A Different Type of War Breeds a Rash of Hearing Disabilities
A recent article by the Associated Press discussed the huge influx of hearing-related injuries connected to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by US military personnel. The most prevalent of these disabling injuries centered on acute hearing loss and tinnitus.
Hearing loss has always been a hazard associated with military service but the these injuries have seen an exponential increase since the war on terror. According to the Department on Veteran Affairs, hearing loss is now the number one disability of US servicemen. 70,000 military personnel are now collecting disability for tinnitus just from these current conflicts.
The marked increase of improvised explosive devices (IED) such as roadside bombs and the frequency of firefights and ambushes are blamed for the increase of hearing injuries. According to military officials these blasts can cause extreme changes in air pressure rupturing ear drums.
While the military provides hearing protection for its war fighters they often go unused, Many soldiers feel that wearing hearing protection on patrol limits their ability hear subtle changes is sound that may indicate an ambush.
Michael Hoffer, MD, an otolaryngologist (ENT) and Navy commander discussed aspects of hearing loss and tinnitus in the military at both the 24th International Tinnitus Forum in Toronto in 2006 and again in Washington, DC at the 25th International Tinnitus Forum.
Dr. Hoffer served in Iraq treating war fighters for a variety of hearing disorders. He concluded that he saw four types of tinnitus due to warfare: noise induced;blast induced (pressure); tinnitus without hearing loss; and post traumatic Meniere’s disease.
The Naval Medical Center San Diego has conducted studies on antioxidants such as such as N-Acetyl Cysteine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and their ability to prevent hearing loss and found they can be effective if taken within eight hours of hearing loss damage.
Ben Balough, MD is the Chief of Neurotology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego stated in a talk at the 23rd International Tinnitus Forum that Ginkgo biloba extract showed good indications that it could be a benefit to tinnitus patients but more studies are needed with standardized testing and large numbers of participants.
Brent Curtis – Editor
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A recent article by the Associated Press discussed the huge influx of hearing-related injuries connected to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by US military personnel. The most prevalent of these disabling injuries centered on acute hearing loss and tinnitus.
Hearing loss has always been a hazard associated with military service but the these injuries have seen an exponential increase since the war on terror. According to the Department on Veteran Affairs, hearing loss is now the number one disability of US servicemen. 70,000 military personnel are now collecting disability for tinnitus just from these current conflicts.
The marked increase of improvised explosive devices (IED) such as roadside bombs and the frequency of firefights and ambushes are blamed for the increase of hearing injuries. According to military officials these blasts can cause extreme changes in air pressure rupturing ear drums.
While the military provides hearing protection for its war fighters they often go unused, Many soldiers feel that wearing hearing protection on patrol limits their ability hear subtle changes is sound that may indicate an ambush.
Michael Hoffer, MD, an otolaryngologist (ENT) and Navy commander discussed aspects of hearing loss and tinnitus in the military at both the 24th International Tinnitus Forum in Toronto in 2006 and again in Washington, DC at the 25th International Tinnitus Forum.
Dr. Hoffer served in Iraq treating war fighters for a variety of hearing disorders. He concluded that he saw four types of tinnitus due to warfare: noise induced;blast induced (pressure); tinnitus without hearing loss; and post traumatic Meniere’s disease.
The Naval Medical Center San Diego has conducted studies on antioxidants such as such as N-Acetyl Cysteine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and their ability to prevent hearing loss and found they can be effective if taken within eight hours of hearing loss damage.
Ben Balough, MD is the Chief of Neurotology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego stated in a talk at the 23rd International Tinnitus Forum that Ginkgo biloba extract showed good indications that it could be a benefit to tinnitus patients but more studies are needed with standardized testing and large numbers of participants.
Brent Curtis – Editor
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April 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi Barry;Hi Brent: found it extremely enlightening Hoffer’s study; use of N-A-C & Acetyl-L-Carnitine for war soldiers’ noise/combat traumas (8 hrs. time frame for antioxidant effectiveness). Remembering my own week’s anxiety over using high-pitch drill bits without proper noise preventives! Barry, I followed your advice of Valium (& GABA); also followed up using NAC, 1200mg/day & L-Methionine 500mg/day-both of Kopke’s research/study (2003).Thereafter, my T returned to levels I had habituated to. I remember writing to you re adding such antioxidants to Arches Products since we T sufferers almost daily come into contact with sudden, unexpected environmental noises and ear-shattering on-the-street construction equipment. I take one NAC daily before going to work as a precaution and one returning home from work. I’m sure it’s a mental thing as well but it works! Ken (s.i.ny)
October 24th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
A hearing impairment or hearing loss is a full or partial decrease in the ability to detect or understand sounds. Caused by a wide range of biological and environmental factors, loss of hearing can happen to any organism that perceives sound.
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Arnold
Alcohol Rehab