I encourage you to request hearing access accommodation from VA. they are REQUIRED to provide it, but they commonly don’t. If your hearing aids aren’t enough for you to hear your medical providers you are entitled to receive some sort of help. BUT you must request it. This is true in private practice as well as VA. Sadly hard of hearing folks rarely make the request.

I’m also a veteran with severe to profound hearing loss. At my request my clinic has provided a tablet with a speech to text app which translates the provider’s voice to text almost instantly. I listen, lip read, and read the text. That makes for a very busy time for my old brain, so we sometimes have to slow down.

There are other forms of assistive technology too. Pocket talkers, hearing loops, neck loops, and FM systems all have their place.

I encourage you to become an informed patient and request what you need. It is critical that you understand you medical providers correctly.