Each year, millions of veterans are treated for hearing issues related to their military service. For many, the symptoms don't show up until decades later.William "Herbert" Rogers is one of the first people visitors see at the Hearing and Speech Agency in northwest Baltimore. Rogers works security at HASA, but about 15 years ago, he also became a client."I was asking people to repeat what they said. I would seem to not hear certain sounds," Rogers said.Dr. Julie Norin, HASA's director of audiology, works with people of all ages who have communication issues such as hearing loss. At 79, Rogers thought his problems were related to age. He never considered it was because of the time he spent stationed at Dover Air Force Base in the 1960s."So planes were going in and out, but I never realized I'd have hearing loss until much, much later," Rogers said."Tinnitus, which is ringing of the ears, and hearing loss are actually the No. 1 and No. 2 service-related injuries for military veterans," Norin said.HASA has contracted with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and works with more than 2,300 veterans a year. Many have experienced hearing issues due to a wide variety of noise exposure."So, if they've been in combat, their noise exposure might consist of explosions or gunfire or artillery or heavy machinery or trucks or aircraft noise," Norin said.And the veterans may not know they've had hearing damage until years after getting out of the military.When Rogers finally got tested, he said, "I had hearing loss in both ears, but the left ear was worse."To correct the problem, Rogers wears two small, almost imperceptible hearing aids."Oh, (they make a) big difference. I can hear you," Rogers said.Norin said, when in doubt, get tested, and wear ear protection, if possible.