VA Hearing Aids

pinger · November 26, 2016

Anyone get their hearing aids from the VA, if so how do you like them?

Striper · November 26, 2016

I have a pair from the VA and they are the best I've ever had. This is the first pair that I haven't had to pay for myself and they are superior to the pair i paid over $5,000.00 for 5 years ago.

Joe

Retiredin1993 · November 26, 2016

I get mine through VA, The first ones were in the canal, very small and worked great, my second set were behind the ear with shuttlecock for the ear. Those catch too much wind don't like them at all. Reminds me I think I am due for new ones.

pinger · November 26, 2016

I have a pair from the VA and they are the best I've ever had. This is the first pair that I haven't had to pay for myself and they are superior to the pair i paid over $5,000.00 for 5 years ago.

Joe

Mine are 7years old and I paid $3000 for them. Going to the VA monday and I'll apply for the new ones. Save myself a lot of $$$

DJW · November 26, 2016

I have received 2 sets from the VA. The first was a canal style. I did not like them so much but they did help. Had them about 7 years. The 2nd set that I got last year are the behind the ear with the shuttlecock for the ear, which I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE. They are great. I also have the bluethooth device that plugs into my 60 inch Samsung TV and connects via bluethooth to my hearing aids. It has a remote that I push the button on and the TV sound goes directly to my hearing aids. I can then mute the TV sound without closing the door so that the DW no longer can hear my TV. I enjoy watching CBS Sunday Morning and when it opens it has the trumpet playing and I now longer worry about it. I can walk out to the mail box to get the mail and still listen to what ever program I am watching. They have a range of 75-80 feet. I love them. They are Re-sound and the TV device is the Re-sound Unite TV Streamer 2 with remote control.

Dennis

nana25k · November 27, 2016

Ron has had several pair and they are fine. Be sure to ask for the latest technology with blue tooth. Ron's last pair didn't offer that. Also be aware that not all VA audiology clinics offer the same ones. It's dependant in the regional purchasing officer. So ask lots of questions about what your getting.

You can receive your batteries and other supplies from the logistic office in Denver. We just send an email and ask for them with the address for shipping. Be sure if you travel that they don't put you on automatic fill or they will not be sent where you want them

BLK-9 · November 27, 2016

I've had mine for three years now. Still working good....free batteries.

TheDuke · November 28, 2016

The VA clinic in Surprise AZ has about 20 or more different brands that they fix. I think it depends on which VA you go to and which contract they are operating with that determines which brand you get.

champ_49 · November 29, 2016

I have never had the choice of hearing aids. You get what they give you is what happens here in Michigan. 2 sets of them so far, and the pair I just got a couple months ago are working very well now. I asked about the Bluetooth and was told if you need the blue tooth for the tv then we aren't doing our job. Shouldn't need them if the hearing aids are setup right. My wife said I went from not hearing a thing to a bionic hearing :-)

pinger · November 29, 2016

I have received 2 sets from the VA. The first was a canal style. I did not like them so much but they did help. Had them about 7 years. The 2nd set that I got last year are the behind the ear with the shuttlecock for the ear, which I LOVE,LOVE, LOVE. They are great. I also have the bluethooth device that plugs into my 60 inch Samsung TV and connects via bluethooth to my hearing aids. It has a remote that I push the button on and the TV sound goes directly to my hearing aids. I can then mute the TV sound without closing the door so that the DW no longer can hear my TV. I enjoy watching CBS Sunday Morning and when it opens it has the trumpet playing and I now longer worry about it. I can walk out to the mail box to get the mail and still listen to what ever program I am watching. They have a range of 75-80 feet. I love them. They are Re-sound and the TV device is the Re-sound Unite TV Streamer 2 with remote control.

Dennis

Thats what I need the bluetooth device for the tv. Maybe I could then tell the wife to turn down the tv..LOL

DJW · November 29, 2016

DaveM

I did not have any problems getting the bluetooth device for the TV from the VA here in Fayettville, AR. When I went in to get my old HA's replaced after 6-7 years I asked for it as my brother had one and the Doc said sure no problem. Original I did not have the remote as you can turn the volume on the BT TV device up or down on the HA itself, but that was a real pain in the ass because you had to hit the little button on top and hold just the right amount of time or you would shut it down before it would sync up with the device. I called the Doc and said hey this is not working worth a #$%^ and she said I will have the remote sent out to you. I got it a week later and it has worked great ever since. Most of the time when the DW joins me in my office to watch TV she will need to turn the TV up so she can here it. The only downside is there is no mute feature. You can adjust the volume for each ear with no problems but you cannot mute when in sync mode. You have to unsync by hitting the button then resync to turn back on.

Dennis

Ray,IN · November 30, 2016

An aside to this topic, TRICARE just announced they will cover hearing auditory osseointegrated implant (AOI.

wildmandmc · November 30, 2016

I'm actualy on my 3rd set. First set was in ear type, had plenty of ear infections. then gave me around ear type. worked awesome except for lost one. they replaced with new set. that have blue-tooth . connect to device that connects to smart phone for answering an talking on phone.

hanknjoycew · November 30, 2016

Thanks for the info on Bluetooth. I have VA hearing aids on order (Phonak) and did not order the Bluetooth because I normally do not use it (e.g. in the car). I too paid for my own aids 6 years ago (big bucks) before qualifying for VA. I did not realize what applications Bluetooth had, especially the TV connect. I do not have a Smart phone (have an LG flipphone) - will that be an issue? Or does the Bluetooth connection work directly with the TV. And should I be sure to get a remote? Local VA is checking right now on adding the Bluetooth to my order.

Hank

SKP 67414

2005 Mandalay DP

2012 Honda CRV

At Home in Custer SD (normally in Arizona by now!_)

DJW · December 1, 2016

Hank

Yes make sure you get the remote. I use a Samsung flip phone and do not use the Bluetooth function on my phone. I would guess I could sync the Bluetooth function in my Lexus if I wanted to. I use the hands free function in the car so no big deal. I did not pay for my first set of hearing aids. They were provided by the Va. The VA will replace every 5 years I am told. The TV device is a separate device that connects for power via a USB cable and I use the Digital Audio Out from the Samsung TV to the Digital Audio in on the Bluetooth device that sets on the TV stand via the Digital Audio cable that came with the device. Hook the device up to the TV, turn the device on. Plug the remote via a 110 volt charger provide into the wall until it is fully charged. Unplug from wall store the charger turn the remote on and point at the device hit the sync button. It will sync with the device. When you want to connect to the TV you then hit the sync button on the remote and you will hear ding,ding,ding. in each ear and then the sound from the TV is there. Hit the off button and the HA's unsync and the TV sound goes away. That's it.

Dennis

hanknjoycew · December 1, 2016

Dennis,

Thanks for the info. I am looking forward to all this. It took me a while to get into the VA ( they would not "disable" me for hearing despite almost 20 years on noisy aircraft. But my county Veterans Service Officer realized I had a Vietnam Service Medal so I am in for Health Care as needed. So far only new hearing aids.

Hank

Capt, USAF (Ret)

Former E-6/TSgt

25 years total

wildmandmc · December 1, 2016

Hank when you do get a smartphone, an the bluetooth, its great. have phone in pocket, the bluetooth device around your neck, ya can work. do dish's ect an still carry on a conversation. don't have to worry if hands are wet, greasy, ect...

DJW · December 1, 2016

YW Hank

Dennis

jharrelson · August 15, 2018

I'm now on my 4th pair of VA issued hearing aids..

first and second pair were "ITE" (in the ear) and worked fine.. but several years later I was having trouble distinguishing some words being said on the TV.. The sound was loud enough, but some words were hard to understand.

The VA then gave me a pair of BTE (behind the ear) and they were great... but a P.I.TA. because I wear eyeglasses and every time I adjusted or removed my glasses the transender would flip over the top of my ear.. it was because the transender was too large to nestle behind the ear with the eyeglasses ear piece.

The current pair I have are BTE with a very small transender and they work great with my eyeglasses..

and ... they came with the TV adapter that sends the audio signal straight to my hearing aids.... and I can use a button on the hearing aid itself to adjust the volume.. Left ear button lowers volume, Right ear button raises volume

and … if the house phone rings while watching TV, I pick up the receiver and hold it against my ear just like everyone does when answering the phone... when the phone is against my ear the hearing aid reduces the volume in that hearing aid so I don't have to remove it or turn off the TV to hear the person on the phone.

and ... I was given a small transender unit ( about the size of a pack of chewing gum) that clips to my shirt pocket and connects my cell phone to the hearing aids.. When the cell phone rings I simply push the button on the adapter and say hello then push it again to hang up.. don't have to touch the cell phone itself.

and ... they came with a program that mates with a program on my Android cell phone which allows me to adjust the pitch and level of sound that the hearing aids receive... for example, if in a noisy room like a casino I can use the cell phone to adjust for the sound.

The brand name of these new aids is "RESOUND" and I love them..

If course the VA supplies FREE batteries and FREE wax guards forever. When I open the last box of batteries I simply fill out the enclosed order form and mail it off.. a few weeks later 3 boxes of batteries and wax guards are in my mail box.

John