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I agree. Other than that, I do not know what logic VAC uses for anything.
VAC and Tinnitus
- Thread starter supremedebater
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I agree. Other than that, I do not know what logic VAC uses for anything.
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I have tinnitus with some hearing loss. At first, I was only given the part of the pension for the hearing loss then one day I went to my bank and found a huge deposit from the DVA. Thinking it was a mistake, I called them and was told I was being back payed for my tinnitus and that my pension would go up accordingly. In my case, I had started going to a support group, there I was told I should apply. That gave me an idea. I sent a letter to the Chef Medical Officer at NDHQ who responded and said "yes, tinnitus is a problem in some trades, like Artillery and Infantry. As it was, I had been in the Infantry. So I applied and waited till I had a call and they said they are just waiting for my medical records. One day I got a package in the mail and in it was a pro rated cheque and a letter telling me how much I'd get and a card. They paid for hearing aids and I get new ones every 3 years and it covers battery's too. The only thing they won't pay for is tinnitus retraining. Otherwise, they have been great with me. Now, they do expect you to have your hearing re tested once a year but even with hearing aids, the T is no better, it only makes it louder. Constant buzzing 24/7 can drive a person nuts. Trust me, it's no fun having this when you have to ask people to repeat them self, cause the buzzing gets in the way. At times, it takes longer to fall asleep. If anyone else on here has it, why don't we start our own support group for each other.
mike63
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I also have Tinnitus and was approved for a lump sum payment about 3 months ago. I had no problems with my claim (which came as a total surprise as I was ready for another fight with the VA). I was sent to hearing centre in town and another appointment with a specialist at the hospital. Paperwork went in without a CF98 but, because of my explaination about being on weapons ranges for years and having worn a headset for hours at a time for a few years (I was a SigOp), approval can very quickly.
I also have the constant ringing in my right ear which causes frequent headaches but, the hearing loss isn't to the point of having hearing aids (according to the specialist).
I do like your idea of a support group.
Mike
I also have the constant ringing in my right ear which causes frequent headaches but, the hearing loss isn't to the point of having hearing aids (according to the specialist).
I do like your idea of a support group.
Mike
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mike63 said:
In my case (yours may differ), the hearing aid (HA) is actually prescribed to treat my tinnitus. Maskers are apparently not given out any more, as it has been found that the new HAs do a better job at dealing with the effects of tinnitus. In my case, the range of speech frequencies are boosted above the perceived volume of the tinnitus, effectively masking it with the ambient sound (if there is any, that is). I'm still serving, and when I got my HA a little over two years ago it was one of the best available. I just had a periodic hearing check done, and the audiologist tells me that the model I have is obsolete already. They actually have HAs now with integrated Bluetooth for your cellphone or whatever. Really! And they are likely within the spectrum of care for VAC. If you haven't asked your audiologist about whether a HA can be useful in your case for treating your tinnitus, be sure to ask about it. It's very common now.
J
jollyjacktar
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Thanks for the tip Occam, I'm going to be getting another audiogram week after next. I'll ask some questions about this sort of stuff.
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Occam said:
Those are the ones I have. I've tried it. It works, but I find it easier and less cumbersome to set my phones to the hearing aid setting.
mike63
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Occam said:
Hmmm...well now I will have to check up on that. I just remember my audiologist saying that from the test results, I didn't warrant the use of HAs yet. You would have figured that he would of at least mentioned the possibility of that working.
I have a friend from the PPCLI that is still serving here in Kingston, he has 2 HAs. It's pretty funny because when we did PT he didn't wear them so, we always had to yell at him. Sometimes he wouldn't have them in yet when we got back to our units lines...still having to yell at him, still makes me laugh.
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I was diagnosed with Tinnitus several years ago from my exposure over the years to engine noise on the ship. Even though I have moderate hearing loss and have at times a hard time hearing it was determined that my hearing loss was not sufficient to having a HA.I can live with the Tinnitus however was told the military don't perscribe a masking device anymore.
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That's right - they don't prescribe maskers anymore.
Normally, once a person makes a complaint of tinnitus, a "tinnitus assessment" is performed by an audiologist. The assessment I did was quite lengthy, but it did conclusively prove that I had tinnitus and identified its perceived frequency and amplitude. Once the tinnitus assessment was done, they tried me out with an audio CD which had pink noise tailored to match my tinnitus. I would listen to that for 5-10 minutes several times per day. Eventually it stopped working, and the HA was suggested at that point. The HA worked like a charm.
Under the old Pension Act, a person could only get the 10% (or "severe") disability level if they required the use of a tinnitus masker. Because the legislation never kept up with the technology, it became nearly impossible to get assessed at the 10% disability level because nobody was prescribing maskers anymore. The BPA lawyer who represented me argued (successfully) that using current technology, the HA is performing as a masker. VRAB sought out an expert opinion on the subject, and here's what was quoted in my decision:
The Board was referred to a statement from Trevor Menchenton, Clinical Audiologist, dated 28 April 2010, which notes as follows:
. . . hearing aids (HAs) . . . . used to distract him from the tinnitus, they ARE serving as a tinnitus masker. A masker does not eliminate tinnitus, it just helps to distract the sufferer from its constant presence. HAs are the tinnitus maskers most often used today, dedicated maskers that do not assist with hearing are no longer widely used. ln fact, I am not even sure they continue to be produced in Canada it has been such a long time since I looked for one. HAs provide the best masking effect because they accomplish both goals at once, addressing the hearing difficulties and also distracting the user from his/her tinnitus. To be used effectively as maskers, they require a specific approach to amplification and we must introduce sound in an appropriate fashion, but any audiologist should be able to program them effectively to accomplish this. . . .
. . . ln the majority of cases, we use carefully applied low frequency amplification to initiate a forward masking effect to cover up the typical high frequency tinnitus most people with noise-induced hearing loss suffer from. This is cautiously programmed and requires extensive discussion and coaching with the patient to handle its effect . . . .
So if you haven't had a tinnitus assessment done, that's probably the first step in figuring out if a HA will do you any good...
Normally, once a person makes a complaint of tinnitus, a "tinnitus assessment" is performed by an audiologist. The assessment I did was quite lengthy, but it did conclusively prove that I had tinnitus and identified its perceived frequency and amplitude. Once the tinnitus assessment was done, they tried me out with an audio CD which had pink noise tailored to match my tinnitus. I would listen to that for 5-10 minutes several times per day. Eventually it stopped working, and the HA was suggested at that point. The HA worked like a charm.
Under the old Pension Act, a person could only get the 10% (or "severe") disability level if they required the use of a tinnitus masker. Because the legislation never kept up with the technology, it became nearly impossible to get assessed at the 10% disability level because nobody was prescribing maskers anymore. The BPA lawyer who represented me argued (successfully) that using current technology, the HA is performing as a masker. VRAB sought out an expert opinion on the subject, and here's what was quoted in my decision:
The Board was referred to a statement from Trevor Menchenton, Clinical Audiologist, dated 28 April 2010, which notes as follows:
. . . hearing aids (HAs) . . . . used to distract him from the tinnitus, they ARE serving as a tinnitus masker. A masker does not eliminate tinnitus, it just helps to distract the sufferer from its constant presence. HAs are the tinnitus maskers most often used today, dedicated maskers that do not assist with hearing are no longer widely used. ln fact, I am not even sure they continue to be produced in Canada it has been such a long time since I looked for one. HAs provide the best masking effect because they accomplish both goals at once, addressing the hearing difficulties and also distracting the user from his/her tinnitus. To be used effectively as maskers, they require a specific approach to amplification and we must introduce sound in an appropriate fashion, but any audiologist should be able to program them effectively to accomplish this. . . .
. . . ln the majority of cases, we use carefully applied low frequency amplification to initiate a forward masking effect to cover up the typical high frequency tinnitus most people with noise-induced hearing loss suffer from. This is cautiously programmed and requires extensive discussion and coaching with the patient to handle its effect . . . .
So if you haven't had a tinnitus assessment done, that's probably the first step in figuring out if a HA will do you any good...
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While we are on the subject of tinnitus - does anyone suffer from/been pensioned for both tinnitus and vertigo and/or hearing loss?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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Thanks for the reply Occam. I should be more specific - I am referring to a pension for vertigo that may/may not be associated with either the tinnitus or the hearing loss. Additionally I am interested in understanding if anyone has had vertigo tied to either one of the two other conditions.
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Are you referring to a claim under the Pension Act, or the New Veterans Charter?
Under the Pension Act, vertigo is accounted for in the assessment of hearing loss if it is part and parcel of the hearing loss disability. See 9.03 - Vertigo.
The assessment under the New Veterans Charter is somewhat more complex.
Are you looking at trying to claim vertigo as a separately pensionable condition, or to claim it as a cause of hearing loss and not an effect?
Under the Pension Act, vertigo is accounted for in the assessment of hearing loss if it is part and parcel of the hearing loss disability. See 9.03 - Vertigo.
The assessment under the New Veterans Charter is somewhat more complex.
Are you looking at trying to claim vertigo as a separately pensionable condition, or to claim it as a cause of hearing loss and not an effect?
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I went to a private hearing clinic in Calgary, had my tinnitus confirmed. The clinic filled out the paperwork and I received a lump sum payment in my account and a letter detailing it. On my profile is more info. I didn't have any prior history but I already received compesation for PTSD.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Tinnitus HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recently I was awarded a VAC disability award, SDA injury for Bilateral Chrionic Tinnitus present day and night in both ears (no hearing loss). I was prescribed devices (Zen hearing aids with fractals) and a pillow sleeper as masking devices. Still serving so my request from my practioner went to CF health services of course. Subsequently treatment was denied as it does not fall under the CF spectrum of care. FAIR ENOUGH, treatment denial (official document) was then forwarded to veterans affairs for a treatment request and VAC refused to even enter it in their system.....The refusal for treatment was given verbally to my practionner, and VAC refuses to even look at my file for treatment. My response the last 10 times I have contacted VAC was a very quick, you are still serving, fight it out with the CF not our problem.
I have contacted the CF, submitted a grievance, contacted veterans affairs, no glory, presented at the local district office, contatced the Veterans affairs Ombudsman, and the resolution dept at Veterans affairs.
So to date no treatment, the CF says no, and VAC refuses to process treatment authorization request because I am still serving. Is there anyone who can possibly provide me with a means to deal with this........................ I am losing it and quickly
Recently I was awarded a VAC disability award, SDA injury for Bilateral Chrionic Tinnitus present day and night in both ears (no hearing loss). I was prescribed devices (Zen hearing aids with fractals) and a pillow sleeper as masking devices. Still serving so my request from my practioner went to CF health services of course. Subsequently treatment was denied as it does not fall under the CF spectrum of care. FAIR ENOUGH, treatment denial (official document) was then forwarded to veterans affairs for a treatment request and VAC refused to even enter it in their system.....The refusal for treatment was given verbally to my practionner, and VAC refuses to even look at my file for treatment. My response the last 10 times I have contacted VAC was a very quick, you are still serving, fight it out with the CF not our problem.
I have contacted the CF, submitted a grievance, contacted veterans affairs, no glory, presented at the local district office, contatced the Veterans affairs Ombudsman, and the resolution dept at Veterans affairs.
So to date no treatment, the CF says no, and VAC refuses to process treatment authorization request because I am still serving. Is there anyone who can possibly provide me with a means to deal with this........................ I am losing it and quickly
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Yes thats correct!
Because there is no hearing loss they say that tinnitus treatment itself is not covered
sorry I hadnt realized it posted in two places....my apologies
Because there is no hearing loss they say that tinnitus treatment itself is not covered
sorry I hadnt realized it posted in two places....my apologies
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In Aug 2008, my ENT and audiologist in Halifax recommended a hearing aid to serve as a masker for my tinnitus (they don't use true maskers anymore because they seldom work). In Feb 2009, the ENT in Ottawa concurred and I was given a hearing aid to treat my tinnitus. At the time, there was hearing loss, but not enough to need a hearing aid. The hearing aid was prescribed solely for my tinnitus, and it was paid for and issued by the CF. What does the Spectrum of Care policy actually say now?
You all mean there is a relationship between vertigo and hearing loss. I thought I was just getting old. I have been fighting the VAC battle over hearing loss in one ear and the crazy ringing since 1989. I received 3/5 for one ear in 89.
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