Skip subpage navigation
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 branch of the DHA Research and Engineering 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
You also may be interested in...
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
94.25 KB
Operational performance and quality of life can be impacted by tinnitus, which is the #1 service-connected disability. A multi-disciplinary approach is key to managing patients with bothersome tinnitus. For this Quality Improvement Project, the team sent out the Understanding Practices of Tinnitus Collaborative Survey (UPTiCS) to VA and DoD providers ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
113.40 KB
This practice recommendation was initially created for primary care providers, but can be used by any clinician who sees patients with tinnitus. It is a summary of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for tinnitus. The information provided in the document helps clinicians talk with patients about various types of tinnitus and deter-mine ...
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
441.49 KB
Graphic representation of the USA locations of the members that represent the CAVRN Network.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
75.35 KB
The PTM Patient Workbook was published in 2010, and updates are needed. VA and DoD clinicians (from audiology and mental health) were interviewed to understand how to best update the PTM materials.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
109.92 KB
The PTM Clinician Handbook was published in 2010, and updates are needed. VA and
DoD audiologists and mental health providers were interviewed to understand how to
best update the PTM materials.
Fact Sheet
Nov 7, 2024
.PDF |
124.73 KB
The DOEHRS-HC Tinnitus Question information sheet was created to educate and guide DoD Hearing Conservation Technicians about tinnitus and correct recording in the DOEHRS-HC system
Article
Oct 24, 2024
While balance disorders can affect almost anyone, service members are at greater risk for certain types of inner ear damage that can affect balance.
Video
Sep 30, 2024
Regulations now require hearing protector fit testing for all at-risk perpersonelonal. Watch to learn why.
Article
Jun 3, 2024
Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory Regional Hearing Conservation Program was selected as a 2024 Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Team awardee on May 6, 2024.
Article
Jun 1, 2024
Vision and hearing heath are crucial to mission readiness and success, both on and off duty.
Clinical Practice Guideline
Jun 1, 2024
This CPG provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating and managing care for adults with bothersome tinnitus toward improving clinical outcomes.
Article
May 31, 2024
What you need to hear about the expanded hearing protection fit testing requirement.
Video
May 31, 2024
This is how to properly use foam ear plugs or hearing protection.
1. Roll the ear plug
2. Hold you ear open while you insert the ear plug
3. wait for the foam to fully expand
Video
May 31, 2024
Fit testing is where we take measurements without hearing protection and then take measurements again with hearing protection to measure how much attenuation of noise the earplugs, earmuffs or ear protectors are actually providing.
Learn more about the Hearing Center of Excellence at health.mil/HCE
Article
May 23, 2024
For U.S. Air Force Capt. Emily Lee and U.S. Air Force Capt. Jacqueline Anderson, life experiences highlighting the significance of being able to hear—one of the five senses many people may take for granted—led them to their current roles as audiologists at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
You are leaving Health.mil
The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense of non-U.S. Government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the Defense Health Agency may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for Department of Defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.
You are leaving Health.mil
View the external links disclaimer.
Last Updated: December 05, 2024