Hearing loss is a major concern for the military. Research shows that the number one and number two health conditions experienced by military veterans treated at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers are, respectively, hearing loss and tinnitus. More specifically, in 2020, 1.3 million veterans received disability compensation for hearing loss, and 2.3 million received compensation for tinnitus. Earlier studies indicate that one in five hearing aids sold annually in the U.S. are purchased by the VA.

The problem isn’t limited to hearing loss, however, as a range of other health conditions are often associated with hearing loss. Veterans with normal results on hearing tests, for example, may experience auditory processing disorder or central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) as a result of blast exposure. A 2015 study found that 72% of veterans diagnosed with tinnitus also suffered from anxiety, while 60% had depression, and 58% had both conditions.

A variety of tools and approaches are available to help veterans address the physical and mental challenges related to hearing loss. At the top of the list: hearing aids, which experts agree are the ideal solution for someone with hearing loss. That said, veterans exploring the use of hearing aids should be aware that finding the right solution can take time and requires expertise. First, a comprehensive hearing evaluation — rather than a high-level screening — is essential to program a hearing aid to align to an individual’s requirements. But even then, it’s important to remember that every case is different. Two individuals whose audiograms — or hearing capability profiles — are identical on paper can require two completely different hearing solutions. Patience is therefore essential.

Even when a hearing aid works well in face-to-face conversations, communicating by phone can be problematic. Surveys show that hearing aids improve the quality of phone conversations by only 55% on average. Turning up the volume only creates louder garbled sound, because telephones don’t transmit the full range of frequencies used in human speech. Communicating by phone, moreover, doesn’t allow an individual to read the lips of the person they’re speaking with or pick up on body language.

Today’s advanced smartphones and sophisticated applications offer yet another option for managing hearing loss. A wide range of easily downloadable apps are available that convert speech to text in real time. During a conversation, in other words, one user’s spoken words on a cellphone call are converted into text that appears on the other user’s smartphone screen, allowing one or both users to read along with the conversation. This can be especially helpful for individuals with hearing loss who have difficulty understanding certain accents, distinguishing between male and female and child and adult voices (because different voices have different frequency ranges), or who may miss parts of the conversation due to background noise.

Most speech-to-text apps are designed to work with a variety of phone systems, and many are available in Android, Apple and Google Play app marketplaces. Moreover, for eligible users who are registered with the Federal Communications Commission and have a hearing loss, there is no cost to use these services.

Hearing loss — and associated health issues — related to military service can be a traumatizing experience for veterans and their families and associates. Difficulties in continuing to work, participating in daily activities, or connecting with friends and family can exacerbate feelings of isolation and vulnerability. Today’s tools and technologies can help veterans experiencing hearing loss to communicate effectively and engage professionally and personally. Building awareness of available options is the first step.

Steve DeMari is a director of business development and education at Sorenson, a provider of accessible and inclusive language services for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. These include captioning services for landline phones, as well as apps for cellphones. He has over 30 years in the audiology and hearing aid industry and began his career as a clinical and research audiologist with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.