F.Y.I.
I have had tinnitus since Viet Nam.... 105 artillery. Never gave much thought about the ringing in my ears, just thought it was a nuisance that I got stuck with. A friend said that the most disability benefits the v.a. pays out is for tinnitus. Went to the v.a. for a shot and mentioned it to the doc. Said that my M.O.S. was a gimmie/automatic, as many other M.O.S.'s are. He set up a hearing test and to make a long story short, three months later the v.a. awarded me 10% ($140.00 per mo.) and two hearing aids that cost $6000.00. This was completely unexpected. I always felt the bennies were for REAL SERIOUS injuries.
I have a "slight" hearing loss, something anyone could live with. Wife says its selective. Doc. says the aids will over-ride the ringing.
Just a thought for any of you that might have that bothersome ringing/hissing aggravation.
JohnP
semper fi

 

Good to know about the "ringing in the ears.
I suffer terrible from it
Thanks for the bump

BTW, you need to let @Fabman know you need a vet ribbon under your name

Thanks for your service

 

Be sure and follow through. My friend was in the airforce and qualified. Like I said, its a gimmie and the most claims for disability are for tinnitus. Lemme know if you follow up.
JohnP
semper fi

p.s. although my hearing isnt a problem, doc. said H. Aids would over-ride the noise.

 

Part of my disability is for that. Had some meds for a bit, but they didn't work that well. Hearing test seemed to be fine. I was deficient in a couple of ranges, but there isn't a lot they can do about it in those frequency ranges. I believe those are the frequency ranges The Warden (my wife) most often communicates in.

 

The hearing aids we ended up having to have - doctor ordered - for my mother are $1600. Just had to replace them in December thanks to my sisters dogs.
And that is Costco. They are rechargeable so at least we don't have to buy batteries all the time.

 

The audiologist said they cost "around" $6000.00. If that's the case it sounds like the v.a. (us) is getting ripped off. I had no idea of the costs of h.aids could vary that much. Maybe I outta tell 'em to get them at Costco and save some money... HA.... Now I feel guilty. Like I said before, I only have a slight hearing problem, mostly wife and g.daughters. Could do o.k. w/out them.
Johnp
semper fi

 

I think they are like used cars. They have a sliding scale that goes from pieces of junk to excellent deals to tow to 4 times what they are actually worth. I get adds for $5000 hearing aid at least once a week. We got my mother a set of the 300 variety originally. Nothing but problems, feedback and they hated TV noise. Broke down and went with the $1600 pair and my mother was at peace. When my 92 year old Scotch Irish mother is at peace, so are we. Her neighbors a 1/2 mile down the road no longer have to listen to her TV.
Drives my sister nuts though. My mother can now hear my sister and brother in law plotting against her when they are in the next room over.

 

I have had tinnitus for years and my hearing loss is significant. Especially at the higher range. Drops off like a 10,000 foot cliff. 10 years ago I spent big $$$ on rechargeable aids. Damned things wouldn't hold up more than 8 hours. After that, we discovered that United Health Care (our health insurance at the time) offered their own, in-house aids for my out of pocket cost of $ 800.00. That was about 6 years ago. Still have them but, rarely use them. Which, of course, pisses The Queen smooth off. They are not worth a damn in ''busy'' venues like noisy restaurants. The background noise makes them useless.

When first tested, the doc asked me what I might have done, in my youth, to cause the hearing loss. Other than ''Livin' Large'', I started the list with motor cycles, loud cars, rock & roll (played drums with bass speakers blaring at me). Air Force flight lines. 50 cal. machine guns, M-16s and, the coup de gras...40mm grenade launchers. Then, topped off with decades of bird hunting. Oh, yeah...manufacturing plants and construction sites.

Ear protection, you say? I don't need no stinking ear protection.





.

 

I'll let ya know if it's a waste of time. Audioist said if they don't help...bring em back.
Johnp
semper fi

 

Touching back on this...From what I have learned, the best hearing aids can do is mask the tinnitus. And that is if they produce their own audio of some kind. Even if it is just a hummmmm. Or, some of the fancy-dancy ones allow for Bluetooth play back and you can play Tunes through your hearing aids. Like....






.

 

My cousin, Capt., US Army Special Forces (Green Beret), 2 tours Nam, is almost completely deaf without his hearing aids, supplied by the VA. He's not much better than deaf WITH them. His main problem with them is that they are pretty big and can be uncomfortable to wear for long period. When you talk with him, you face him so he can see your lips moving and you have to elevate your voice for him to hear. BAE ruptured both ear drums and rattled his cage while living with the natives.

 

Sorry for your cousin. My aids are not bigger than a peanut (in the shell) and once installed in my ear holes I can't even tell they are there. Nobody can see them. I can tell a diff. in hearing but the darn ringing is still there. Audio said give it a month for my pea brain to "learn" the use of them and said they are going to send me a machine that you turn on while in bed and it will 'white noise' me to sleep ???? and a streaming device for the t.v. ??? I think i'm getting a lot of stuff I don't really need and will return it if it's of no use.
Once again my sympathy and thanks to your cuz.

B.T.W. Just bought a S&W MP semi. auto. carbine w/30 rd. mag. any experience with one ? Haven't shot it yet, just ogling it for now.
Johnp
semper fi

 

I tried the stupid a** white noise machine.
waste of time and money. Kept me awake

Get a nice, small fan, and put it on medium.
It is about the same pitch as the noise in your/my ears, and keeps the air flow fresh too.
works like a charm for about $12 at wally world

 

hello JOHN i also get dissability from my ears - i was a grunt lots of noise - well welcome home BROTHER