The Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE) fosters and promotes the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, rehabilitation, and research of hearing loss and auditory injury. The goal is to reduce the tangible and intangible costs of hearing loss and auditory injuries among U.S. military personnel and Veterans. HCE works with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and leads the cooperative effort to meet its goal.

Mission

The mission of the Hearing Center of Excellence is to optimize operational performance, heighten medical readiness, and enhance quality of life through collaborative leadership and advocacy for hearing and balance health initiatives.  

History

The Department of Defense (DOD) established the HCE to focus on the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss and auditory injury. HCE was legislated by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act and directed to partner with the VA, institutions of higher education, and other mission-minded public and private organizations.

HCE’s primary responsibilities include:

• Developing a data registry to track hearing loss and auditory injuries across the Armed Forces, and sharing the registry data with the VA
• Encouraging and facilitating hearing health research
• Developing best practices and clinical education, and
• Ensuring the coordination and delivery of VA rehabilitation benefits and services to former Service members

Audio and Print Materials

The Hearing Center of Excellence, or HCE, has produced hearing-related print materials for hearing health providers, audiologists, audiology departments, and medical treatment facilities. The HCE print materials can be downloaded and printed. Or, if you prefer, many of them can be ordered online and shipped to you or your facility.

Audio CDs produced by the Auditory Research Laboratory are also available and can be ordered online.