Viet Nam and older (no ill will intended). I was at that Dallas VA Hospital yesterday. It is a long haul up the road for me, but my Ortho surgeon is there, so i get to go see him once a year.
Anyway, respect for you!
Dan
I have been very pleased with the care I get, including HA’s. My (3 years) older brother had some bad experiences. He was out West, I am in the East. I think attitude helps, probably the status of the clinic’s budget has some influence (just a guess).
I was in from 53-57. Jet engine mechanic, no hearing protection.
I have an evaluation appointment next week with the VA audiologist, which I’m looking forward to.
For those of you that received HAs from the VA. I have questions.
What brand HA did you receive? It seems from what I’ve found that each audiologist specializes in one manufacture. Somewhat true? The audiologist I have now dispenses 3-4 brands and it seems to me the VA varies from location to location.
How long from fitting to receiving? I realize this is a rather ambiguous question, however I’m trying to determine if the VA a slow- moving machine or light and fast operation.
I have been getting my aids from the VA for about 18 years, and have used 4 different Clinics in 2 different states. I have been getting Oticon aids now for about 13 years. The first time out for me I didn’t know what aids I was getting until they were placed in my ears. But once I had established myself with the VA and had a track record of what works and what doesn’t I have been get the Oticon aids. For me it normally takes about 6 weeks to get my aids. But I have always gotten custom ITE aids or MiniRite aids with custom ear molds.
I received my aids about a year and a half ago. Most patients were staying away still so appts were only a couple weeks away. My aids came in about three weeks but we’d made the fitting appt for a month as I recall.
My audiologist came from a prestigious nearby regional major ENT teaching hospital. She even knew some of the folks who had examined me there the year before. We discussed my tech lifestyle and she said Phonak would be ideal. I later asked her about another brand and she felt they weren’t so great. She certainly has opinions. But she said she’d be willing to change me into them if I really wanted and was willing to give up the Phonak connectivity.
Separately, I’ve moved, and another VAMC is a bit closer. I wondered if they might have parts for me so I wouldn’t have to go to the original VAMC. They looked at my Phonak HAs in wonder. Asked me questions for a while. They are totally an Oticon shop. No idea on Phonak at all. “Go back where you got those.”
@danhuddleston: You’re on the money, Dan. There’s part of you that dies forever on the battlefield, regardless of whether you come home with all your fingers and toes.
Yes there was most of them WW2 and Korean War veterans, my dad and a few of my uncles were among them. I more than likely would have been if it wasn’t for me being between jobs when I joined and having my service medical records in hand when I went begging for help with my medications that I needed. And the wonderful catch by the physician that gave me my physical that first week going to the VA hospital. And also the Texas State Veteran’s Agency that did so much of the paperwork back at the time I got into the system. But once in the system at least for me it was a wonderful experience.
Note: it didn’t hurt the fact that I was a Presidential Service Badge recipient, meaning I had a registered Badge number that placed me as an early recipient of the Presidential Service Badge.
I can only answer for the clinic I go to, I moved up from Phonak Marvels to Paradise less then two months ago, the delivery time for the Paradise was a little bit long, Audi’s had problems. Anyway, I rejected the Paradise HA’s and requested the newer Lumity L90’s, on about Dec 29th, I picked up my new Lumity’s two days ago on Jan 12. So, roughly 2 weeks. It will be based on appointment availability.
40+ years using VA hearing aids. I got Phonak UP hearing aids about 2 months ago. They took 9 weeks from ordering to delivery. The hold up was in the audiologist having time to see me. He is a 1 person shop in an area with lots of veterans to serve. My previous pair was Signia. The Phonak aids were issued due to me insisting that I would refuse rechargeable hearing aids. I also requested 675 size batteries for longer times between replacing batteries. Each request I made was honored. It really helps if you know what you want before you get there.
Dan
p.s. The Phonak hearing aids are amazing! (for me).
I tested in late December 2021 and was fitted with Phonak Audeo P90RT’s 5 weeks later. Paperwork showed the aids were delivered to my VA AuD 2 weeks following my test (including Christmas & New Years holidays during Covid) so the VA supply system was functioning well even over the holidays.
It took two additional weeks to have the new aids programmed and fitted. Check your VA hospital website for estimated first and followup appointment info.
My VA AuD fits Phonak and Signa aids, but said I could request Oticon aids at the Main hospital 45 miles away if I preferred…I chose the Phonak’s and am hearing VERY WELL in all but extreme noise situations which is probably true for most of us.
Don’t be afraid to ask for the Roger On microphone. I used mine in the restaurant tonight with my wife. Loud chatter. Band setting up for a gig 20 ft away. I heard her better than she heard me!
I already asked about a Roger On since the VA already equipped my P90’s with 03 licenses…only problem is my AuD said to talk to her another time, which I took as NO.
My loss is fortunate since my low frequencies are normal and SoundRecover works well with my loss.
I paid for my aids for 20 years before asking for assistance from the VA.
I lost my hearing in Nam after 18 months of 105 howitzers, small arms and other associated noisy toys.
I also have some guilt associated with receiving these wonderful aids knowing I can probably afford to pay for them without VA help.
You paid the price for those hearing aids and any other services that the VA has to offer. These services are there because you served.
Don’t let the system roll over you the way it did in the past.
When I went in we were promised free health and dental for life if we served 20 years. Well, we all know how that’s worked out.
My clinic has me in the OPN More 1’s. They have a nice display case showing all that they carry but their recommendation was for the Oticon in my case. They have also provided me with several accessories free of charge such as TV streamer, remote control, dehumidifier, etc.took less than 30 days for mine to come in.
@danhuddleston : Those few little words resonate strongly with me. Thanks for sharing them, and for your service. Few people who haven’t served realize that there’s part of you that never makes it back home.
