3M Combat Earplug Failures Making National Headlines

According to a recent NPR report, which you can find here, soldiers who have used 3M earplugs reported hearing loss in both ears, as well as a persistent hearing defect known as tinnitus. Veterans described the hearing effects of these injuries as, “a chorus of cicadas, like an ambient noise that constantly causes interference.” Many lawsuits are now attempting to hold 3M accountable for the service-member’s hearing loss. These Combat Arms Earplugs were the used by all branches of the U.S. military between 2003 and 2015, during the peak of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These earplugs were a part of soldiers’ everyday activities—from driving vehicles to discharging firearms, 3M earplugs became a staple in the front-lines of the US armed forces. When …