The Defense Health Agency's Hearing Center of Excellence works to improve hearing and balance health.
Our Goals
- Improve hearing health
- Enhance operational performance
- Optimize readiness
- Enhance service members and veterans quality of life
We work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to achieve our goals in partnership with:
- Federal health care organizations
- Universities
- Public and private institutions
Congressional Mandate
The HCE was created by Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 to address military hearing injuries. This work includes:
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Mitigation
- Treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Research
Our primary focus and responsibilities include:
- Developing a data registry to track military hearing loss and auditory injuries
- Encouraging and facilitating hearing health research
- Developing best practices and clinical education
- Promoting and implementing hearing loss prevention strategies
Our Structure
We're a branch of the DHA Research and Engineering Directorate. We're led by a branch chief and deputy branch chief. We have service audiology liaisons from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. They connect HCE to the field to address operational needs and problems.
Our Services
Clinicians and Technicians Resources
HCE Research and Collaboration
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Clinical Practice Guideline
Nov 25, 2024
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484.74 KB
Adherence to the treatment guidance on SSNHL found in this CPG can aid in standardization, to a certain extent, and foster value for both the patient and healthcare system. Quality of patient care is of increasing importance in the US healthcare system and will continue to frame important discussions on healthcare utilization and delivery. Diagnosis ...
Clinical Practice Guideline
Nov 25, 2024
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555.82 KB
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Foundation published a clinical practice guideline (CPG) in March of 2019 that defined sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) as: - An acute sensorineural loss of hearing over 72 hours, - A decrease of at least 30 decibels (dB) in three (3) consecutive frequencies, - Audiogram ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 25, 2024
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25.58 KB
Speech Intelligibility graphic of low to high intelligibility at 86dBA
Clinical Practice Guideline
Nov 20, 2024
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365.24 KB
The vestibular working group was tasked by the VA Audiology Field Advisory Council to develop vestibular clinical practice recommendations for use by VA Audiologists. Members of the working group are listed above and include audiologists with clinical vestibular expertise from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and a ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 20, 2024
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4.34 MB
Some of the Deepest Wounds are Invisible. Arm your ears. Guard against permanent disability and safeguard sounds you cherish. Wear hearing protection.
Fact Sheet
Nov 20, 2024
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Don’t be the weak link. Failure to wear hearing protection puts you, your unit, and your mission in danger.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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Operational performance and quality of life can be impacted by tinnitus, which is the #1 service-connected disability. A multi-disciplinary approach is key to managing patients with bothersome tinnitus. For this Quality Improvement Project, the team sent out the Understanding Practices of Tinnitus Collaborative Survey (UPTiCS) to VA and DoD providers ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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113.40 KB
This practice recommendation was initially created for primary care providers, but can be used by any clinician who sees patients with tinnitus. It is a summary of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for tinnitus. The information provided in the document helps clinicians talk with patients about various types of tinnitus and deter-mine ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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75.35 KB
The PTM Patient Workbook was published in 2010, and updates are needed. VA and DoD clinicians (from audiology and mental health) were interviewed to understand how to best update the PTM materials.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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Graphic representation of the USA locations of the members that represent the CAVRN Network.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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The PTM Clinician Handbook was published in 2010, and updates are needed. VA and
DoD audiologists and mental health providers were interviewed to understand how to
best update the PTM materials.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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124.73 KB
The DOEHRS-HC Tinnitus Question information sheet was created to educate and guide DoD Hearing Conservation Technicians about tinnitus and correct recording in the DOEHRS-HC system
Article
Oct 24, 2024
While balance disorders can affect almost anyone, service members are at greater risk for certain types of inner ear damage that can affect balance.
Video
Sep 30, 2024
Regulations now require hearing protector fit testing for all at-risk perpersonelonal. Watch to learn why.
Article
Jun 3, 2024
Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory Regional Hearing Conservation Program was selected as a 2024 Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Team awardee on May 6, 2024.
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Last Updated: December 05, 2024