A Review of Hearing Conservation Program
in Military Services: US Army Hearing Program

Na, Wondo; Han, Woojae

doi:2016.12.1.1

Audiology and Speech Research > Volume 12(1); 2016 > Article

Review Paper

Audiology and Speech Research 2016;12(1): 1-11.
Published online: January 31, 2016.
doi: http://doi.org/10.21848/asr.2016.12.1.1

군부대의 청력보존프로그램에 관한 고찰: 미군을 중심으로

나원도¹, 한우재²

¹한림대학교 일반대학원 언어병리청각학과
²한림대학교 자연과학대학 언어청각학부, 청각언어연구소

A Review of Hearing Conservation Program in Military Services: US Army Hearing Program

Wondo Na¹, Woojae Han²

¹Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea
²Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Research Institute of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea

Correspondence

Woojae Han ,Tel: +82-33-248-2216, Fax: +82-33-256-3420, Email: woojaehan@hallym.ac.kr

Received: November 30, 2015; Revised: December 18, 2015 Accepted: January 5, 2016. Published online: January 31, 2016.

ABSTRACT

Purpose:
It is acknowledged that impact of noise in the military should be considered due to exposure to the high intensity levels which occur noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Paradoxically, healthy hearing is a vital role in the performance of a soldier and is important for speech communication during the combat.
Method:
This review paper introduces the current US army hearing program including techniques and procedures that govern the prevention of the noise-induced hearing loss in the soldiers and ensure their maximum combat effectiveness.
Results:
It generally consists of four elements, namely hearing readiness, clinical hearing service, operational hearing service, and hearing conservation. First of all, hearing readiness is to measure the soldier’s hearing threshold as a baseline and classify him into appropriate job position. Clinical hearing service is to diagnose a degree of hearing loss and then decide its temporal or permanent loss with detailed clinical measurements. In the operational hearing service, noise abatement strategies and ideal noise levels for engineering controls are included. Hearing conservation is related to identification of hazardous noise and effective use of hearing protector.
Conclusion:
Like the US army hearing program, we need to serve the hearing conservation program with technical and administrative guidance for preventing the noise-induced hearing loss of young soldiers, in advance, in Korea.

Key Words: Noise in military, Army hearing program, Hearing conservation program, Noise-induced hearing loss.

중심단어: 군대 소음· 군 청력프로그램· 청력보존프로그램· 소음성난청.