I have had hearing aids for a few years and would recommend that he go to an audiologist. Mine does a hearing test once a year. They also know what is best out there and can work within your budget.

It was the best thing I could have done for myself. My family was getting tired of repeating things a million times and I hated being in a group because I couldn't hear what they were talking about. After three years of resisting I finally went and got my ears checked.

Definitely go to an audiologist. Hearing aids have advanced so much in the last few years and I do have to get a new pair. They make them nowadays where they are almost invisible. Get a good pair that eliminate background noise. Your husband will be much more compliant wearing them if you get quality ones. Yes they are more expensive but in the long run are well worth it. Here in Canada, they do give guarantees that if you don't like them, you can return them for your money back.

The VA is not a lost cause. His hearing loss can be documented to service.
My DH went to the VA and has been treated there and recieved hearing aids. After 27 years in the Navy serving on the flight deck, he has really poor hearing!
They are very good hearing aids, and we are very happy with the audiology team there,I don't know why his friends would discourage going there.

Don't blow off the VA. This is a disabillity and he should be entitled to compensation if service related. Yes, applying for VA benefits is a pain in the a$$, but wouldn't some extra cash help each month.
My Mom and I have applied for my Dad (he has ALZ) and they will be entitled to about $1,000 a month because he is in a memory care place.
We made an appointment with the VA in Lansing, MI and they were so very helpful and filled out the paper work for us. We had to bring lots of stuff and one of the very important papers is the DD 214. We didn't have my Dad's, but some other paperwork. Turns out there was a big fire, years ago, and many records were lost. They helped us with that paperwork.
Now we just need to wait til after the first of the year to apply and all should be good.
My uncle receives about $1,500 a month from the VA for disabillity, your DH should be getting something. Go forward with this!
Here is a link to get you started.
And good luck!
Kathy G in MI

Here is a link that might be useful: VA Benefits

I also meant to mention that I have some friends who in the past couple of years have gone to the VA and got hearing aids, they are very satisfied with them.

Hi Salgal,
I have hearing aids and I know exactly what your husband is going through. I went to Audibel Hearing. I believe they have stores all over the US. I have the CIC (completely in canal) digitals. I paid a total of $4,000.00 for both. No insurance either. The CIC will only work for moderate to severe hearing loss. If the hearing is worse than that, he will need to go to the one that can hold more hearing strength like the 'in the canal' or 'in the ear'. An ear mold will be made for the perfect fit. My experience with Miracle Ear, as least where I went, just mostly wanted to make a sale. I pick Audibel because of the licensed audiologist and on other recomendations. I got mine 4 years ago and it was the best thing in my entire life I had ever done. It literally changed my world. I go every 3 months, (no charge) for them to check out the hearing aids and to see if I'm having any problems.

I have had bad hearing my entire life (heriditary) and can remember being in the first grade and wearing the big clunky ones behind the ear. Kids can be so cruel. I never wore them again till 40 years later when I knew I had to do something, or my DH was going to divorce me, LOL! If your limit is $7,000. then you and your DH will be very happy with what he will get. They might not even cost that much.

My experience is that the smaller you go (in the canal vs behind the ear) the more expensive they are. I have no vanity problems, so I went somewhere in between, meaning that you can see them if you look, but they aren't huge things behind my ears.

I spent about $1,100 for each ear, but that was about 8 yrs ago. To be honest, I don't wear them as much as I should. I find myself taking them out when I'm in a noisy place because EVERYTHING seems magnified, not just people talking. I would think for $7,000 you could get some very good hearing aids!

I think a lot of veterans shy away from the VA because it is such a run-around. Everyone he has talked to said you go to their dr's. Then they deny the claim - that it is not service related (unless noted on DD214's at time of
discharge). Then you have to appeal.

However, thanks for the nudge from Nita & Kathy('s)and to try. I was doing a little digging and found a site DAV (Diabled American Veterans) It is a non-profit group that helps veterans apply for benefits.
I emailed them a couple questions, so hopefully we will get some good advice.
It is really not in the budget to do this at all....but I am willing to cash in a CD for my own sanity!

Yes Renee, I can see where divorce can be an ultimatum. LOL.
Athough, seriously it causes unnecessary strain on our relationship.
He mis-hears stuff all the time and thinks people say outragous things, when in reality they are completely benign.
He thinks I say things that are hurtful and he pouts and gets mad at me until I finally get him to tell me what's wrong. 9 out of 10 times I end up saying I did NOT say that! Then the fight starts all over again about his hearing....Argh!

I believe Costco has an audiologist as well, and they do sell hearing aids. Might be worth the cost of membership.

I saw an audiologist on a referral from my ENT doc so it was covered by our insurance. Hearing aids were going to be over $6000.
I went back to ENT doc about 6 months later and he asked about the hearing aids. When I told him I couldn't begin to afford them, he suggested going to Costco.
I was happy with the tech there (not an audiologist but licensed by the state) and with the 3 month trial period.
The aids were $2000 and have been great. I like the fact I can go in for adjustments if needed at no further cost.
But, try the VA first.

Can't speak for the VA part, but the HA part I can
DH has had them since he was 6. Last pair we bought was 2 years ago..and we got the higher end. He has a severe hearing loss. He gets the digital (only amplifies the tones he can't hear, not all tones), CIC ones. They run about $5K, and are guaranteed for 3 years, we can then extend the warranty for another 2 years I think it is.

Now..there is also one out that looks great, and I've known a couple of people out there that LOVE them...they're more like having a little microphone that sits just outside the ear opening (don't know if that area has a name)...so they don't have the "stuffed ear" feeling.

DH goes to an audiologist, they do the hearing test for free. His hearing aids are Siemens..and Siemens are a great buy.

The behind the ear can cause problems as you hear what's behind you (that's where the microphone is), where the CIC or the other ones (bit larger)...and I think that newer one I just mentioned...you hear what comes into the ear, as you would naturally.

They're suppose to last about 5 years, but we try for 10..because they are so expensive and not covered by insurance. They can be covered by money in a cafeteria plan, but HSA's are more complicated. The cost of HA has stayed the same, but the quality goes up..along with the technology.

Vickey

Are you hearing a lot of "I had a friend of a friend who went to the VA"? Because it sounds nothing like anyone here deals with.
Sure you won't get results immediately,but you will hear in a short time any decisions.
We (and several of our friends ) go to the Seattle VA, and while they aren't in the business of selling you $5000 high tech hearing aids; they certainly don't want veterans to be deaf either.
Guesssing by the number of older veterans I see at the clinic, I bet a majority are Vietnam era vets.

My DH got a pair on trial they were about $4,000. He hated them, and returned them. He would rather not hear well then listen to every little sound he has never heard and the squealing sounds that they make. He asked other hearing aid wearers and they say they all squeal.

Kathy, he has 2 friends he works with that tried the VA. They got so fed up they just quit trying. Maybe it is our local one that has a few difficult people to work with??
I am going to try to convince him to at least visit one time for an evaluation and go from there.

I would put up with a lot to save $7,000. As far as who to go to I would not go to a place that advertises a lot. I would get a referral from my medical doctor.

I don't know about the va with regard to hearing loss or aids but My DH has absolutely no complaints about the care he has gotten at the VA. I would think that if he has hearing loss from a service related job, he could expect some decent compensation.

I have hearing aids and I think they were both just under 4,OOO...expensive but they have helped..I am lazy about wearing them at home but I can hear much better with them.

TOTALLY AGREE THE VA IS NOT A LOST CAUSE. HIS HEARING LOST CAN BE DOCUMENTED TO SERVICE. DID YOU HEAR ME, HU! Not intending to shout, but it was necessary to have to with my HD of 42 years...I had to fight him to seek the help longer than it took to get the help he needed and was entitled to.

Is it a walk in the park, no...but well worth the effort! Also, if your HD is diabetic type II and can prove exposure to Agent Orange while in Vietnam..other benefits may await him!

Do not write the VA off...those vets are better able to get benefits now than ever...it's about time they received something for their losses and service!

Posted by whidbeykathy (My Page) on Wed, Oct 20, 10 at 11:00
The VA is not a lost cause. His hearing loss can be documented to service.
My DH went to the VA and has been treated there and recieved hearing aids. After 27 years in the Navy serving on the flight deck, he has really poor hearing!
They are very good hearing aids, and we are very happy with the audiology team there, I don't know why his friends would discourage going there.

I think I have him agreed to trying the VA. I searched through all his papers and found his discharge physical. They did a hearing evaluation, but I have no idea what the codes mean.
...now to get an appointment made and actually follow through.

He has had some documented lung issues and we suspect agent orange...how do you prove that?

He spent a great deal of his time with just him and one other guy as scouts and "other"....they called in many, many air strikes. But as he has said, so many things he was ordered to do were "out of bounds" so to speak... they "never happened".
I am beginning to suspect he doesn't want to see other vets at the hospital. The Vietnam veterans I know all have a tough, but very raw edge to them. Their vulnerability is so fragile. Mine refuses to see 'The Wall' in DC.

DH was also in the first Desert Storm group, which of course "they" initially said didn't exist. Now of course they do.
I know the Agent Orange one has a VA designation as well as a medical group; and due to his time in the service he would be tested for. He has to ASK, no one is going to volunteer.
All health issues are worth repeat visits, and all things are subject to change.
Most of the regional clinics are serving the (sad but true) younger returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The local clinics are serving the older vets. I have notice a great comradiere among them when we go, not at all edgy as you describe when they are together.
You can let him have all his excuses, BUT help is there for our veterans; and they have earned the right to it. If he doesn't want to try not much you can do about it. He will cost you money out of pocket NOW that you are not going to have for any upcoming needs as you age.