FEATURED VETERAN

Mark A. Brogan
Captain, U.S. Army (retired)
Age: 28
Operation Iraqi Freedom (05-07 vet)

Don't forget to read Mark Brogan’s story in Hearing Loss Magazine

CPT Mark Brogan Tells His Story About Injury and Hearing Loss

“Out of all of the disabilities I accrued out of the injury, hearing loss is one of the most noticeable and one with the most frequency of problems for me.” -- CPT Brogan

I was injured by suicide bomber at close range, on April 11, 2006, while leading a foot patrol in Rawah, Iraq. The blast killed the soldier immediately to my rear and severely wounded myself. I sustained a severe penetrating head injury, multiple shrapnel wounds, and a nearly severed right arm.

My hearing was substantially damaged. My first hearing test was not till a few months after my injury. The test results showed that my right ear had been perforated and sustained severe to profound damage and the left severe. The blast came from the right side which was the worst. The inner ear was so damaged that my vestibular system was damaged and my balance and dizziness were horrible. This made physical therapy that much harder. My physical therapist at Walter Reed was fortunately knowledgeable about the Hall Pike maneuver which greatly helped the symptoms but I still have flare ups occasionally.

I have terrible tinnitus [ringing in the ears] that I almost have gotten used to at this point. The VA gave me a pair of great hearing aids and they work very well, I even have a remote control much like a car key remote that changes volume and programs.

CPT Brogan Finds HLAA
I found out about the Hearing Loss Association of America when looking up support groups in my area that related to the different disabilities. I found the Knoxville (TN) HLA Chapter where I live. The group has been very helpful. It is good to just get with people who have the same type of disability. Out of all of the disabilities I accrued out of the injury, hearing loss is one of the most noticeable and one with the most frequency of problems for me. It’s is just so hard to understand what people are saying, even my wife and she ‘gets it.’

I have only been going to the HLA meetings for a short while but I already feel like a part of the ‘family’ of attendees. I have met a couple my age and it’s great to have friends our age and know we are going through the same things. It's hard to find friends that understand what it's like with any disability. Everyone just assumes, hey you look fine you must be fine, which couldn't be further from the truth with the hearing loss and the severe brain injury. Invisible injuries are tough; I like the group because they get it.

Statement of CPT Mark A. Brogan, USA (Ret.) to the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs