Veterans resources and support

Mission Statement: To provide advocacy, education and support for veterans with hearing loss, minimizing the impact of hearing loss on their daily life.

Support for Our Veterans: Navigating Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Did you know that hearing loss and tinnitus are the two most common service-connected disabilities? Today, they affect nearly three million service members. If you are experiencing changes in your hearing, please know you are not alone—and we are here to support you.

The Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) offers a welcoming virtual discussion page on Facebook created exclusively for veterans. It is a safe space to connect, share experiences, and find resources with peers who truly understand your journey.

Understanding the Causes of Service-Related Hearing Loss

Hearing challenges can stem from many different aspects of military service, including:

Heavy weaponry: Regular exposure to gunfire, explosions, and blast weaponry.
Specialized roles: Prolonged exposure to high noise levels in fields like aviation.
Sudden trauma: A single, severe acoustic blast event.
Chemical exposure: Contact with ototoxic (hearing-damaging) chemicals.
Physical injuries: Traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Related conditions: Managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
General factors: Natural aging or other everyday causes.

Hearing Loss Resources for Veterans with Hearing Loss

United States (National Resources)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Website: https://www.va.gov
Provides hearing exams, hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, tinnitus treatment, and audiology services for eligible veterans.

VA Audiology & Speech Pathology Services

Website: https://www.rehab.va.gov/audiology
Specialized VA program offering:

Hearing evaluations
Hearing aid fittings
Tinnitus management
Tele-audiology services
Assistive technology

Veterans Crisis Line

Website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net
Phone: Dial 988 then Press 1
Text: 838255

Accessible support for veterans experiencing emotional distress, including those coping with hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, or isolation.

Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA)

Website: https://alda.org

ALDA supports late-deafened, deaf, and hard of hearing adults through peer support, advocacy, education, and community connection. The organization is especially valuable for veterans adjusting to acquired hearing loss later in life.

Resources include:

Peer support and mentoring
National and local chapter connections
Communication strategies and accessibility education
Social and emotional support
Annual conferences and community events
Advocacy for accessible communication and inclusion

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)

Website: https://www.hearingloss.org

Offers education, advocacy, local support chapters, webinars, and accessibility resources for people with hearing loss, including veterans.

National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)

Website: https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov

VA-affiliated research center focused on hearing loss and tinnitus among veterans.

American Tinnitus Association (ATA)

Website: https://www.ata.org

Provides tinnitus education, coping strategies, research updates, and support resources.

Wounded Warrior Project

Website: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Provides support services for veterans with service-related injuries, including hearing loss and traumatic brain injuries.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

Website: https://www.dav.org

Helps veterans access disability benefits, including claims related to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Website: https://www.vfw.org

Offers benefits assistance, advocacy, and community support for veterans.

Cochlear Americas — Veterans Program

Website: https://www.cochlear.com/us

Provides information about cochlear implants and hearing solutions for veterans with severe hearing loss.

Starkey Cares

Website: https://www.starkey.com/starkeycares

Occasionally partners with veteran organizations to provide hearing healthcare assistance.

CaptionCall

Website: https://www.captioncall.com

Provides captioned telephones for individuals with hearing loss who qualify.

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)

Website: https://www.nad.org

Advocacy and accessibility resources for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, including veterans.

International Resources

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) — United Kingdom

Website: https://rnid.org.uk

Provides hearing loss support, assistive technology information, tinnitus resources, and advocacy.

Help for Heroes — United Kingdom

Website: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Supports wounded veterans, including those with hearing-related injuries and rehabilitation needs.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)

Website: https://www.veterans.gc.ca

Offers disability benefits and healthcare support for Canadian veterans, including hearing loss-related conditions.

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA)

Website: https://chha.ca

Education, advocacy, and support for Canadians with hearing loss.

Hearing Services Program — Australia

Website: https://www.health.gov.au

Australian government program providing hearing services for eligible veterans and seniors.

Returned & Services League (RSL Australia)

Website: https://www.rslaustralia.org

Provides support services and advocacy for veterans, including disability-related assistance.

Hearing Australia

Website: https://www.hearing.com.au

Provides hearing services, devices, and rehabilitation support, including for veterans.

Combat Stress — United Kingdom

Website: https://combatstress.org.uk

Mental health support for veterans, including those coping with hearing loss-related isolation and PTSD.

Deaf Veterans Association — United Kingdom

Supports deaf and hard of hearing veterans through peer support and advocacy initiatives.

International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (IFHOH)

Website: https://ifhoh.org

Global advocacy organization supporting people with hearing loss worldwide.

World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)

Website: https://wfdeaf.org

International advocacy organization promoting rights and accessibility for deaf individuals globally.