Know your hearing support options
Do you strain to listen or have difficulty following conversations? Are you often asking people to repeat themselves or to speak up?
These are just 2 questions from a useful hearing checklist – part of DVA’s new suite of resources to help veterans consider all their options and make informed decisions about their hearing.
The resources include a hearing services brochure, which will help you understand the various services, treatments and devices available. The Veteran’s guide to better hearing provides more detailed information and guidance to ensure you receive the support you need to meet your hearing needs.
The information guides are part of DVA’s veteran-centered approach to hearing services to ensure veterans receive improved access to quality hearing support that better meets their needs. The Veteran Hearing Services Framework is focused on individual needs and aims to empower veterans and their families to make choices that are best for them.
The framework simplifies the process for veterans to receive funding for appropriate hearing devices, including complex hearing requests, ensuring fair and consistent decisions. It also makes it easier for veterans to request hearing aids by helping them to better understand the services available and steps involved, resulting in a more positive, straightforward experience.
The framework includes updated request forms to expedite complex hearing requests, updated internal DVA review processes, and enhanced resources and communication with veterans, families and service providers.
If you’ve ever felt embarrassed when you can’t hear what others are saying, or your family is getting frustrated because you can’t hear them, we recommend you make an appointment with a hearing provider in your local area. You can do so by visiting the local hearing services directory of the Hearing Services Program, which provides subsidised hearing devices to up to 10,000 veterans each year.
The program offers fully subsidised devices that work for the majority of people – at no cost to you for the device, fitting, training and maintenance. Your provider should present you with devices and options from a range of manufacturers. And if they recommend partially instead of fully subsidised devices, they should explain why.
Please note DVA may not reimburse you for hearing devices once you have purchased them. Therefore, it is important to discuss your options with your provider before purchasing devices. Similarly, if you have sought prior approval of funding from DVA, please wait until you receive a determination before proceeding with purchasing devices.
To access our new resources please visit the Hearing services page or contact us at Hearing@dva.gov.au.