Hearing Loss and Veterans: What to Know

Service-related hearing loss and tinnitus are common, and there are practical steps worth knowing about.

AT A GLANCE

Two older veterans sharing a smartphone on a park bench, highlighting hearing loss and veterans staying connected

Hearing loss and veterans have a long history together. Many veterans remember plenty of loud moments from their service: engines, aircraft, generators, weapons training, and long days on the flight line or a ship’s deck. In the past, few people gave much thought to what all that noise might mean later.

Veterans Day is a good time to talk about it. Changes in hearing, or a ringing in the ears that won’t go away, can show up during service or years afterward. These changes are now understood much better than before, and there are practical steps that can help. Whether you’re a veteran or you care about someone who served, here’s what to know.

Why Military Service and Hearing Are Closely Linked

Military service often means being around noise that’s far louder than everyday life, sometimes for long stretches. Over time, that noise can damage the delicate parts of the inner ear that help you hear.

It’s no surprise, then, that hearing problems are common among veterans. According to veteran statistics from the Hearing Health Foundation, the 2024 VA Annual Benefits Report ranked tinnitus first and hearing loss fifth among service-connected disabilities. If you’re a veteran and you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, you’re far from alone.

Tinnitus: Hearing Sounds That Aren’t There

Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that aren’t coming from the world around you, such as ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing. For some people it’s a faint background sound. For others, it can be distracting, especially at night when the house is quiet.

If you have tinnitus, it’s worth mentioning to your doctor or an audiologist (a hearing health professional). They can talk with you about options for managing it. Tinnitus often happens alongside hearing loss, so a hearing test can be a helpful place to start.

Hearing Loss and Veterans: Signs That Are Easy to Miss

Noise-related hearing loss usually comes on gradually, which makes it easy to adjust without noticing. Many people turn the TV up a little more each year or find themselves nodding along at family dinners.

Some common signs include:

Asking people to repeat themselves
Feeling like others are mumbling
Having trouble following conversations in restaurants or busy rooms
Avoiding phone calls because voices sound unclear
Feeling tired after social gatherings

That last one is easy to overlook. When hearing takes more effort, filling in the gaps takes extra concentration, which can leave you worn out.

Getting Your Hearing Checked

If any of these signs sound familiar, a hearing test is a good next step. Your primary care doctor can refer you to an audiologist, and if you receive care through the VA, your care team can tell you about the hearing care options available to you.

A hearing test gives you a clear picture of where things stand. It also gives you a starting point to compare against future changes. Our post on Audiology Awareness Month explains what to expect from a hearing test.

Preparing for Your Appointment

A little preparation goes a long way at an appointment. Before you go, you might jot down:

When and where you served
The kinds of noise you were around
When you first noticed changes in your hearing
Situations where hearing feels hardest today
Any ringing or buzzing you notice, and when it bothers you most

Bringing a family member or friend can also help. A second person can take notes and help you remember what was discussed.

Protecting the Hearing You Have

Whatever your hearing is like today, protecting it from further damage is worthwhile. Noise from power tools, lawn equipment, hunting, motorcycles, and concerts can all add up over time.

Wearing earplugs or earmuffs during loud activities, turning the volume down on headphones, and giving your ears quiet breaks are simple habits that make a difference. Our post on how to protect your hearing every day has more ideas you can use around the house and out in the yard.

Making Phone Calls Easier

Scheduling appointments, following up with your care team, and keeping in touch with family often happen by phone. When voices are hard to understand, those calls can feel stressful.

With a CapTel captioned telephone, you hear the caller and see their words on a screen at the same time. That’s especially useful for calls that include dates, times, or instructions you’d want to get right.

How Family Members Can Help

If you’re the spouse, adult child, or friend of a veteran, you may notice hearing changes before they do. A gentle approach often works best. You might say, “I’ve noticed phone calls seem frustrating lately. Would it help to look into some options together?”

Small everyday habits matter too, like facing the person when you talk, turning down background noise, and turning on captions for TV and video calls. Offering to go along to an appointment can also take some of the pressure off.

Staying Connected with the People Who Understand

Many veterans stay in touch with the people they served with through reunions, veterans organizations, and local groups. Hearing changes don’t have to get in the way of those connections. For more tips on living with hearing loss for veterans, the Hamilton CapTel® Heroes with Hearing Loss program offers helpful advice.

At gatherings, choosing a seat near the speaker, asking whether a microphone or listening system is available, and stepping into a quieter area for one-on-one conversations can all make it easier to follow along. Between visits, phone calls can keep those friendships going, and captions can help make those calls easier to follow.

Take the next step:

Learn how a CapTel captioned telephone can make calls with doctors, family, and fellow veterans easier to follow
Find out which CapTel phone model might be the best fit for you or someone you care about
See if you or someone you care about may be eligible to receive a CapTel phone at no cost
For questions or to learn more, call CapTel at 1-800-233-9130

Keep exploring: More on hearing health FAQs | Visit the CapTel blog | Share this article with a friend

CapTel

CapTel® is the inventor and technology leader in Captioned Telephones for people with hearing loss. CapTel phones show word-for-word captions of everything a caller says, helping those with hearing loss stay connected with the important people in their lives.