Military Corner

Did you develop tinnitus while serving in the Armed Forces? How and when?

 

I didn't but I can tell you I recently learned that my older sister did. She served in Iraq in 2005-2006. I told her about the distress from my recent T and she told me she has it too. She deals with it far better than I do but I had noticed that she sleeps with the TV on and had wondered whether she had T as well.

 

They say 40% of the veterans have tinnitus from WWII to present. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans have it real bad with IEP explosions.

I just went over to the VA and got my special hearing aid (Starkey RIC 10) to mask tinnitus. I'm in the VA system to get medical care with co-pay. I don't know if I like the hearing aid or not. It will take a lot to get used to. It's really small hearing aid and you hardly see it. The only problem is my cats. If I lay it around I know they will start playing with it! So I will have to remember to put it in my sock draw overnight.

 

Update:

I've been using my Starkey tinnitus masking hearing aid (Starkey RIC 10) for a week. It sounds like an old hissing radiator. It works well in the classroom. I'm able to concentrate better without the distraction of the tinnitus. I have hearing lost in my left ear and it's very disconcerting when the tinnitus is present. I give it good grades. I'm quite satisfied with the masking device.