Hearing Conservation and Readiness

Last Updated: November 17, 2023
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Hearing exam on Soldier

​​​​Military Hearing Conservation and Readiness Programs reduce the impact of hazardous and occupational noise-exposures to maintain fitness-for-duty and protect mission readiness and situational awareness in training, garrison, and deployed environments. 

Military Hearing Conservation and Readiness Programs:

  • ​Prevent occupationally related noise-induced hearing loss
  • Maintain combat readiness
  • Maintain fitness for duty
  • Retain job or work specialty
  • Reduce cost of hearing loss
  • Promote healthy hearing & quality of life

Major Program Elements:

  • Noise Hazard Assessment
  • Noise Controls
  • Audiometric Monitoring
  • Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs)
  • Hearing Conservation Education
  • Recordkeeping
  • Program Evaluation
  • Readiness
  • Fitness for Duty Evaluations​

Current Topics:

  • Presentation (Aug 2023): Leveraging boothless audiometers to​ implement hearing protection device fit-testing at Military Hearing Conservation clinics
  • Significant updates to Hearing PolicyExternal Link this spring – the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6055.12 “Hearing Conservation Program" update expected to be published in April 2023 will require initial hearing protector fit-testing for all DOD personnel who have documented noise exposure greater than or equal to 95 dBA 8-hour time-weighted average and are enrolled in a service hearing conservation program. This new requirement addresses the of the Centers for Disease Control position that “Fit-testing is an effective, practical, and essential tool for preventing occupational hearing loss." 
  • Defects found in certain 3M CAEv4 earplugs​External Link –​ Service Members and Civilians enrolled in their installation Hearing Program (HP) should check for defects and contact their installation HP Office if replacement is needed. Installation HP staff should ensure CAEv4 earplugs are free of defect prior to any fitting. 


Ne​​ws Articles: 


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Contact us for additional information on Hearing Conservation and Readiness.​