Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Audiology Services
VHA Audiology
Welcome to VHA audiology services! Hearing is vital to a Veteran’s quality of life, affecting communication, safety, social interactions, and overall well-being. We support Veterans’ hearing healthcare through a holistic approach called Whole Health, which emphasizes understanding and addressing the Veteran’s unique hearing needs and communication goals. This approach focuses on what matters most to the Veteran in their hearing journey, rather than just the hearing loss diagnosis.
Untreated hearing loss has the potential for serious health risks, including social isolation, depression, dementia, and/or cognitive decline. By addressing hearing needs and seeking early treatment, individuals may significantly reduce these potential health risks.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) audiology services provides comprehensive hearing healthcare, including hearing aids, to all Veterans who are enrolled and eligible for VA care without administrative barriers. Our services are available at more than 650 sites of care within the VA health care system including medical centers, outpatient clinics, and community-based outpatient clinics. We provide both in-person and virtual options to ensure comprehensive care for all Veterans.
Our innovative teleaudiology services have significantly expanded hearing healthcare access, particularly for Veterans in rural and highly rural areas. Teleaudiology uses several methods to provide care remotely:
- Clinic-To-Clinic Teleaudiology: Connecting Veterans at local clinics with a healthcare provider at larger facilities.
- Clinic-To-Home Teleaudiology: Allowing Veterans to receive care from the comfort of their homes.
- Remote Hearing Aid Programming: Enabling audiologists to adjust and fine-tune hearing aids without requiring in-person visits.
Mission Statement
Honor American’s Veterans by providing exceptional rehabilitation services and prosthetic devices that restore, enhance, preserve their health and independence.
Vision Statement
Maximize Veterans’ functional independence and successful integration into their communities by providing a continuum of rehabilitation services and advanced technologies, engaged in partnership with Veterans and their families, and aligned to optimize delivery across VHA health care system.
Audiology - Direct Access & Getting Started
Audiology is one of the few services that can be scheduled directly without needing a referral from a primary care provider or any other healthcare professional. To access audiology services including hearing aids follow these steps:
1. Register for VA health care at the health administration/enrollment section of the VA Medical Center of the Veteran’s choice. Complete the enrollment process to become eligible for VA health services.
2. Once the Veteran is registered and enrolled in VA health services, the Veteran may proceed to schedule an appointment at a VA Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic for a hearing evaluation through one of these methods:
- Phone: Call your local VA facility
- Online: Use VA’s online scheduling tool
- Secure Messaging: Contact your provider through VA’s secure messaging system
Please see the VA hearing aids fact sheet for more information on hearing aid services VA Hearing Aids (PDF)
Our Team: Audiologists, Health Technicians, and Graduate Trainees
Audiologists
VA is the largest employer of audiologists in the United States, with nearly 1,400 audiologists. Audiologists are licensed healthcare professionals who care for Veterans through the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing disorders to include hearing loss, balance impairment and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Using evidence-based practices and state-of-the art diagnostic tools, VA audiologists take a comprehensive approach to assess Veterans’ hearing, tinnitus, and balance. They develop personalized treatment plans, counsel patients and their families on intervention strategies, and educate them on effective hearing health practices.
VA audiologists utilize a Whole Health approach that aligns with each Veteran’s unique goals and lifestyle. If hearing aids or other devices are recommended, they are provided at no cost to eligible Veterans, including repairs, and other accessories to include batteries, as long as VA eligibility for care is maintained. Additionally, VA audiologists ensure that hearing aid fittings are verified using scientifically validated methods to optimize comfort and performance. They also administer outcome measurements to assess the effectiveness of treatments post hearing aid fitting. This process ensures Veterans receive high-quality care tailored to their specific needs.
Health Technicians in Audiology
Health technicians that specialize in audiology are essential members of the hearing healthcare team. They provide vital support to audiologists, enhancing the efficiency and quality of care delivered to Veterans experiencing hearing loss. VHA audiology services employs nearly 400 health technicians who provide essential hearing healthcare support under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. Many health technicians in VHA audiology services have earned the prestigious Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) designation by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). This specialized certification enhances capabilities and versatility of health technicians in audiology services, equipping them with advanced skills in hearing conservation and contributing to improving hearing health outcomes for Veterans.
Graduate Trainees
VHA audiology services is proud to be a leading teaching facility for future audiologists, providing over 150 graduate trainees who gain hands-on clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. This program not only enhances the skills of aspiring professionals but also brings fresh perspectives and innovative practices to our services.
Comprehensive Hearing Care Services
VA audiologists provide a range of comprehensive clinical services to Veterans to include diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aid services, hearing conservation, aural rehabilitation, vestibular assessment and rehabilitation, tinnitus assessment and management, auditory processing disorder evaluations, ototoxic monitoring, and virtual teleaudiology services.
VA audiology provides cutting-edge hearing technology to Veterans through national contracts with the top five hearing aid manufacturers, offering the latest, premium models in various styles. In addition to hearing aids, VA offers surgically implantable devices such as cochlear implants for severe to profound hearing loss and auditory osseointegrated devices for those unable to use traditional aids. VA provides cochlear implant services at over 125 sites of care. To enhance communication, VA also provides premium wireless accessories, including small microphones for improved hearing at a distance, TV streaming devices, remote controls, and smartphone apps, along with assistive listening and alerting devices tailored to meet individual Veteran needs.
Contact Information
Email inquiries to the VA audiology service can be sent to: vhaaspsprogramoffice@va.gov
Audiology Resources
- VA Audiology Fact Sheet (PDF)
- VA Hearing Aids Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Denver Logistic Center (DLC) Homepage
- How to Order Batteries through the DLC
- How to Request a Hearing Aid Repair through the DLC
- How to order batteries and accessories through VA.gov
