It’s coincidental that this story would break at this time of year but also perfect justice.
Every November 11, we take time to remember our military service and everything they have done for us. We would not be where we are today without them, and we should never forget that.
That’s why it’s so hard reading about stories like this and knowing that our veterans still aren’t getting the upfront care that they deserve.
Thankfully, that seems to be changing with the results of three recent cases against international company 3M. They were tasked with providing the U.S. Army with special noise-reducing earplugs to protect our troops’ hearing.
Unfortunately, due to a design flaw that 3M acknowledges, they have ended up causing severe hearing loss and tinnitus to a U.S. Army veteran.
He has successfully taken them to court and won. He was awarded $8.2 million in a settlement, and this was the third case of its kind. There are still 259,000 outstanding cases just like it waiting in the wings. They are all regarding this specific ear “protection.”
While we are happy for this one veteran, we are also sympathetic to his situation. No amount of money will bring his hearing back or that of others who have suffered as well. Prevention is still our best asset when fighting hearing loss.
What Are Other Environments Where Hearing Protection Is Needed?
The military isn’t the only profession that should require and provide hearing protection. Many occupations could use it more and don’t for either cost reasons, personal vanity, or simply lack of knowledge.
Hearing protection is critical when in the presence of excessive noise. This can be in the form of impulse noise (e.g., an explosion or high-powered gunfire) or constant noise exposure over a period (e.g., generators, large engines, or machinery).
Hearing loss due to noise, unfortunately, is irreversible. So, whatever is lost is permanent and will only deteriorate with time, even when you are no longer in that noisy environment anymore.
What Happens If Your Hearing Is Left Unprotected?
The potential consequences of not adequately protecting your hearing are noise-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Both are treatable but not curable.
This can present itself gradually or after a one-time trauma, or both. If you’re exposed to loud noises a lot and think you’re “used to it,” then your hearing is damaged in some way. It may only take one more loud noise to cause irreparable damage.
Untreated hearing loss can also lead to non-hearing conditions as well. Cognitive decline is common and has been seen in patients through depression, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s.
How Frequently Do We Treat Veterans?
I speak with veterans regularly about the effects of noise and their hearing loss or ringing in the ears. The leading claim for disability benefits is tinnitus. It is a large, if not the biggest, problem in our military men and women to date.
This condition causes the patient to hear a constant ringing, hissing, or humming noise in their ears 24/7. We cannot stop this sound from happening; we can only drown it out with hearing aids and other sound masking technology.
The other reason we see a lot of veterans is because of the VA programs in place. They are there to take care of our troops and can be very advantageous. If you need more information, then check out the website here.
How Could A Company Like 3M Fail Our U.S. Army Veterans So Badly?
Professionally speaking, in order for earplugs to be most effective at protecting your hearing, they have to be used properly and free of any defects.
According to these articles, 3M altered test results of these plugs and knew of design flaws, resulting in these plugs becoming dislodged and allowing breaks in the seal. This will result in susceptibility to excessive noise exposure.
It’s disheartening to think that those that have been trusted to protect our veterans’ hearing have failed them so badly. The only thing we can do as audiologists is help spread awareness and education to ensure that this situation doesn’t occur again.
What Does The Future Hold For Hearing Protection?
My hopes are that the military and companies providing hearing protection will take a closer look at the reliability of their products and ensure this type of thing never happens again.
I think this affects the reputation of 3M more than the overall reputation of hearing protection itself. If anything, this should bring more awareness to the invaluable need to protect one’s hearing.
We would be more than happy to assist these companies with their design from an audiologist point of view. With proper consultation on their part, they can avoid these catastrophic situations and we can provide the care that our veterans and citizens need.
What Other Noisy Environments Are Harmful To Your Ears?
Excessive noise can be anything from lawnmowers to movie theaters to football games. We live in a noisy world and sometimes don’t think a particular situation warrants the need to put earplugs in.
However, over time, or in some cases a split second, your hearing can change. It’s always better to start protecting it now so that regret doesn’t happen later.
More patients of mine come in telling me that they didn’t think they needed hearing protection at the time but wish they would have started it sooner.
Know A Veteran Suffering With A Hearing Loss?
The sooner you have your hearing assessed by an audiologist and start treatment, the better chances you will have at potential relief from tinnitus and less difficulty hearing and understanding.
If you are a veteran with a hearing loss or know of someone who is who has yet to seek help, then encourage them to schedule a comprehensive hearing assessment with an audiologist as soon as possible – they may be eligible for free hearing aids through the VA program.
For those who require hearing protection, we offer customized solutions both in the way of passive protection (earplugs, filtered plugs) and active protection (music monitors, electronic hearing protection for hunters or industrial workers) – please get in touch to find out more and request your custom hearing protection.
We hope you have a blessed Veterans Day.
