Military Audiology
Readiness thru Hearing Conservation
Briefing Outline
- Mission and Vision
- DoD Audiology Goals
- Benefits of Military Audiologists
- Readiness thru Hearing Conservation
- Additional Audiology Missions
- Managed Care
- Building Healthy Communities
DoD Audiology Mission
To Ensure Operational Readiness to the Fighting Force and Quality-of-Life to Eligible Beneficiaries by Providing Cost-Effective Hearing Health Care through State-of-the-Art Audiological Services, Including Prevention, Medical Surveillance, Education, and Research.
DoD Audiology Vision
Strategically Place Military Audiologists to Support the Fighting Force for Success on the Modern Battlefield. Recognize Military Audiologists as Primary Experts and Providers of Hearing Health Care. Promote Education and Research to Enhance Operational Readiness.
DoD Audiology Goals
- Promote Readiness thru Hearing Conservation
- Manage Hearing Health Care for Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors Through Audiological Evaluations for Early Identification of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
- Build Healthy Communities Through Hearing Conservation, Clinical Audiology, and Community Health Education
Benefits of A Military Audiologist
- Knowledge of Military Missions
- Ability to Interact with Line Officers
- Superior Understanding of Specific Military Noise
- Ability to Gain Trust and Confidence of Junior Enlisted
- Support to Guard and Reserve Mirror Force Missions
- CAOHC Certified Course Director
- Flexible Work Hours
- Tri-Service Deployment of DOHRS-HC
- Stringent Regulatory Compliance; OSHA, DoDI, and Service Specific Instructions
DoD Hearing Conservation Program
- Medical Readiness
- Force Multiplier
- Program Management
- Prevention
- Education
- Surveillance
- Largest HCP Data Warehouse
Readiness
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Additional Audiology Care for Military Service Members
- Diagnostic Audiology Services
- Follow-up Evaluations for STS
- Site of Lesion Testing
- Identification of Malingerers
- Monitoring and Documenting Hearing Profiles
- Fitness for Duty Evaluations
Audiology Care for Military Family Members
- Clinical Audiology Services to Family Members and Retired Personnel
- Retiree Hearing Aid Purchase Program
- Universal Newborn Hearing Screenings
- Support ENT, OH, Flight Medicine, and Other Clinics
- Work/Equipment Sharing with Veterans Administration
Audiology Care In Building Healthy Communities
- Hearing Loss Prevention Programs - Operation BANG (Be Aware of Noise Generation)
- Hearing Loss Screening Programs
- Infant
- School Age
- Health Fair
- Occupational Hearing Conservation Programs for the Civilian Workforce - Comprehensive Program Management
Military Audiologists Summary
- Are Uniquely "Suited"
- Increase Fighting Force Readiness
- Provide Comprehensive HCP Management
- Provide Full Spectrum Audiology Support
DoD HC Program Elements
- Noise Hazard Identification and Engineering Controls
- Hearing Protectors
- Monitoring Audiometry
- Health Education
- Enforcement
- Program Evaluation
Annual Cost Analysis
Other Ideas
- Prevalence Study
- 24% Reduced H-3 Profiles
Credits
Maj Joe Narrigan, USAF
Chief, Hearing Conservation
Office of the Surgeon General
Bolling AFB, DC 20332
