Statistical Analysis of Hearing Loss Among Navy Personnel
Abstract
Permanent hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities among sailors. Although noise-induced injury is preventable by limiting exposure, it is generally irreversible once it occurs. In 2004 the Veterans Administration (VA) spent $108 Million dollars in disability payments to 15.8 thousand former Navy personnel for hearing loss. This represents an increase of $65 Million in spending by the VA on Navy hearing disability payments since 1999. The focus of this study is to find out how hearing loss relates to service time spent aboard ships, in order to reduce disabilities and costs. Over a career in the US Navy, Service Members characteristically are posted to a variety of stations, both afloat and ashore. Many of these posts have high noise levels, such as certain ships; and particular ratings have high exposure, such as jobs near machinery. If assignments of higher risk both in location and tasking can be identified, then focused prevention programs can be implemented, such as closer monitoring of all personnel, preventive measures in key high risk locations and ratings, focused noise control in ship design, and perhaps better rotational schedules. All these preventative methods may reduce damage to the hearing of Navy personnel. This will preserve quality of life for personnel, and save millions of dollars for government.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA542344
Entities
People
- Geoffrey B. Shaw
- Robert P. Trost
Organizations
- Center for Naval Analyses