Army Hearing Program

Designed to ensure Soldiers have the required hearing capability to perform their job-specific duties, as well as the appropriate and properly-fitted hearing protection devices for their mission. The primary purpose of hearing readiness is to identify early changes in hearing and provide education, individual counseling, and hearing protection to prevent damage to hearing. A key element of hearing readiness is monitoring audiometry, which is conducted with the current Department of Defense (DoD)-approved microprocessor audiometer system comprised of the DOEHRS–HC software application, the current DoD-approved audiometer, and the DOEHRS–HC Data Repository Web-based Application. All Soldiers are required to undergo an annual DOEHRS–HC audiogram. Monitoring audiometry data is made available through Medical Protection System, thus providing the capability for monitoring and tracking of hearing for both individual and unit-level hearing readiness.
 

Please Note: If you are Hearing Readiness Class 3A - 4C, please report to the Fort Bragg Hearing Program for follow-up. 

Hearing Readiness Class 1 or 2

Indicates the Soldier is medical ready/available.

Hearing Readiness Class 3A

Complete Audiological Evaluation not complete.

Hearing Readiness Class 3B

The DA Form 3349 in e-Profile is not complete, but the audiological evaluation has been completed.

Hearing Readiness Class 3C

The MAR2 is not complete, but the audiological evaluation and DA Form 3349 in e-Profile have been completed.

Hearing Readiness Class 3D

The MAR2 find the Soldier does not meet readiness and/or deployment standards for hearing.

Hearing Readiness Class 3E

Soldier meets HRC2 standards, but does not have required hearing aid(s) and at least a 6-month supply of batteries on hand.

Hearing Readiness Class 4A

Date last test greater than 13 months and not HRC3*.

Hearing Readiness Class 4B

The Soldier has received a DOEHRS-HC audiogram within the last 13 months; however, an STS has been identified, and a follow-up test is required.

Hearing Readiness Class 4C

The Soldier demonstrated a STS and did not complete follow-up testing within 90-days of the periodic hearing test.

Intended to determine a Soldier’s auditory fitness-for-duty by determining the degree and cause of hearing loss and measuring a Soldier’s hearing ability against a performance or medical standard. Clinical hearing services for at risk Department of the Army Civilians who are exposed to hazardous noise are intended to determine work-relatedness of hearing loss. After degree and cause have been determined, treatment and management plans can be initiated. Treatment plans may include medical or surgical intervention, prescription of personal hearing aids, assistive listening devices, aural rehabilitation, tinnitus management, new hearing protection or monitoring of the condition for changes.

The focus is preventing or mitigating noise-induced hearing loss during military operations while maintaining or facilitating the Soldiers’ ability to communicate. Operational hearing services focus on noise assessment and abatement strategies, improved communication, and the use of specialized hearing protection devices, such as non-linear and linear dual-function earplugs designed to reduce the impact of noise and noise-induced hearing loss on military operations. Tactical Communications and Protective Systems are designed to amplify low-volume sounds and facilitate face-to-face and radio communications while simultaneously protecting the ear from hazardous impulse noise, such as weapons fire. These types of devices protect hearing in both operational training and combat environments while allowing Soldiers to maintain their ability to hear and communicate, especially in dismounted operations.

For many years, the AHP served as the flagship for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The hearing conservation component of the AHP is industrial-focused and is instrumental in preventing NIHL in primarily fixed-facility work environments. Hearing conservation efforts are conducted in support of both the Department of the Army (DA) civilian workforce and soldiers working in industrial-based settings. While hearing conservation requirements continue to exist in their previous form and function, they now serve in concert with additional AHP components to provide comprehensive hearing loss prevention and hearing health promotion program.