Guest Editorial: Computer-based hearing loss prevention education program for Veterans and military personnel

According to the Veterans Benefits Administration, more than 672,000 Veterans were service-connected for hearing loss and more than 744,000 Veterans were service-connected for tinnitus as of fiscal year 2010 [1]. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the most prevalent disabilities experienced by Veterans who served during peacetime, Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, World War II, and the Korean war. In fiscal year 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provided 561,212 hearing aids at an estimated cost of $196.7 million and audiological services to Veterans at a cost of $227.4 million.1 Therefore, hearing loss and tinnitus prevention should be a priority for the VA. At least one type of hearing loss—noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)—can be prevented if appropriate protective strategies are implemented.