Black Owl Posted May 7, 2009 #1 Posted May 7, 2009 Just thought I'd take a moment to thank each and every one who has been paying their taxs for my new hearing. The VA finally, begrudingly, acknowledged that my hearing had gone to H... and fitted me for a hearing device. Not really a hearing aid as one would think of in the traditional sense. This device, the Phonak, filters out the background noise, and provides a clean audio signal. It's really amazing to realize that folks arn't mumbling. So, once again, Thank you. My wife also wants to thank you as she no longer has to repeat every thing two or three times.
Redneck Posted May 7, 2009 #2 Posted May 7, 2009 I'm glad to hear some of my tax dollars are being used as they are intended to. I hope it works out well for you. I am ashamed of the way our government treats our veterans.
Monty Posted May 7, 2009 #3 Posted May 7, 2009 My Dad and I both had VA appointments yesterday in Nashville. I just wish they had more Doctors. Every time I go, it's an all day thing...waiting and waiting....and more waiting.
timgray Posted May 7, 2009 #4 Posted May 7, 2009 ..... My wife also wants to thank you as she no longer has to repeat every thing two or three times. I have perfect hearing and my wife still has to repeat herself 2 or 3 times. Over the years I have developed an immunity to her voice... Problem is I also developed an automatic "yes dear" without even registering what she said.... That get's me into trouble a LOT. Glad to see you have better hearing!
SilvrT Posted May 7, 2009 #7 Posted May 7, 2009 My wife also wants to thank you as she no longer has to repeat every thing two or three times. Sounds like the kind of "hearing aid" I need -but- the above benefit can work against ya ... see, if a person finds they have to repeat things more than twice, after a while they just give up
Nemo Posted May 8, 2009 #8 Posted May 8, 2009 I also have hearing aids, provided by the VA and have them in both ears. I feel that they leave a lot to be desired, but much better than without them Mine are also Phonak, called ITE Savia. Does yours fit into the ear or benind the ear? I'm hoping that sometime in the future that they will have something better to offer. The ones that I have, have 4 choices with the button. The #3 position is actually turned off, but with a cordless devise that they gave me, it will pick up better sounds by also using a cordless sending unit. Anyway, good luck with the new units. That's one of the prices we pay to get OLD! Owen.
Gray Ghost Posted May 8, 2009 #9 Posted May 8, 2009 I've got two of the phonak behind the ear models. Waiting for the hands free necklace now. These are pretty good, I didn't have to change out any of the phones and hear great.
SapperMedic Posted May 8, 2009 #10 Posted May 8, 2009 I have an appt tomorrow at the VA to get my vocational rehab started, figured that I might as well finish the school I started 21 years ago as an army specialist. Besides Physician Assistants make more than us lazy nurses anyway. although I will be 52 when I finish. Wilkie... who was too lazy for school before retirement
Black Owl Posted May 8, 2009 Author #11 Posted May 8, 2009 I also have hearing aids, provided by the VA and have them in both ears. I feel that they leave a lot to be desired, but much better than without them Mine are also Phonak, called ITE Savia. Does yours fit into the ear or benind the ear? I'm hoping that sometime in the future that they will have something better to offer. The ones that I have, have 4 choices with the button. The #3 position is actually turned off, but with a cordless devise that they gave me, it will pick up better sounds by also using a cordless sending unit. Anyway, good luck with the new units. That's one of the prices we pay to get OLD! Owen. Mine are the behind the ear Exelia model. Plain Jane without any fancy bells and whistles. Sapper medic... Wish you well with the training. Truth be told, I would rather see a PA or a NP over an MD any day. It was a PA who identified some residual problems from my time in 'nam and help me get my disability established. My daughter, who is also an RN, just got accepted into the Nurse Practitioner Program. Long program, but well worth the effort.
Venturous Randy Posted May 8, 2009 #12 Posted May 8, 2009 With all the voice recognition stuff like on cell phones, I wonder if it will become available on hearing aids where it can recognize someone's voice and automatically mute them? I can see it now, someone sees this post, develops it and makes a gazillion bucks and I am still setting here broke. RandyA
TEW47 Posted May 8, 2009 #13 Posted May 8, 2009 Question, how does the behind the ear hearing aid fit with your helment on, does it hurt your ears? tew47
Black Owl Posted May 8, 2009 Author #14 Posted May 8, 2009 Question, how does the behind the ear hearing aid fit with your helment on, does it hurt your ears? tew47 Gene, That was one of the questions I asked to Audio technician fitting the aids for me. She assured me there would be no problems. So far she has been right. I have used both my 1/2 helmet and my 3/4 helmet with the BTE hearing aids without any problems. No feed back squeal and no excessive pressure. But then I do not have speakers in my helmets. So, while I have had no problem, someone else may have a different experience.
Gray Ghost Posted May 9, 2009 #15 Posted May 9, 2009 These are my second go with a BTE model. The first one I had was a slimmer model, no problems at all with the helmet. These I have now are just a bit thicker and sometimes I get my ear a little crosswise with a pad or something and turn off my left side. But then it normally turns back on at some point when I turn my head. Not really a problem. I have more trouble in some very noisy sports bars, but they issued me a remote that I can use to adjust the settings for my own comfort. No real problems at all to use them, and the ability to hear things I couldn't hear anymore is well worth the slight hassle.
Rottdoglover Posted May 9, 2009 #16 Posted May 9, 2009 (edited) Black Owl, I think somebody should set you straight! You shouldn't be thanking me for paying my taxes. It is I who should be thanking you, and all those like you, for making this a country where we are able to pay taxes. Yes we all get fed up with the way tax money is wasted, but some things, like your hearing, do make the burden a little more bareable. My Freedom to ride was given by those who died Thank You:usa: Edited May 9, 2009 by Rottdoglover
BIG TOM Posted May 9, 2009 #17 Posted May 9, 2009 Just thought I'd take a moment to thank each and every one who has been paying their taxs for my new hearing. The VA finally, begrudingly, acknowledged that my hearing had gone to H... and fitted me for a hearing device. Not really a hearing aid as one would think of in the traditional sense. This device, the Phonak, filters out the background noise, and provides a clean audio signal. It's really amazing to realize that folks arn't mumbling. So, once again, Thank you. My wife also wants to thank you as she no longer has to repeat every thing two or three times. As far as I'm concerned...Money well spent.....Any time my friend:mo money:
Gray Ghost Posted May 29, 2009 #18 Posted May 29, 2009 For those of you with VA issued hearing aids. Today they issued me a hands-free "necklace" for my hearing aids. It is bluetooth and connects well with my cell phone (also has an audio jack on it for MP3 players, etc). I thought I was hearing pretty well on the phone until now. BIG difference. Now this thing has a square box about 1/2 inch thick that hangs around my neck. The microphones are about a foot from my mouth. I had the wife call me while I was out on my bike and she was able to hear me even over the wind noise. Don't plan on using it for long conversations while riding, but at least now I will be able to answer the phone and get pulled over to the side for the conversation instead of having to try and figure out who it was after I finally get pulled over. And the music piece is pretty nice too. I can listen to my jams at work without the headphones giving away my secret. The device is called an Icom and came in a Phonak box.
1sttenor Posted May 29, 2009 #19 Posted May 29, 2009 I'm glad to hear some of my tax dollars are being used as they are intended to. I hope it works out well for you. I am ashamed of the way our government treats our veterans. I agree.
fixit3546 Posted May 29, 2009 #20 Posted May 29, 2009 It was truly the least i could do................ Glad to HEAR they are takin' such good care of ya. Enjoy.
PBJ Posted May 29, 2009 #21 Posted May 29, 2009 Let me just add that tax money to help our vet is money spent as it was intended. Hearing loss is a terrible thing. My little lady has been hearing impaired most of her life. Products are improving every year . It just depends on what you can afford. Personally the men and women who have defended this country should be getting the very best I don't think they are though. Glad they are helping.
Gray Ghost Posted May 30, 2009 #22 Posted May 30, 2009 Personally the men and women who have defended this country should be getting the very best I don't think they are though. Glad they are helping. I cannot complain about the treatment I am getting from the VA. I have read the stories about the OIF/OEF vets having to fill out reams of paper and prove their finances before being treated, etc. I think the form I filled out was about two pages, and as an OIF vet I get treatment for 5 years at the highest priority without proving any financials. My hearing is service connected so I will get treated for that for life. The hearing aids I have been issued appear to be top of the line from what I read online. Cost between 5,000 to 6,000 for the pair, not counting the bluetooth adaptor and remote control. Things are a lot better now than they were a few years ago, and the new head of the VA, retired Gen Shinsheki is a man that I greatly admire. I believe that things are gonna continue to improve with him driving the train.
bcradio Posted May 30, 2009 #23 Posted May 30, 2009 I've had a VOZ (Nu-Ear) for a few months. I do have speakers in my 3/4 helmets; there isn't a problem with the exception of the helmet sometimes tends to pull on the device. Make SURE you keep the devices insured! The first time I thought I had lost it the idea of paying a few THOUSAND dollars to replace it was at least uneasy. You can usually buy extended coverage from the hearing aid provider and maybe your homeowner's insurance.
firefly Posted June 1, 2009 #24 Posted June 1, 2009 Have a son who is is also a vet. I/He know what you mean having to wait on them. I think he'll be old before they get around to him! Here's talking at you!!
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