Planning for VA Replacement Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids
1

I am around 6 months or so away from starting the process to get replacement hearing aids at the VA.

My current aids are Phonak Naida S IX xP CRT. There have been zero problems electronically with them. Once setup after one initial visit when new they have performed flawlessly. Battery consumption is roughly once a week with 16 hours of use daily. I use the Compilot routinely to connect to my smartphone and TVLink.

I just started looking at the Phonak site relative to the new Naida V-RIC. I am wondering if any of the regular professional contributors to this forum can give a synopsis of what the improvements are for the Venture platform over my current aids platform?

I have been absent from the forums in recent times since I was having such success with my current aids compared to the terrible Stakey aids they replaced. If anyone thinks that there are better aids available under the current VA contract (WIDEX aids are now included) I would be interested in hearing about them as well.

2

All top aids are available with accessories from the VA. You have a 90 day trial period. I like and have the Siemens Carat Bx7’s with the easyTek, TVLink, VoiceLink, eCharger.

3

I just got a pair of the Oticon Alta 2 Pros from the VA and like them vrry much. They replaced my older Alta Pros and are a great improvement for me.

4

I have had my OTE Bolero aids for about two years now, and have been relatively satisfied. I have encountered a recent problem, however (over the last 3-4 days) in that the left HA has been positively EATING batteries! I can replace the depleted one, and install a new battery (size 13) and within a minute or two, I hear the dual chime that alerts me to replace it. Within a few hours, it is completely dead. Has anyone had similar experiences along these lines?

5

I suspect that the HA has an internal defect and will have to either be repaired or replaced. What is the VA’s replacement policy, anyway, relative to either replacing what I have with a like set of HAs or with another brand/type?
I mean what interval of time before I would be eligible for replacement?

6

I have been getting my aids from the VA now for about 10 years. I have had a few issues with the aids over the years and have always been able to get it resolved. I now have Oticon Alta Pros which I got about 20 months again and about 2 months ago they had to be refurbished. The were taken care of and back to me within 10 days. You can not bet that and I also have a backup set of aids to use if needed.

7

Replacement policy is 4-5 years. They do that since repairs are not done on older hearing aids that are no longer supported.

8

I would send it to Denver using the card provided. Have had great success in using the system. Turn around time is usually 2-3 weeks.

9

You can phone the VA at 303-273-6200, follow prompts, talk to an agent, explain problem. They will send you a self stamped, self addressed box, to return the hearing aid for repair. I do not know how long it takes. I recently got back a refurbished pair of ha’s in about two weeks but my audiologist sent them out.

Or you can see your VA audiologist for a hearing test if it’s over a year since you got one. My VA audiologist wants me in for a hearing test once a year. Maybe the age of your ha’s or a change in your hearing will get you new ones. Do you have backup ha’s. If not this might facilitate the situation.

Good luck.

10

Or if your hearing changes to the point that the hearing aids you have no longer does the job for you. And I have also gotten new aids when a pair stopped working, they were between 3 and 4 years old but I was told the aids were no longer serviceable.

11

Thanks all for the replies.
After I posted, I decided to drive to the Wichita KS VA center and talk to an audiologist personally. Didn’t have an appoointment, so wasn’t able to talk to a audiologist or a technician, however the person at the desk replaced both hearing tubes and domes on both HAs (said that there could have been some obstacle or moisture in the tubes). Was surprised to find that so far, so good. I did not think, looking at my sound tubes, that they were dirty, but perhaps it’s just a matter of doing a bit better maintenance.

Anyway, thanks again, will see how things progress from here.

12

Hi TerryR40, If your batteries have a small air hole in the top, the plastic sticker covers it and it must be left open for a couple (2) minutes before installing them other wise they will not run properly from the get go. If they are lithium then something elsemis wrong. Have a close look at the cells to see if they have a vent. If so they are zinc and need the delay. Cheers