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✦ The Dispatch

Hearing loss, tinnitus appear earlier and are more severe in veterans, study finds

A dispatch from Hearing Practitioner Australia — filed

Older male veteran in camouflage uniform saluting outdoors, with other veterans and American flags visible in the background.
✦ PlateOlder male veteran in camouflage uniform saluting outdoors, with other veterans and American flags visible in the background.

Hearing loss affected almost 86% of US veterans in the national cohort. Image: Keetazalay/stock.adobe.com. Hearing loss and tinnitus are highly prevalent among veterans and appear to occur earlier and with greater severity than in a clinic-based civilian cohort, a large study shows....

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists seeing veteran patients should anticipate earlier onset and greater severity of both hearing loss and tinnitus compared to civilian norms, and may need to adjust screening thresholds and rehabilitation planning accordingly for this population.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

This large-cohort study quantifies the disproportionate hearing health burden carried by veterans, reinforcing the need for veteran-specific screening protocols and earlier audiological intervention in military and VA-affiliated settings.

✦ Key Points ✦
  1. 01Approximately 86% of US veterans in a national cohort were found to have hearing loss.
  2. 02Both hearing loss and tinnitus onset occurred earlier in veterans than in a clinic-based civilian cohort.
  3. 03Hearing loss and tinnitus severity were greater in veterans than in civilian comparators.
  4. 04Findings highlight a need for tailored audiological care and earlier screening in veteran populations.
  5. 05Study used a large national cohort, strengthening the generalisability of findings.
✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

Approximately 86% of US veterans in the national cohort were affected by hearing loss.

studysupported

Hearing loss appears earlier in veterans than in a clinic-based civilian cohort.

studysupported

Tinnitus appears earlier and is more severe in veterans than in a clinic-based civilian cohort.

studysupported

Hearing loss severity is greater in veterans compared to civilian clinic-based patients.

studysupported
✦ Research metadata ✦
Publication type
research_article
Evidence level
2b
Population
US military veterans from a national cohort compared to a clinic-based civilian cohort
Intervention
Observational assessment of hearing loss and tinnitus prevalence, onset age, and severity in veterans
Comparator
Clinic-based civilian cohort

Primary outcomes

Prevalence of hearing loss in veterans; Age of onset of hearing loss and tinnitus; Severity of hearing loss and tinnitus compared to civilians

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