Another real problem to remember, that most people never think about, or even know about (I had no idea), and one thats certainly not limited to the military, is the damage caused by exposure to constant noise of the same (relatively low) volume and frequency. I'm referring to backgroud noise that no one would think is near loud enough to cause any problems at all.The trouble is, thats true, the volume isnt the problem, its the constant exposure to the same fequency.I found this out the hard way from my 5 years in the Navy.The constant exposue to jet engines on the flightline/flightdeck nearby, but being in a hanger or shop where it doesnt seem loud at all, and hearing protecion is not required, and the constant drone of the equipment in my shop(AIMD), has caused me to have noticeble hearing loss. Mostly it just consists of having difficulty understanding what people are saying and distinguishing the words being spoken, as opposed to what one would normally think of as hearing loss.So,for your own sake, be aware oft his problem if you work around machinery that is constantly droning in the background, and are around it all day, every day, even if it doesn't seem loud at all, and just seems like mild background noise.WEAR HEARING PROTECTION anyways, (as long as safety and rules allow, obviously) Dont get surprised like I did.
I never had any problems being able to hear in general as well as ever, per se, so I had no idea I was causing damage, until I started to notice that although I could hear sounds and conversation as well as always, I was having trouble clearly making out the exact words being said.I routinely have to decipher what people are saying, as a lot of times what I think I heard them say, obviously isnt what they said, and I know it, so I have to figure out based on the sound of the words I misunderstood, what words it was they were actually saying.Because of this, I now receive 10% disability from the VA. I have honestly never been particularly comfortable taking, as I feel there are mlitary people with genuine, serious disabilities and wounds who deserve it, not me, but I wasnt really given much choice, as my command figured out the hearing loss during routine screening, and I was actually ORDERED to fill out the VA papers and submit my records prior to being allowed to be dischared. Oh well, I use the little bit of money I get from it to donate to veteran's organizaions, and to pay my membrship in the American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans (as membership dues help fund thier programs), which I feel are very worthy causes, and aleviate my guilty feelings.
As a funny side note though, I will say it can kind of make life a bit humourous, as my misunderstning of what people say sometimes ends up with them sonding like they said some SERIOUSLY funny stuff, so I guess at least I get to laugh at it a little. Case in point, during my specialized hearing testing for this with the VA, the audiologist puts me in a both, and reads words off a list, and I was to repeat what I thought the word was.Well, this woman has anti-Iraq war propoganda ALL OVER her office, and had told me to tell her what words I thought I heard NO MATTER what, even if I knew what I heard was obviously wrong. Well, I have no idea what word she actualy said, but the word I heard, and had to reapeat to the woman who had ranted about the military, government, and war on terror to me, was the most hated word by females, that rhymes wth "bunt"
. The look on her face was kinda priceless, and hey, she said to repeat what I heard, adn I swear, that's what I heard, so., I just did what I was told....