Hearing protection: prevention impacts quality of life

  • Published
  • By Capt. Caroline Wellman
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  The number one disability payout in the Air Force is for hearing loss. It's also the one disability that can be prevented if proper hearing protection is worn.

Preventing long-term hearing loss is the goal of the 445th Aerospace Medical Squadron's certified hearing conservationists.

"Proper hearing protection protects individual Airmen, their team members and the business of the Air Force," Senior Master Sgt. Thelma Chubb, the wing's Hearing Conservation Manager, said. "But from the patient's point of view, hearing protection is about quality of life. You don't get hearing back."

Any activity that creates a high-noise level means a person probably needs hearing protection. 

Most wing members are aware that certain functions or duty locations require mandatory hearing protection. Occupational health specialists, using Air Force and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance, determine who in the wing needs hearing protection on the job.

"For the most part, the 445th has a good history of hearing protection use while on duty," the Aerospace Medicine Squadron sergeant said.

The hearing conservationists here also encourage wing members to wear hearing protection and consider how their actions might affect their hearing at home too.
"A good rule of thumb is the 3-Feet Rule," Sergeant Chubb said. "If you can't hear someone three feet away from you over the noise of whatever environment or activity you're engaged in, you're in a high-noise environment and you should have hearing protection."

It's a good idea to wear hearing protection when you're using any sort of motorized equipment, whether to do lawn care or to work on automobiles or even if you use cooking appliances or vacuum cleaners frequently. While the noise levels may not seem overly excessive at the time, they can have negative effects over extended periods.

Sergeant Chubb also warns of the long-term effects of the use of certain technologies like MP3 players and wireless telephone headsets, whose use has increased hearing loss, especially in younger generations.

"We need to be conscious of the technology we're using," Sergeant Chubb said, explaining that the energy from the modern conveniences goes straight into the ear canal and that people often have the volume of these devices set too loudly. "If people around you can hear what you're listening to, the volume is up too loud," she said.

Some Airmen do not follow up on identified hearing loss out of fear that the loss might affect their flying status, their pay or their points.

"We're not here to penalize you," Sergeant Chubb said. "We want to teach you how to take care of yourself, and to prevent further hearing loss, so you can take care of yourself, other Airmen, and the mission. We care about your health. We want you to be able to do your job, but also to enjoy your family, your friends and your children."