Aging and Hearing Loss: Can You Talk About It?

I’ve had a hearing aid (one ear only) for about 6 years and haven’t worn it much last 5 years. I’m almost totally deaf in the one ear and have tinnitus. When I get in group discussion, can’t hear and aid does not help so that’s main reason I don’t wear it. It’s also a pain to put batteries in it and clean all the little pieces.

I am 78 years old and got my Hearing AIDS at Mayo Clinic this past year and they work fine..but they weren’t cheap.. I have gotten good support from Mayo with learning how to maintaining them..

Paid $7000. For my two hearing aids this year. Why doesn’t the govt give you tax benefits for buying hearing aids?

No question that adapting to hearing aids and maintaining them takes time and effort. It's important to know that it also takes time using them for your brain to adapt to a different way of listening. This is especially the case with cochlear implants, but also true with hearing aids.

Sometimes a person's desire to hear in social settings is motivational. Sometimes it may not be. Do you miss those social situations?

Hearing loss is so isolating, don’t miss out on anything.
As for getting hearing aids with batteries you can purchase the type that fit into a charger.
The hearing aids I-have were not cheap but the best investment in myself I have ever done.
I am not sure why there are no tax credits for them, I would consider them a medical expense. Write your congress person about hanging the tax laws.
Hope this helps!

So I can’t deduct the $4000 I paid Mayo Clinic for my Hearing AIDS? Well I consider them a Medical Expense.

Yes, aging is definitely no fun. I am 77 years old and I am losing my hearing rapidly. My wife is 71 and she wears hearing aids when she goes out mostly. So, you can imagine what kind of conversations we have while watching TV. Just the other night I thought she told me to "stand up" so I stood as quickly as I good, I thought she saw a spider or something. Well, she really said "shut up" so when I stood up very fast she thought I was really mad and one thing led to another after that.

I am basically home-bound, so I have decided to try a a pair of those over-the-counter hearing aids from Amazon just to keep peace in the family. Wish me luck every one or I am a dead man....See ya, I hope...Bill

Wow $7000!!! You paid That much!

There are some special tax deductions and credits that IRS may allow. Check with your tax preparer or look it up online at IRS website.

OR

If you are registered for VA healthcare and believe you have hearing loss, you should contact your local medical center for a hearing test. The VA audiologist will make a clinical determination on the need for hearing aids and/or other hearing assistive devices. If hearing aids are recommended and fit, the hearing aids, repairs, and future batteries will all be at no charge to you, as long as you maintain VA eligibility for care.

Hopefully this can help you or someone else experiencing hearing problems.

Oh my gosh so sorry as hearing loss isn’t funny but you gave me my first chuckle of the morning! Good luck.

Thank you my friend for your reply. I'm glad it made you chuckle. I've learned from fighting with Myasthenia -Gravis (MG) for 31 years now that I might as well laugh about it, as well as my many other health problems. We only have two choices in how to face each day that God has blessed us with and those are to face each new day with a frown and feel pitty for ourselves or to find things that will make us laugh. I've read that laughing each day will increase your life span...May God bless you and yours...Bill