Afghanistan soldiers blighted by hearing difficulties
Many soldiers returning from Afghanistan are suffering severe hearing difficulties, it was revealed today.
The Times newspaper claimed today nearly one in ten soldiers serving with one regiment have returned with damage to their hearing.
It carried out a freedom of information request revealing 37 of the 411 soldiers in the Grenadier Guards have severe hearing problems.
And early 240 of 691 soldiers serving with the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglians were reported to be suffering hearing difficulties.
Angela King of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People said: “Repeated exposure to gunfire, even if it doesn’t do traumatic mechanical damage, could lead to permanent hearing loss because of damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear.”
There are fears many returning service personnel may find it difficult to return to active service or get civilian jobs as a result.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the government was preparing a response.
