NEW! The Virtual Medical Library Hearing and Balance Specialty Guide is now live!
The virtual medical library Hearing and Balance Specialty Guide provides access to high-quality, evidence-based medical, nursing, and allied health information resources for Military Health System personnel. It is broken down into subtopics (i.e., NIHL, tinnitus, BA, APD, etc.) and each subtopic has information pertaining to various resources, books and articles, reports and presentations, and working groups.
The Defense Health Agency's Hearing Center of Excellence works to improve hearing and balance health.
Our Goals
- Improve hearing health
- Enhance operational performance
- Optimize readiness
- Enhance service members and veterans quality of life
We work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to achieve our goals in partnership with:
- Federal health care organizations
- Universities
- Public and private institutions
Congressional Mandate
The HCE was created by Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 to address military hearing injuries. This work includes:
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Mitigation
- Treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Research
Our primary focus and responsibilities include:
- Developing a data registry to track military hearing loss and auditory injuries
- Encouraging and facilitating hearing health research
- Developing best practices and clinical education
- Promoting and implementing hearing loss prevention strategies
Our Structure
We're a section of the DHA Medical Affairs Directorate. We're led by a branch chief and deputy branch chief. We have service audiology liaisons from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. They connect HCE to the field to address operational needs and problems.
Our Services
Clinicians and Technicians Resources
HCE Research and Collaboration
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Calendar Event
April 17, 2026
This clinical recommendation training provides medical staff with a single, comprehensive reference for the assessment and management of dizziness and visual disturbances following mild TBI.
Article
March 13, 2026
Four Soldiers from Munson Army Health Center recently traveled to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to complete specialized training and earn certification through the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation, expanding Fort Leavenworth’s capability to conduct hearing screenings that support medical readiness and environmental health.
Publication
Feb. 4, 2026
.PDF |
1.15 MB
This clinical recommendation provides medical staff with a single, comprehensive reference for the assessment and management of dizziness and visual disturbances following mild TBI. Dizziness and visual disturbances often present with overlapping symptoms and should prompt a provider to perform a visual and dizziness — or vestibular — assessment.
Fact Sheet
Dec. 17, 2025
.PDF |
554.64 KB
Service member focused: Hearing Loss is not part of the job. With proper protection, hearing loss is preventable
Fact Sheet
Dec. 17, 2025
.PDF |
812.66 KB
Hearing loss can impact your next career. Wear hearing protection both on and off duty
Fact Sheet
Dec. 17, 2025
.PDF |
357.67 KB
You protect their hearing. Remember to protect yours
Spotlight
May 1, 2026
The Department of Defense considers protecting, treating, and optimizing brain health a top priority.
Fact Sheet
July 14, 2025
.PDF |
516.13 KB
Don’t be the weak link. Failure to wear hearing protection puts you, your unit, and your mission in danger.
Article
June 25, 2025
This "Ask the Doc" entry focuses on hearing and vision issues, such as tinnitus or eye floaters.
Fact Sheet
Feb. 19, 2025
.PDF |
3.87 MB
This report provides a consistent method of reporting data on DOD and service-level Hearing Conservation Programs using standard measures of effectiveness as defined by DODI 6055.12. DOD Hearing Conservation Working Group, Defense Center for Public Health-Dayton, and the DOD Hearing Center of Excellence collaborate to provide information on HCP ...
Video
Jan. 16, 2025
When it comes to hearing protector fit testing, aiming for your Target Personal Attenuation Rating is the target you want to hit. Learn what it is and how to achieve your Target PAR. Learn more about the Hearing Center of Excellence at health.mil/HCE
Fact Sheet
Dec. 30, 2024
.PDF |
136.91 KB
Low-gain hearing aids are programmed to provide just a small amount of amplification, or “boost”, to sounds around you.
Clinical Practice Guideline
Nov. 26, 2024
.PDF |
250.52 KB
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) Strategic Healthcare Group was directed by the Under Secretary for Health to establish a Prosthetic Clinical Management Program (PCMP). The objectives were to coordinate the development of clinical practice recommendations (CPRs) for prosthetic prescription practices and ...
Fact Sheet
Nov. 26, 2024
.PDF |
330.10 KB
Hearing protector fit testing is a procedure used to quantitively measure the amount of noise reduction a specific hearing protector is providing a user. Fit testing measures the personal attenuation rating (PAR) specific to each individual ear and hearing protector. The PAR is a real-world measurement of the overall attenuation the hearing protector ...
Clinical Practice Guideline
Nov. 25, 2024
.PDF |
484.74 KB
Adherence to the treatment guidance on SSNHL found in this CPG can aid in standardization, to a certain extent, and foster value for both the patient and healthcare system. Quality of patient care is of increasing importance in the US healthcare system and will continue to frame important discussions on healthcare utilization and delivery. Diagnosis ...
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Last Updated: May 22, 2026