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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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This report provides a consistent method of reporting data on DOD and service-level Hearing Conservation Programs using standard measures of effectiveness as defined by DODI 6055.12. DOD Hearing Conservation Working Group, Defense Center for Public Health-Dayton, and the DOD Hearing Center of Excellence collaborate to provide information on HCP ...
Fact Sheet
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Fact Sheet
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Fact Sheet
Nov 25, 2024
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Speech Intelligibility graphic of low to high intelligibility at 86dBA
Fact Sheet
Nov 20, 2024
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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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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 ...
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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
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The PTM Clinician Handbook was published in 2010, and updates are needed. VA and
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Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
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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
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Jan 9, 2024
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Significant updates to the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6055.12 “Hearing Conservation Program” are expected to be published in April 2023. The significant change is a new requirement for initial hearing protector fit-testing to be conducted for all DOD personnel who have documented noise exposure greater than or equal to 95 dBA 8-hour time ...
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Last Updated: December 05, 2024