What Types of Hearing Aids Does the VA Have for Veterans?

[@TheYancydog]

As a Veteran with a Service Connected hearing Loss, I spent a number of year chasing all of this information down. Thanks for putting it in one place. You have it all in about 10mins. It is definitely worth going through the paperwork and testing to end up with a top of the line hearing aid and hearing treatment.

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

Agreed! Some dedicated effort up front to get established can be well worth the outcome.

[@jedheart8059]

Same here. Finally, after decades getting Hearing Aids next month.

[@robertdavis5421]

I have option hearing aids provided by VA. THEY ARE ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD. THE LEFT EAR I GET NO SOUND. The right ear works but sound is not always clear whenever I chew food I'm unable to hear anything when chewing. The devices provided to adjust volume works about half the time. I retired from US MARINE CORPS 44 Years ago. Opticon hearing aids are minimal at best.

[@JimE6243]

Agree! Just at the VA audiology office last week because of having speech in noise issues. My current four year old Odicon Opn1's aren't handling the issue like they use to and according to the audiologist can not be tuned any more to address the issue. Because of you and Dr. Cliff I brought up the subject of ReSound Omnia hearing aids. She was aware of them and said, "Let's give them a try." I get them and a complete hearing test next month. BTW - I brought up Dr. Cliff's name and told her that is where I get most of my hearing aid information and start my research there. She was aware of Dr. Cliff and said, "It is always nice to see patients who are actively involved it their healthcare". Thanks for the info. JimE

[@ostoja59]

Just saw the VA Doctor at the Audiology clinic last week and started the process for custom hearing aids with Bluetooth. The doctor was professional and answered all my questions and even made sure to include the features I wanted as well. She made this old Marine feel like my needs and care are most important and Veterans are getting the best product to make our lives better. Thank you Doctor Cook & Doctor Cliff for the videos you put out on this channel. Semper Fi

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

That is so great to hear! There are many incredible VA audiologists out there.

[@meric12131415]

Happy to hear it 😁 I'm guessing you either got Starkey phonak or resound

[@ostoja59]

@@meric12131415 I can't wait to see what hearing aids I get. It will make it so much better for my life just to be able to hear properly.

[@meric12131415]

@@ostoja59 that's pretty cool 😁 hopefully they're phonak from what I researched over many years it's really good for speech

[@ostoja59]

@@meric12131415 Just found out they ordered the Phonak Audeo rechargeable. Now I can't wait for them to get hear.

[@gregoryfarris4801]

All my medical is through VA, they do a real good,

[@sfrink1425]

A tip for veterans: you’re typically eligible for new aids every five years, and the best time to start is in either April or October. The VA updates their contracts in May and November, which is when they add new tech that private providers have already had access to. By timing it right, you can be assured you’re getting the most current, most advanced that’s available.

[@kurtlyon3246]

This answered my question. Thank you.

[@thedude3878]

I have profound hearing loss. I know for a fact it's every 3 years! Honestly the VA has access to really good hearing aids

[@sfrink1425]

Policy is actually every 5 years, but the VA will make exceptions and sometimes do them earlier, or even for the purpose of the Veteran having back-up aids. And you speak truth: The VA only works with the top technology. @@thedude3878

[@markmcduffie364]

I finally got fitted for my Phonak Lumity Life last week, and I am very happy with them. I am still trying to get them properly paired with my other devices such as iPad, and MacBook. I mentioned the TV streamer at my initial appointment, and was also issued that at fitting. I probably should have asked for the Roger On instead. I appreciate all the information you, and Dr Cliff make available. I was very well informed about hearing aids in advance of my fitting, which made the process so much easier, and quicker. I agree that followup appointments take a lot of time. So far I am adapting well, and it has made my tinnitus diminish greatly too!

[@watermain48]

The VA has done a stellar job of taking care of my service-connected/tinnitus problems for the last 20+ years. Just got new Phonak Lumity hearing aids two weeks ago. Can't say enough good things about the care I receive at the Boise VA.

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

Love it!

[@TheKurtLyon]

Heading in to an outside provider audiologist here in the Treasure Valley Bill. Thanks for the hat tip towards Phonak, that is the direction I am leaning.

[@watermain48]

@@TheKurtLyon I don't think you will be disappointed in the Lumity if that is what you go with.

[@donaldmichael9840]

I was extremely satisfied by the treatment I received and the fitting of my Phonak hearing aids at the VA clinic I went to. I’m thankful that I can hear and understand sounds better.

[@marvinspevack8238]

Great information. Clear, concise, and informative. Thank you for your presentation. VA here in Billings was most courteous, knowledgeable and professional.

[@Freedom-nu7he]

I am a combat veteran with hearing loss from service and have been trying to work with the VA on hearing aids and keep getting the run around. I appreciate this video and hopefully I can get this figured out. I am about ready to just go to a hearing place here in town and just buy them.

[@petehervin6284]

I used a Veteran's Service rep from my state's division of Veteran's aid. Or you can get one through VFW, or other vets organizations.

[@Freedom-nu7he]

@@petehervin6284 I will try that thank you

[@TheKurtLyon]

Definitely use a VSO. I had tried it on my own for years with no success. Tomorrow I go to see an audiologist. 👍

[@Elephantine999]

This covers a lot of really useful information. Thanks for sharing it! A medical center audiologist suggested that I contact the VA about hearing aids when he learned I was a veteran. I didn't think I'd be eligible after only a four-year enlistment (during which I worked around and lived right next to very noisy aircraft), but the VA people were competent and caring and nice and got me the hearing aids I needed! We often hear "Thanks for your service," but actual, tangible support like this speaks louder than words.

[@bostonbill789]

Just got ReSound hearing aids with BlueTooth. Very nice but takes getting used to. Thank you VA Boston, Mass

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

Definite adjustment period, but stick with it!

[@JoeDixon740]

Your observation about wait times is not only true, it's an understatement!! I have Resound Omnia from the VA, and my audiologist is wonderful. But intervals between appointments for followup and tweaking the program are incredibly long. The VA Clinic (Colorado Springs) is a very nice facility, but grossly understaffed.

[@ostoja59]

Agreed, I did my hearing test in September and was referred to the main VA hospital for review to see if I needed ear surgery. I had to wait three months to see the doctor to be told I didn't need surgery and wait another month to go back to the clinic. Great people but they are swamped and understaff.

[@eddieashley1553]

Great video. I am a Vet with hearing loss and now work for the military. It’s quite frustrating how often the military puts its people in compromising situations when it comes to loud noises.

[@DrCliffAuD]

Sometimes it can't be helped.

[@georgegeranios2918]

Thank you for this. I am 10% hearing disabled (from Vietnam era service) and at 79, it's time to do this.

[@bobfognozzle]

Finally! The full explanation of what’s up with the VA hearing aid program and treatment.

[@seaweed556]

Thanks a lot of good info for this old vet .

[@MrAbsalomdavid]

(5:42) I outright and directly asked about Bluetooth AND remote microphone technology at my last eval. I was immediately lied to and told that those things are not available. I know this, because I was given aids 10 years ago that were device compatible.

[@49525Bob]

Just 3 days ago I received my 2nd set of top of the line Oticon hearing aids My VA clinic told me they'd provide new aids every Five years, not 3 as you stated. My new aids are rechargable, not battery as my previous set. Their sound is clearer than the five year old set even new. 100% happy with the VA.

[@GeorgeMinton-jb8ky]

Thank you for this great video. 3 years active duty...

[@wmathews908]

Thank you & Doctor Cliff for all the great information. I was able to help my father get hearing aids through the VA thanks to your help.

[@Bleys001]

Nice! I have an appointment at the VA next month for a fitting. I'm getting Phonak lumity 90. I got a notice for my appointment in the mail, and enclosed were two extra pages. One has all the contact information by mail and phone to order replacement batteries for hearing aids if I needed them. The other page has a list six hearing aid manufacturers and the toll free numbers to contact them for technical support. Oticon, Phonak, ReSound GN, Siemens/Signia, Starkey, and Unitron. I'll share the numbers if anyone is interested.

[@petepehl]

The Mount Vernon WA VA Audiology Clinic is Outstanding!

[@mrsmith1339]

It is me yet again. I have been in the VA medical system since 2001. I am on my second set of VA issued hearing aids. As mentioned, you can apply for enterance into the VA medical system on line. That will be much more pleasant than visiting a facility or using a Veterans Sevice Officer (VSO) If you get in, I believe you are entitled to hearing tests and hearing aids if needed. I have Phonak Paradise P90's. I have been told several times that the replacement cycle is 5 years. My previous pair had problems at 4 years and I had to convince the VA that they should be replaced. Cost: Mine were free because I had a Combat Arms MOS (You know if you had one) Therefore the VA admitted that a lack of hearing protection, just in training, trashed my hearing. My Brother in law is also a VA hearing aid customer and he had to pay 2 or 3 $50 co pays. There is no scheduled follow up,; not even for the 5 year replacement. It is up to you Good luck. Most repairs are done in Denver Colorado. The hearing aids are sent by snail mail. Sometimes the are forwarded to the MFG. This will take weeks. I now have a preaddressed box plus a sheet outlining the problems. I can send directly There are no more walkin hours since covid. The VA has no loaner or rental service. You will wait. I used Amazon amplifiers when my hearing aids quit, and when they were returned thay had not been programmed. I got lucky and got an appointment in three weeks. (Plus repair time) At the same appointment, my new hearing aids were ordered, which took a month. I got to keep the old set as a back up. All supplies come from Denver you can at longlast order over the internet. I e - mailed requesting a new charger and had it quick;y. You must be your own advocate. Study this web site (Dr Cliff) to determine what you may want. Then go ask for it. Worked for me.

[@hughsommer9563]

I am a vet, 80 y/o, and have Oticon hearing aids provided by the VA. They were very effective for six months, but now are uncomfortable and actually painful. My hearing without the aids has worsened.

[@richardmiller4388]

I am a vet and recently got my first pair of aids replaced by the Phonak Audeo P90 units w/bluetooth. I love them. They replaced Starkey CIC's which I hated and had quit wearing feeling they made my speech comprehension worse than without. The first aids were fitted by a commercial HA center operating under contract to the VA because of limited availability of audiologists in the VA center. The replacement aids were fitted at the VA center. While the service at the VA was competent (albeit slow as you observe) it was brief consisting of the usual cone of silence booth testing followed up by tha aid fitting 30 days later. The fitting took the better part of 15 minutes and I am not able to judge whether I was fitted with a "best practices" process for which I wonder if I would benefit from a performance review from such a provider. While the new Phonak's are remarkably better, my hearing is certainly not perfect. But then perhaps it can't be!

[@davidrte.664]

I just got mine they are the best you can buy. If your hearing is service related. I am very happy with mine.

[@peterjurczyk61]

It's sure good to see the value and talent of Rachel..comfort to listen to a competant modern women..hope your well like your channel thanks for your time..have a super evening !

[@denkn]

If one does have access, it isn't really too bad. I am a Vietnam Era vet with no service disability and am on my second set of aids. The first one, 5 years ago did cost me $50 for the test and $50 for the aides. They were Phonak Audeos and very nice, and rechargeable. The nice pair have now the Phonak Audeo P which is also rechargeable, but also Bluetooth.. Apparently I had to pay the $50 only once because these were not charged. Anyway, they're very nice and my fellow Vets deserve it...

[@jedheart8059]

If you are a Vietnam Vet, you might qualify as hearing rules may have changed in recent years.

[@denkn]

I did get aids and have recently gotten a 10% disability for tinnitus...

[@bobbray4696]

Glad to see you do another video about hearing aids for veterans. Thanks!

[@davidtravis1384]

I suppose I'm lucky. I have a service related hearing loss but I never had to spend any time chasing and filling out paperwork. The Navy Audiologist determined that my hearing loss qualified as a diability. He then filled out all the paperwork and submitted to the VA. By the time I was discharged and started receiving my disability pay I was scheduled with a VA Audiologist who fit me with hearing aids right away. No problem!

[@Mdwells2944]

Got mine and love them, Phonak!!

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

That is awesome!

[@kpcliff]

Not a veteran so didn't really need this - HOWEVER - had to comment because i really liked the presentation. Great job. now we can get Dr Cliff knowledge without you - leaves you free to do see more patients.

[@Sanosan5249]

Hello I have tinnitus and moderate hearing loss the audiologist lady said she doesn't think I need hearing aid. However for me in my everyday life I have hard time talk with people because i can't hear some things they say. I also noticed it's more worse on my left side especially when someone is talking to me across the room I would hear them talking but I can only pick up sounds that have a high tone at the end of the word. In a way I also feel I'm unbalanced I get vertigo every now and then.

[@bjs2022]

From my experience at the San Francisco VA you first have to have your health provider schedule you for an ENT clinic examination before you can be referred to Audiology.

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

Perfect example that each VA system is distinct!

[@petehervin6284]

Received my Phonak hearing aids in July, 2022.

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

Love to hear it!

[@meric12131415]

Cool 😁 in ear or bte?

[@petehervin6284]

@@meric12131415 BTE

[@meric12131415]

@@petehervin6284 cool 😁 I'm guessing the paradise

[@johnmcclung4736]

My problem with trying to just verify I could get hearing aids through the VA was that I kept getting a different story with phone agents. One nice woman said I could get them even though my SSD is not service-related (Covid is to blame) if my income was below a threshold. To get signed up with a second agent, was told I meet the financial threshold, but I didn't qualify per her list of prerequisites, all of which were service-related. I finally gave up an will go through a private provider.Very confusing and maddening!

[@krawkenable]

Thanks for info. Appreciated 😁😊

[@patkelly7501]

Wow. Just wow. Thank you so much ❤ 🇺🇸 ❤ 🇺🇸

[@mrbottomfeeder]

Thank you. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@larrysinclair7359]

Rated at 40% hearing loss, my biggest issues are background noise and speech clarity. I’ve had my current Phonak’s for 2 1/2 years. Is the VA firm on the three-year replacement cycle? Semper Fi.

[@Elephantine999]

Good information. Thanks.

[@mmarjisr]

I think you made a mistake when you said 2 or more years to get a hearing aid I have cousin who was in the army as I was but he was discharged after 20 months back in the 1970s and he got hearing aids from the VA hospital also if you have hearing loss after one year you can still get hearing aids but I did learn a few things from this video and like to thank you for it

[@ostoja59]

If I remember right it is 18 months, but I could be wrong on that.

[@razziade]

Is there an income requirement (ceiling) to get VA health benefits?

[@VeteranInThePhilippines-uy6uc]

Ok I went to the VA took my hearing loss evaluation recived my hearing aids phonak they are crap the bluetooth is crap and when I walk they maik a cracking noise having to take them out to talk on the phone as a result I returned to the VA after they said there was nothing they. Can do to fix them

[@garyhutsell1355]

Would you know if the Vet, once determined to need hearing aids, has the privilege to choose which mfg he/she would prefer to have?

[@sharonclark-napolitano1733]

Are there nano hearing aids. The behind the ear hearing aids are painful for me.

[@DrCliffAuD]

What?

[@kaianthony5503]

The question is pretty clear to me. They want to know whether the VA only provides RICs, or whether they can get a CIC or ITC through the VA

[@MrAbsalomdavid]

What I find to be a massive problem is that I watch these videos, and videos like them on a regular. And then when I go into the VA, there is always a "gatekeeper" who tries to tell you the least amount of information possible. So, unless you take in the make and model of the aid that you want, you can kiss that goodbye. The "gatekeeper" will no doubt literally do whatever they can to give you the easiest fitted, over-the-ear aid. After all, they have coffee to drink and a job to ignore.

[@MrAbsalomdavid]

oh, and do not be surprised if they outright lie and gas-light you as to what is available. This is not theoretical. It is a systemic problem, and outright ineptitude.

[@dr.mathamagic3157]

3M?

[@bubbaloumallahan]

Question. You reported that replacement aids can be obtained every 3 years. I had heard that 5 years is the case. Sounds great that devices can be replaced every 3 years. Please confirm.

[@rachaelcookaud2695]

I am continuing to see back-and-forth on this. I do believe that while veterans are eligible for new hearing aids every three years, there must be a reason for this upgrade that goes beyond just getting new technology. Again, every VA system is different. There were many times during my time at the VA that I was replacing hearing aids well before the three-year mark and also well after the three-year mark, but for the purpose of this video, I decided to use the standard eligibility. I think I will try to add a disclaimer stating that this can vary since others have voiced this as well.

[@tacx1]

Aaaahhhh! There’s the catch !! “If your income is to high you will not be eligible “. ! So, even though you stood next to 105 Howitzers during your service, you won’t qualify if you are not poor ? So if you got out of the service, went to work and created a nice little nest egg for yourself you don’t get free hearing aids. It’s always about your money ??? In other words if you have money your service means squat !!

[@DrCliffAuD]

Have pride in the fact that the country you served allowed you the ability to earn a good living for yourself. I'm grateful I don't have to rely on socialized healthcare offered by the VA even though I qualify to use it myself.

[@DWamericanfrets]

Not true. You need to be enrolled in the VA medical system first. They will refer you to audiology. A friend of mine went directly to audiology and he had to jump through many hoops to get it straightened out.

[@barrylitchfield8357]

If some of the VA clinics are not following "best practices protocols" why doesn't the VA fix that problem? Just another roadblock for veterans. You wait months for an appointment and the veteran gets screwed by a bad VA approved clinic that's not folloing best practices protocols. FIX THE PROBLEM!!

[@Tfichtenbaum]

I read our vets get top of the line hearing aids , I wish our men and women who served in the military didnt have to break their bodies this way

[@DrCliffAuD]

That's what we signed up for when we enlisted in the military. It was an unfortunate negative consequence of serving our country.

[@phish_1]

A lot of military veterans suffer hearing impairment because of nuclear bombs in Japan, battle in Afghanistan, and many more!!!! 😂😂😂😂 Don’t assume that they are rude when they yell at you. Maybe they are just having a hearing impairment! 😂😂😂

[@RoyWells-m4z]

Received my Phonak hearing aids in July, 2022.

[@peterjurczyk61]

It's sure good to see the value and talent of Rachel..comfort to listen to a competant modern women..hope your well like your channel thanks for your time..have a super evening !