@editor
h e ar i n g h e alth foundation
correction to the fall 2019 article “Hearing Help for Veterans”: Service members do not need to prove their hearing condition is service-related, nor is there a cost for hearing aids received through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
@editor
dear editor: Your article “Hearing Help for Veterans” in the Fall 2019 issue had a number of inaccuracies. First it said “hearing aids purchased through the VA average $400 each vs. $2,400 through private practice.” Veterans do not pay for hearing aids through the VA [the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]. They are provided at no cost. The $400 is a wholesale cost to the VA, not to the veteran. Next, you cite that the VA requires “proof that your hearing loss is service-related.” That is untrue. Most of our veterans who have hearing aids have hearing loss that is not serviceconnected, and the VA provided the hearing aids. At one time the hearing loss did have to be service-connected to receive hearing aids but it changed about 15 years ago. There are many people out there who don’t know this. You also state that “active service duty members, veterans, and military personnel are eligible to get hearing aids through the VA.” Only veterans get hearing aids through the VA. The U.S. Department of Defense has its own audiology providers and provides hearing aids to active service duty members and military personnel through their system. Janet P. Andrews, Au.D., CCC-A Audiology and Speech Pathology Supervisor Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service New Mexico VA Health Care System from the editor: We deeply regret the errors in this article and apologize for any confusion the incorrect information may have caused. Service members do not need to prove their hearing condition is service-related, nor is there a cost for hearing aids received through the VA. We have updated the online version of this article at hhf.org/magazine and we very much appreciate the time and effort that Dr. Andrews and others took to alert us of our inaccuracies.
6
hearing health
hhf.org
dear editor: I just read the article “Have a Hearing Loss in the Hospital?” in your Fall 2019 publication and wanted to respond. My 91-yearold mother has a severe hearing loss. It started in her early 60s and has gotten progressively worse through the years. She wears up-to-date hearing aids in both ears but they don’t help much anymore. She is good at lip-reading in the right conditions. Unfortunately she also has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her hearing loss greatly adds to the confusion caused by being in an unfamiliar hospital setting. Luckily we have discovered a couple of free smartphone apps that have been incredibly helpful for family, friends, aides, doctors, nurses, assisted living staff, etc. The iPhone app is called Hearing Helper. The user presses the microphone icon and speaks into the phone; the words spoken appear on the screen; and you show the screen to the person who is hard of hearing. The size of the print is adjustable. It is not perfect and mistakes are made, but you can manually make corrections if needed. It has been an invaluable tool. We show the app to everyone who comes in contact with my mom and they are all very grateful to know of its existence. (For Android, the app is called Talk to Deaf Grandma.) Many times hearing aids need to be removed for various medical tests. These apps are helpful in these situations as well. The last time my mom was in the hospital the staff put a note on the door that my mom was hard of hearing and I think this was helpful in letting the staff know what to expect when approaching her. While HHF works on its various research initiatives it might also be worthwhile to work concurrently on further developing and improving speech recognition apps like those I’ve mentioned that can help people today. It would also be helpful if you could publish a list of the various organizations that are
