Prevention works: Hearing loss decimated in the military

Over 160 decibels is produced by the shot from an assault rifle at the shooter's ear. Despite the short duration of impact, the loud bang can cause permanent hearing damage. By comparison, average road traffic noise reaches sound levels of 70 to 80 decibels, and a chainsaw 105 decibels. If the hearing is exposed to sound levels above 85 decibels for a longer period of time, it will be permanently damaged.

Traumatic hearing damage after military service was widespread among Swiss soldiers for a long time. Today, the risk of a militia soldier suffering hearing damage during service is about ten times lower than it was before 1990. The reason for the decline is various preventive measures taken by the army and the military insurance (MV) over the past 30 years, as recent evaluations by the MV show.

First it bangs, then it whistles

In the mid-1960s, studies showed that one in five normal-hearing recruits was profoundly deaf after recruit school. But only a few of those affected reported their condition to the military insurance. Statistics at the time showed about 500 cases annually. "Presumably, at that time, the men simply adjusted to the fact that there would be a bang during military service and that you would have a whistling in your ears afterwards," says Stefan A. Dettwiler, head of military insurance. "For some, the complaints didn't set in until later."

Insufficient protection

Until the 1970s, hearing protection measures during firing exercises consisted mainly of ear plugs developed by the army itself. Theoretically, these were supposed to "block shooting noise, but let commands through. Starting in 1974, soldiers could additionally wear ear muffs. However, these were unsuitable for use in the field because the capsules did not fit under the helmet.

In addition to poor or no hearing protection, the first assault rifle was the main cause of increasing hearing damage. It deflected more shooting noise back to the shooter's ear than the carbine. This led to an increase in hearing damage to 700 annually by 1987. A reason to act.

Personal Pamir

At the end of the 80s, the army introduced the well-known Pamir: Hearing protection capsules that the soldier could wear even when wearing a helmet. This Pamir was given to each soldier upon entering service, along with the new expansion foam ear plugs. "By giving out this personalized set, every single soldier was put on notice to protect their ears," Dettwiler says. "That was an important step." Prior to that, troops received the hearing protectors and it was the supervisor's responsibility to ensure they were handed out or used. In addition, the Military Accident Prevention Commission launched the "Wear Hearing Protection" campaign. All these measures had an effect. Today, the MV still registers around 50 hearing injuries each year. These are often injuries that occurred ten or more years ago. At the end of 2016, the MA discontinued its regular hearing examinations of professional military personnel. It found that hearing damage occurred exclusively after accidents, not because of the lack of hearing protection.

MV's 2016 business results: stable costs, fewer cases

In 2016, the MA paid a total of around CHF 190 million in insurance benefits - mostly for cases involving military, civil defense or civilian service personnel. That is 3 million less than in the previous year. "The stable medical costs with almost 3 percent more cases are pleasing," says Stefan A. Dettwiler, head of the MV. Across all insured categories, around 31,000 cases of illness and just under 10,000 accidents were registered. Militiamen fell ill in just under 17,000 cases and were injured in an accident around 6,500 times.

The MA has compiled all the facts and figures on the 2016 insurance year, as well as more information on the topic of prevention, in this year's edition of the Military Insurance Statistics. This is available at www.suva.ch/4514.d/17   available.

The military insurance

Suva manages military insurance on behalf of the Swiss Confederation. The insurance covers persons who perform missions within the framework of security and peace services. These are military, civil defense and civilian service personnel, participants in federal peacekeeping operations, members of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit [SHA] as well as professional and temporary military personnel. The object of military insurance is illness and accidents. All physical, mental and psychological injuries that occur during service and deployments or are attributable to service are insured. Military insurance is financed by the federal government, through premiums (active and retired professional military and temporary military) and recourse income. Further information on military insurance can be found at www.militärversicherung.ch .

The military insurance statistics

Military insurance is an independent branch of the Swiss social insurance system. Therefore, its results are of public interest and are published annually. The "Military Insurance Statistics" provide comprehensive figures on the insurance portfolio, claims and military insurance benefits. The 2017 edition of the Military Insurance Statistics is available in German and French. It can be ordered free of charge or downloaded at www.suva.ch/4514.d/17  .