Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | FORT DRUM, N.Y. – A Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, New York – In recent years, noise-induced hearing loss and hearing related injuries have been the most prevalent service-connected disables for veterans, affecting more than 2 million former service members in the United States, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. What was once seen as a badge of honor amongst Soldiers, is now being viewed as a significant public health issue within the military.
In an effort to analyze the effects of high-impact noise on hearing as well as the effectiveness of hearing protection devices, the U.S. Army Public Health Command partnered with the Fort Drum Medical Department Activity’s Preventive Medicine Department to conduct a hearing conservation study with Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) on Fort Drum Aug. 21-22.
The study, which was a continuation of testing done while the unit was training at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana earlier this year, had Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mtn. Div. conduct hearing tests both before and after firing the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MAAWS), also known as the Carl Gustav. The tests would then be compared to determine the levels of immediate hearing loss after firing the weapon.
“The MAAWS is the loudest man-pack weapon in the entire inventory and the only weapon (Soldiers) have to wear double hearing protection,” said Dr. Nancy L. Vause, a hearing conservation consultant with USAPHC and the study’s lead researcher. “The auditory hazard model predicts so many people will suffer hearing loss, even with double hearing protection. So, we’re trying to employ a brand new technology to see if it’s feasible to do what’s called a FitCheck.”
The FitCheck portion of the testing was designed to test the effectiveness of the hearing protection devices used by the soldiers, both before and after firing the weapon. For the test, Soldiers would place the first layer of hearing protection in their ears, don special headphones, and listen for a tone. The effectiveness and proper fitting of the hearing protection device, or earpro as the Soldiers refer to it, passed the test provided they were able to block sound at pre-specified levels.
A major part of ensuring the earpro worked correctly was to ensure Soldiers were using the right size and were placing the devices correctly in their ears before firing the weapon. Vause and her team spent time with the Soldiers at JRTC months prior teaching them how to fit their hearing protection devices properly, and once they came back to Fort Drum, they wanted to know if the Soldiers retained that information.
“We wondered if it’s a perishable skill or did they need to have some refresher training,” Vause said. “I was really surprised. Three out of four of them did perfectly and remembered what right earpro feels like. If we do a better job of training Soldiers what right feels like, then that enables them to protect their hearing, become more lethal, more survivable and better protected.”
Vause and her team hope the first-of-its-kind study will help the Army determine a way ahead and develop best practices to teach Soldiers what “right earpro feels like” and the value of protecting their hearing.
“I think this is the level of education and awareness that needs to be brought to all Soldiers in the Army because it teaches them the importance of having the earpro (placed in the ear) correctly to prevent hearing loss,” said Maj. Kyle Lindholm, the Fort Drum MEDDAC’s Preventive Medicine chief and Fort Drum Hearing Program Manager. “Hearing is critical. It’s a component of having lethality; of being able to find and locate both the distance and direction of where an enemy combatant might be.”
“It also improves the Soldier’s survivability (through) the Soldier’s ability to detect the enemy and find cover and concealment or otherwise avoid the enemy,” the Mesa, Arizona native added.
As the army evolves and times change, Soldiers have begun to realize more and more the value of protecting their hearing.
“Hearing is something that’s huge,” said Spc. Issac Yrene, an infantryman with 2-22 Inf. and a native of Fresno, California. “We’re all in tune with the fact that down the line, if you want to keep doing this after a while, you have to be able to hear.”
For Soldiers like Yrene, merely participating in the study provided them with valuable information they can use to help protect their hearing in the future.
“Before this, we usually just kind of wear the Army earpro we get,” Yrene said. “The fitting, and being taught how to use them properly actually helped a lot. It cut out a lot of the sounds I thought were normal to hear.”
Vause and her team will continue the hearing study in the coming months as more subjects are needed to evaluate the data. However, the study is already producing significant results, to include learning how adaptable Soldiers are and how supportive leadership is in making hearing conservation a priority.
“We have caring leaders and some of the sharpest Soldiers that I’ve seen and it’s been an honor and a pleasure to work with such a wonderful group,” Vause said. “(The leadership) has been unbelievable, professional, caring and they really do put the Soldiers first.”
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2018 15:34 |
| Story ID: | 290793 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Hometown: | FRESNO, CA, US |
| Hometown: | MESA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 409 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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