Ear protection for military
I understand that once you loose your hearing you cant get it back. this might be a stupid question, and I know there are many other things for them to worry about, but do we supply them with ear protection?
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Yes.
If you are walking the streets of Iraq....would you wear hearing protection? You need to hear everything. Battle breaks out and the next thing you know your buddy has his M4 firing off right next to your head and mortars start hitting the ground around you.
You can't be safe in war. There is inherit risk.0 -
You are issued earplugs, but in some environments they are more harm than good. For infantry they are a liability. One genius thing that the army has started doign is installing intercom systems in humvees. This allows humvee crews to utilize tanker style headsets. These allow the crew to have some measure of ear protection from gunfire and blasts and still maintain commo throughout the vehicle. 0 -
When we launch the B-52, we're required to wear double hearing protection, both provided. The down side, the guy who's on head sets in communication with the pilot can't hear anything the pilot says if he has his required ear plugs in too. We usually cheat by only inserting our earplugs half way or less so when we have the head sets on, we can shake our head and the ear plugs fall out. Its a stupid reg, written in the 70's, hearing protection is better now a days and double isn't necessary. Getting the reg rewritten is nearly impossible. 0 -
I was a grunt in Viet Nam. We never thought about hearing protection. I have hearing loss. I don't think we'd have used it if it was supplied. The artillerymen did use protection, hands over ears and cigarette filters were commonly employed. 0 -
Most of us go deaf anyway. 0 -
I had hearing loss before my time in the army, now there are complete tones that I cannot hear. Thats what happens when your whole life is based around things that make a ton of noise like all of my hobbies:
Shooting
Drag Racing
Open Road Racing
Flying
Music
I don't think I ever wore hearing protection before I was 18 and that was just to shoot High Power or Speed Challange, I never wore it while racing or flying. It's no wonder I can't hear much today0 -
im 30% disabled with 65% hearing loss due to parachuting. cant plug your ears...they have to stay clear as you fall and decompress. wind whistling at 200mph for 22 years did me in....oh and the flight deck noise too, early on. james said it right. you get old anyway...and sometimes its nice NOT to hear 1/2 the stuff in this world anyway. somehow, ive come accustom to it. 0 -
Huh? I can't hear you. Speak up. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by PATBUZZARD
You are issued earplugs, but in some environments they are more harm than good. For infantry they are a liability. One genius thing that the army has started doign is installing intercom systems in humvees. This allows humvee crews to utilize tanker style headsets. These allow the crew to have some measure of ear protection from gunfire and blasts and still maintain commo throughout the vehicle.
"Some measure" only nicks the mark. Those things can muffle any gunfire. That might lead one to think that the truck crews can't hear ANYTHING going on around them. On the contrary: they have built in external stereo microphones that you can turn on and off at will that allow you to hear what's going on around you.0 -
I was a Mortarman. Earplugs were issued to us, but we generally only wore them in one ear, the one closest to the gun.
If you wore both you couldn't hear the fire commands.
My hearing is pretty much shot. No big deal though, small price to pay. Many have given much more to their country.0 -
With the new electronic earmuffs, (we use em at the range) you can block out the noise from the guns but still hear people when they talk to ya..They are also adjustable . 0 -
Maybe I can shed some light on this. (BTW, I've been lurking for some months now but this is my first contribution.)
As I understand it, earplugs are issued and should be used properly. Some branches are going to the "active noise control" earmuffs which cancel out the sounds under the earmuffs, which are very effective. The electronic earplugs (i.e. walkers game ear) or earmuffs amplify the sound around enough to compensate for the loss of hearing caused by the earmuffs, with an output limiter on them to shut off instantaneously (O mSec attack time) any loud sound over say 100 dB.
For reference, this may be interesting:
Sound: Peak decibel level at ear level
normal conversation: 55 dB
chainsaw: 95 dB
22 cal rifle: 135 dB
30-06 cal rifle: 150+ dB
12 ga. shotgun: 155+ dB
jet engine @ 100 ft.: 125+ dB
I don't have any data for artillery, mainly because most sound level meters only measure up to 150 decibels, but I would guarantee any artillery shell would peg the meter at the launcher's/shooter's/operator's station. Also, the loudest car stereo I measured pegged my meter also. After only about 15 seconds inside the car I had to exit because it physically caused pain.
Earplug give at best about 30 dB or protection, earmuffs about the same. Even with both in place correctly you will only get about 35, maybe 40 dB of protection. But, it is different protection: earplugs protect best again the actual noise, while earmuffs protect best against the physical soundwave blast. My recommendation is to always use both when possible. I understand that in combat/high risk situations it may not always be possible. You should still find reasons TO wear them not reasons NOT TO wear them.
If you are in the military make sure that you get a hearing test done prior to discharge and insist on keeping a copy if at all possible. It may not be a bad idea to go get your hearing tested by an audiologist immediately after discharge as well to document any hearing loss, severity of ringing in the ears (tinnitus) etc. in case you decide, 20 years down the road, to pull disability. Even if you don't want $$ for the disablity the VA (for now anyway) might provide you with hearing aids, which can save you $2000-5000 every 6-7 years or so.
If you have lost your hearing, get hearing aids and get it fixed. I don't know why so many old guys refuse to get hearing aids when they really need them. Maybe they don't want to look old, but apparently looking stupid when you can't follow a conversation is preferable[:D]. Yes, they are expensive, but they improve your lifestyle and personal relationships.
BTW, I am an Audiologist, hunter, shooter, and archer, among other things.0
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