3M Combat Arms Earplugs V2 sold to the U.S. government from 2003-2015 are being blamed for causing extensive hearing loss and tinnitus in veterans.

Veterans in the Austin area and across the country are filing lawsuits to hold the 3M company liable for the provision of these reportedly defective earplugs, according to CBS News.

Although 3M’s Combat Arms Earplugs V2 have been discontinued of the manufacturer’s own accord in 2015, the company reportedly refuses to admit liability for any defects. 3M settled with the U.S. government last summer to end False Claims Act allegations presented by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against them. The company offered DOJ $9.1 million.

Combat veterans are exposed to repetitively loud sounds in the course of involvement in battles with explosions and machine gun fire. After military personnel of this 2003-2015 period returned home and this constant saturation to volume ceased to be, many reported developing tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?

According to the Hearing Health Foundation, the most common experience of tinnitus—which usually comes in response to hearing loss—is hearing ringing in the ear. Other experiences of this condition might include a constant whooshing or buzzing sound.

The Hearing Health Foundation quotes a physician named Robert Dobie, MD, who indicates that this sound is produced by the brain. The brain’s response to a lessening of auditory input through hearing loss is to generate these sounds. Dr. Dobie says this is because it dislikes its expectation of auditory stimulation to be disappointed.

In a separate article by the Hearing Health Foundation, it says that tinnitus main risk factors are age and gender, with men experiencing the condition more commonly that women and experiencing worsening symptoms as they age. The next most common risk factor is gross exposure to excessive noise such as would be experienced by combat veterans.

The Hearing Health Foundation claims that it is not uncommon for people to experience temporary tinnitus in response to an unusually loud noise for a few seconds to hours at some point in their lives. Chronic tinnitus, however, affects 20 million Americans, with 2 million of those suffering debilitating symptoms which can affect sleep cycles, mental health, and social adjustment.

Those that experience tinnitus describe it as a constantly dripping faucet which one cannot make go away with all the plumbing skill in the world. Veterans report the incessant sound in their ears can be taxing both cognitively and emotionally.

While nothing can cure back severe hearing loss, various treatments have been found to be helpful. The most effective treatment is of course amplification through the use of hearing aids.

Hearing Health Foundation reports that other helpful treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy which helps the veteran or other sufferer revamp their thought processes surrounding tinnitus, and the use of sound therapy. Sound therapy uses music, white noise, and environmental backgrounds to mask the frequency of the ringing in the ears.