British Troops In Afghanistan Suffering Hearing Loss.

Current military personnel and armed service veterans can suffer serious noise induced hearing loss as a result of being exposed to extremely loud environmental and/or combat related noises such as machine guns, mortars, bombs, artillery, airplane engines and shipboard machinery whilst on active duty.

According to a recent study, more than two-thirds of British troops returning from Afghanistan are suffering severe and permanent hearing damage. Internal defence documents reveal that following their six-month tour in Helmand between April and October 2008, of 1,250 Royal Marine commandos, 69% had “audiometric evidence consistent with NIHL [noise-induced hearing loss]” due to the intense noise of combat and 410 were classified as having more extreme cases.

As a consequence of the intensity of the conflict in Helmand and its close-combat fighting, roadside devices and noise of low-flying coalition aircraft, Tinnitus or almost complete deafness among combat troops, was found to be considerably greater than previously reported.

Noise Regulations stipulate maximum workplace volume levels not to exceed 85 decibels for prolonged periods, yet the blast of a gun or “medium” explosion measured 140dB, equivalent to hearing a jet plane taking off about 40m away. One in 10 Territorial Army recruits had, in fact, experienced a significant degree of hearing loss following their tour of duty which was “unlikely to be due to anything other than noise or blast”.

An MoD study, ‘The Extent of Operational NIHL’, highlights major problems among 73 reservists deployed to Helmand Province, finding that 67 had problems with their hearing. Of these 39 were diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss with 16 new cases of hearing problems thought to be from “blast injury”.

An MoD spokesman said, following feedback and hearing loss advice, they were trying out a new ear protection system, comprising a custom moulded earplug with an inbuilt microphone to cut the noise impact of loud explosions, whilst still giving the wearer the ability to hear colleagues. It is hoped that the easy-to-fit earplugs would stay in place, thus providing vital protection from the effects of loud explosions and gunfire.