When people must constantly repeat themselves in a conversation. When it is difficult to catch every word in a conversation. Hearing loss can be classified by different levels: Mild Hearing Loss annually, and the condition can last several years or be lifelong. There are more than 3 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. Tinnitus is when a person experiences a thumping, ringing or whooshing sound in the ear, even in the absence of actual external sounds.

This exposed them to greater amounts of combat noise, which can result in hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, the ears of many American soldiers between 20 were not fully protected. The end of the plug not in use physically blocked the other end from reaching far enough into the ear.

However, the stem was too short, preventing service members from being able to insert either side into their ear canal correctly. Low-level sounds, for example, would be commands or approaching vehicles.

The yellow open end was supposed to provide protection against loud impulse noises, such as weapon fire, while still allowing service members to hear low-level sounds.

A green closed end was intended to protect ears from the noise of loud combat sounds, such as heavy machinery, watercraft, aircraft, and armored vehicles.

How Do the Plugs Cause Harm?Īlthough 3M claimed that service members would benefit from the dual-ended combat earplugs, having two different types built into a single unit, there was a major design flaw. The 3M Dual Combat Earplugs Mass Tort is based on the company’s failure to warn users about the defective design of 3M Combat Arm Earplugs and the resulting risk to developing both short and long-term permanent hearing loss after use.

Multiple American-led Interventions in Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, between 2011-2017, and to present-day.

Deployments during which service members were possibly affected include: Many may have been exposed to damaging sound levels during both training exercises and active deployment after receiving defective earplugs. The Dual-Ended Combat Arms™ Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) were designed for military use and used extensively by American servicemen and women.

3m combat arms earplugs