Treating Veterans with Hearing Loss in Waterloo, IA

November 7, 2019

Tinnitus and varying levels of hearing loss top the list of the most common health ailments reported by military veterans to medical professionals. In the case of tinnitus, an affected person is likely to hear phantom ringing, humming and buzzing noises in their ears. No one else is hearing these sounds. Only after a diagnosis can treatment begin, but not everyone knows where to start.

It’s not unusual for military personnel who have transitioned back to civilian life to encounter new challenges—especially individuals bringing home physical and emotional traumas connected to their service. Here’s what veterans with hearing loss in Waterloo, IA and their families need to know.

Veterans are particularly susceptible to hearing loss

The signs of hearing loss in military servicemembers can be spotted during active duty, but is largely known to develop or present after returning home. There’s a reason why retired military personnel are at a higher risk of developing hearing loss than other groups of people. During their time in the service, they were regularly exposed to excessive noise—including explosives, ship or jet engines, artillery fire, helicopters, heavy machinery and other noise-producing equipment used on a daily basis. The reality is that extensive exposure to sounds higher than 85 decibels—and all of the above examples qualify—can do permanent damage to a person’s hearing.

Hearing loss associated with excessive noise while on active duty can cause tinnitus. However, it’s important to note that excessive noise is not the only contributor to tinnitus in veterans. Other conditions can be tinnitus triggers, such as neck trauma, head trauma, high blood pressure and taking certain medications.

Treating tinnitus and hearing loss

Someone suffering from tinnitus as the result of an underlying medical condition may notice that the condition goes away when they receive treatment. On the other hand, it’s much more difficult to get rid of tinnitus brought about by noise. The good news is that no matter what caused your tinnitus, it can be effectively treated and managed in a number of ways.

The most common way to ease tinnitus symptoms is by treating hearing loss, which veterans who have tinnitus usually have. Wearing hearing aids, for example, is an effective treatment option. These devices can improve hearing and lessen the symptoms of tinnitus. There are even hearing aids made to feature special tinnitus therapy programs that zero in to reduce the annoyance of tinnitus. Additional treatment support includes practicing concentration and relaxation techniques, undergoing counseling and trying various beneficial therapeutic approaches that can provide relief.

What to do

Hearing loss and tinnitus can take an emotional toll on sufferers and their loved ones, as well as lead to social isolation and mental health issues. If you’re a veteran or know a veteran experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, reach out to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA can help arrange appointments for you to see hearing professionals to diagnose and assess your condition.

All veterans with hearing loss in Waterloo, IA can benefit from a hearing evaluation. Call Potter’s Hearing Aid Service to learn more.

Categorised in:

This post was written by Writer

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *