Lost Voices: A Royal British Legion Report on Hearing Problems among Service Personnel and Veterans

Summary: Legion research indicates that UK veterans under the age of 75 are about three and a half times more likely than the general population to report difficulty hearing. This report argues that working-age veterans with Service induced hearing loss should be eligible for ‘special treatment’, in accordance with the underlying principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. Our three main recommendations are for the Government to; enable working-age veterans to access higher grade hearing aids, including ‘in the ear’ aids, and ensure that all veterans can have their MOD-issued aids serviced and replaced at no cost; compensate Service personnel and veterans properly for the harm caused by military Service to their hearing, accounting not only for the damage caused during Service, but also for the difference between the hearing abilities of a veteran of a particular age compared with their non-veteran counterparts; and commit to long term, sustainable investment in the EARSHOT Centre, to enable a comprehensive programme of research on Service-related hearing loss to be set up.