Further, our results show a persistent decreased rate of hearing loss disability awards overall. These findings support increased inclusion of personnel in DoD hearing readiness and conservation programs to reduce VA hearing loss disability awards.

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The Department of Defense Epidemiologic and Economic Burden of Hearing Loss Study

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

The impact of hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury on quality of life in the active-duty military population: challenges to the study of this issue

The impact of hearing impairment and noise-induced hearing injury on quality of life in the active-duty military population: challenges to the study of this issue

Improving Hearing Protection Device Noise Attenuation Through Fit-Testing in an Occupational Health Clinic

Hearing testing in the U.S. Department of Defense: Potential impact on Veterans Affairs hearing loss disability awards

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