Our Veterans Deserve Better

Statement

Our Veterans Deserve Better: More Veterans seek help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for hearing loss than any other disability facing them today. The demand for audiology services is growing at nearly 10% per year. With limited resources, the VA is struggling to keep up.

Veterans across the country are being forced to wait weeks, even months, for an appointment. In Marshfield, WI, Roger, a 70-year-old Vietnam War Veteran, sought help from the VA for his hearing loss. He was informed he could not get an appointment for six months. Unfortunately, Roger couldn't wait that long, so he went to his local hearing aid specialist and was seen that day. Roger was willing to pay out of pocket for his hearing aids but that is not an option for many of our Veterans -- nor should it have to be.

Currently, the VA is only allowed to use audiologists to provide hearing services to Veterans. While audiology doctors are a great resource for the VA, there are not enough of them to keep up with the demand and needs of Veterans like Roger.

However, there is another option. Hearing aid specialists go through a one to two year apprenticeship-training period, complete a comprehensive written exam, and are certified by the state to fit and sell hearing aids. They are more than qualified to support the specialized services of audiology doctors by fitting, adjusting, and making minor repairs to hearing aids. I've introduced a bill, H.R. 3508, that would give both our Veterans and audiologists much needed relief while conserving resources at the VA. If the provisions of this bill are implemented, VA audiologists can turn their attention to specialized cases and complex conditions, and people like Roger won't have to wait six months for simple appointments to get hearing aids.

I testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee this week about the importance of considering this legislation. Our Veterans deserve better and I will keep you posted on the bill's progress.

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