Don't Let Hearing Loss Sneak Up on You
VA can provide hearing aids and support
Hearing loss is one of the top service-connected disabilities among Veterans. VA offers comprehensive care services to Veterans with hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance. This type of hearing loss is generally caused by noise exposure, age, or both. One of the first symptoms that a person with hearing loss notices is difficulty distinguishing sounds or understanding speech.
Currently, there are over 1.7 million Veterans who receive compensation for tinnitus (or ringing in the ears) and over 1.1 million Veterans who receive compensation for hearing loss. Most of the hearing loss among Veterans is the result of noise exposure from gunfire, aircraft, tanks, and bombs.
"I'm a 62-year-old service-connected disabled Veteran who has been without hearing in the right ear for a long time. The bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) VA provided opened up a whole new world for me," said Army Veteran Ahmedou Ali.
Help is available
One way VA helps Veterans with hearing problems is by providing hearing aids.
If you qualify for VA health care you can receive hearing aids. Once a VA audiologist evaluates you and determines your need for a hearing aid, you will be scheduled to be fit for your hearing aids. Many hearing aids can now be adjusted remotely through a VA Video Connect (VVC) visit.
VVC connects Veterans with their health care team from anywhere, using encryption to ensure a secure and private session. You may contact your VA audiology clinic to see if this type of visit will work for you.
Ordering options
Eligible Veterans can order new batteries for their hearing aids online, by phone, or by mail.
Learn how to order medical supplies through VA.
With My HealtheVet, you can also send your VA audiologist a Secure Message requesting new batteries. Since providers have up to three days to respond, try to request batteries before your current ones run out.
Other services
VA audiologists also provide multiple hearing health care services to eligible Veterans, including:
Disability audiology exams for Veterans and Servicemembers.
Assessment, treatment, and management of hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance disorders.
Other assistive listening devices such as TV and telephone amplifiers, and post-surgical rehabilitation for cochlear and other auditory implants.
Noise-induced hearing loss prevention services, and aural rehabilitation services to optimize residual hearing.
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Read More
VA Video Connect (VA Mobile)
Hearing Aids (VA Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services)
Order hearing aid batteries and accessories from VA (VA)
How to Apply for VA Health Care (VA)
Updated August 9, 2021