Noteboom The Law Firm

Tinnitus Rampant Among Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans

December 30, 2010 - Much has been written about the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the various physical ailments they suffer from. Reports ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to blindness to multiple amputations dominate headlines. What is almost never in the headlines as being a problem for soldiers and veterans is tinnitus. Yet, among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, it is the most wide-spread service-connected disability.

Close to 640,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have tinnitus. The condition has been described as hearing 1,000 crickets at the same time, in a high-pitched tone, and in each ear. Additionally, almost any common, every day sound can trigger tinnitus, such as:

• Barking dogs;
• Clanking dishes; or
• Slamming doors.

What may be the worst thing about tinnitus is that there is no cure. There are treatments available, and they will vary depending on how severe each veteran's condition has become. For some the ringing is unbearable and incapacitating, whereas for others it is nothing more than a small inconvenience. Using Progressive Tinnitus Management, treatments will range from something as simple as counseling to devices used in the veterans' ears to create white noise.

The climbing number of tinnitus cases has forced the Department of Defense (DoD) to start using a new device designed to stop loud noises from being let into their ear while allowing everyday sounds to pass through. The federal government spends somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 billion every year treating tinnitus. In 2005, it spent less than half that amount.