To say that hearing is important would be an understatement. You probably enjoy listening to your children play. You might like going to hear live music. And whether in business or your personal life, communication is vital.
But most Americans suffer from hearing loss at some point in their lives. And if you have served in the military, you could be one of over 2.7 million veterans receiving disability benefits due to problems related to hearing loss or ringing in your ears, even after the diligent use of earplugs.
Why are earplugs so important?
Any way you can reduce the level of sound entering your ears is important to retaining your hearing. Extreme noise levels can affect your body in many ways, including:
- Damage to inner-ear nerve endings
- Permanent hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Increased stress
- High blood pressure
- Sleep loss
- Decreased immunity
Countless members of the armed forces have used earplugs while serving in the military. But lawsuits related to allegedly defective earplugs have already cost the company who manufactured and sold the combat earplugs millions of dollars.
3M allegedly knew their product was defective
If you served between 2003 and 2015, you may have used 3M’s Combat Arms earplugs. And it may be of interest to know that hundreds of soldiers have filed lawsuits against the company for allegedly providing a defective product.
Some 3M employees were allegedly aware of the earplug defects in 2000. However, false claims about meeting military standards resulted in many military members suffering from hearing loss, troubles with balance and ringing in their ears.
You do not need to accept negligence
If you used 3M’s earplugs during your time in service and are suffering from the company’s alleged negligent acts and false claims, you might be able to hold them accountable. Considering your best efforts to protect your hearing, you may be interested in exploring your options if you feel a defective product, such as 3M’s earplugs, contributed to your hearing loss.