Hi Everyone,
Jim Rau has started a survey with help from Ann Thomas, who is part of the Get In The Hearing Loop Committee to find out about Communication Access at the VA. Jim has had difficulty getting a loop system installed with his VA and was wondering if others were having trouble as well. We are hoping to send this to the veteran membership of HLAA and both Basecamp and HLAA Veterans group. We would appreciate your suggestions and input to the survey draft. 

Veteran Communication access accommodation

Question Title

1. Are you a veteran, veterans spouse, or veterans caregiver? 
Yes

No

Question Title

2. Do you (or your veteran) receive health care from VA 

Yes

No

Question Title

3. Do you or your veteran require  would you benefit from communication access accommodation? 

Yes

No

Question Title

4. Have you or your veteran requested communication access accommodation from your VA facility? 

Yes

No

Question Title

5. How was the request for communication access accommodation made? 

Verbally

In writing

Email

Question Title

6. Was the request 

Granted

Denied

Ignored

Question Title

7. If the request was granted was it  

provided

not provided

not provided yet

Question Title

8. If communication access accommodation was provided was it 

Used

not used

did not work

Question Title

9. Was VA communication access accommodation provided acceptable 

Yes

No

Question Title

10. Was getting communication access accommodation at your VA medical facility hard to get? 

No it was easy

Had to work at it

Very hard - had to get intervention

Impossible

Thanks for your time and input!

Best regards,
Carla Beyer-Smolin
HLAA Chapter and Membership Coordinator

 

Best regards,

 

Carla Beyer-Smolin

Chapter and Membership Coordinator

Hearing Loss Association of America

6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 320 │Rockville, MD 20852

301.657.2248 ext. 101 | cbeyer-smolin@...│www.hearingloss.org

“Like” us on Facebook│“Follow” us on Twitter

Sign up for our free Hearing Life e-News

 

Here are the "instructions" I said were needed for the survey. 

Instructions:

 

This survey is designed to help us evaluate what accommodations VA currently  offers for veterans who are deaf or hard of hearing. It also includes virtual appointments on the VVC (Veterans Video Connect) platform. We are not addressing mobility challenged or blind patients. 

 

Communications access accommodations can be any of a wide range of things. One group of things is assistive listening devices. Some examples are pocket talker, FM and infra red audio transmission systems, and induction loops (hearing loops), or voice to text applications. Or it can be a person such as a stenographer that types voice which is displayed in text (CART), or a sign language interpreter.  It can even be as simple as a white board or pencil and paper to write on. 

 

Please select the one BEST answer for each question. 

I did that a couple weeks ago. The Washington Hot Line was unaware of the WEBEX in CA. The last I heard of was that VA mandated use of VVC. Washington promised me that the web people at VA were working on getting captions on VVC and should have it up and running in a couple months. They weren't interested in using a "work-around" by using ASR over a third party call-in number (which they can already do). Not surprising to get more than one answer from one VA. Sort of like "if dad says no ask mom". 

Black87........... , sorry to hear of you difficulties with VA. I certainly can't answer your questions about why audiology records are not viewable on "MyhealtheVet". VA needs to answer that. Personally I request a copy of my audiogram before I walk out of the office. Otherwise getting it later is a hassle. 

VA is not required to comply with ADA. BUT they are required to comply with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation act (the Federal version of ADA). So they are required to provide accommodations for deaf and HoH. I agree there should be more accommodations in place now. But we have a duty to REQUEST accommodations that we need. We have not done a god job of requesting. We were trained by the military to "get in line and shut up". 

Personally I take my remote mic and phone to my medical appointments. I ask the doctor to wear the mic so I can understand. They are very willing to do that. I also use my phone which has speech-to-text apps on it. It displays the voice of a person to text that I can read. 

Also, as a person who is deaf or HoH, you are entitled to use InnoCaption. It is a phone service you can get for free on your mobil phone which displays text. You can then have the VA call you at that number and be able to read the text of the caller's voice

Consider joining us at the next meeting of the Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter meeting. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month on Zoom.  

NO - I did not say VA does not have to provide captioning. VA is a part of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and as such they are exempt form ADA. But they are bound by provisions of Section 503 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act which covers the same things. 

Gald to hear you are picking up ASL. I'm an advocate for ASL as well as hearing loops. I also want veterans to know how to advocate for their own health care. 

You are lucky you're only 180 miles (round trip from your VA. My VA is more than twice that far away. I hope you know that you are eligible for Community Care too. 

I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records.  I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities.  I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section.  I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013.  The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:

"Audiological Evaluation (view Audiogram under Tools menu) Purpose of visit: re-evaluation Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity History: Situation(s) of greatest difficulty: Background noise History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied Tinnitus: both ears constant Dizziness/vertigo: present occasionally when leaning head back Aural Fullness: No Otalgia: No Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time. Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly. Results: Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum Left ear: clear view of eardrum Tympanometry: Right ear: normal Left ear: normal Earphones used: supra-aural earphones Test reliability: good Impressions: AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%). 52% @ 85 dbHL AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%). 80% @ 90 dbHL AU: Hearing essentially unchanged. Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations, Realistic expectations from hearing aid use Recommendations: The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient. RTC if hearing changes. Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."

Yes, my audiogram is missing.  However, its evaluation is still there.  The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system.  It is not capable of being presented graphically.  

Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue.  Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports.  I hope this might shed some light to this issue.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids. 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 8:24 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records.  I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities.  I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section.  I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013.  The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:

"Audiological Evaluation (view Audiogram under Tools menu) Purpose of visit: re-evaluation Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity History: Situation(s) of greatest difficulty: Background noise History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied Tinnitus: both ears constant Dizziness/vertigo: present occasionally when leaning head back Aural Fullness: No Otalgia: No Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time. Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly. Results: Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum Left ear: clear view of eardrum Tympanometry: Right ear: normal Left ear: normal Earphones used: supra-aural earphones Test reliability: good Impressions: AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%). 52% @ 85 dbHL AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%). 80% @ 90 dbHL AU: Hearing essentially unchanged. Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations, Realistic expectations from hearing aid use Recommendations: The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient. RTC if hearing changes. Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."

Yes, my audiogram is missing.  However, its evaluation is still there.  The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system.  It is not capable of being presented graphically.  

Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue.  Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports.  I hope this might shed some light to this issue.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

Understood.  Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments.  As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ.  That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need.  Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.

I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records.  I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one.  They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.

What do you think?

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 7:24 PM N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:

I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids. 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 8:24 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records.  I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities.  I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section.  I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013.  The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:

"Audiological Evaluation (view Audiogram under Tools menu) Purpose of visit: re-evaluation Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity History: Situation(s) of greatest difficulty: Background noise History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied Tinnitus: both ears constant Dizziness/vertigo: present occasionally when leaning head back Aural Fullness: No Otalgia: No Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time. Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly. Results: Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum Left ear: clear view of eardrum Tympanometry: Right ear: normal Left ear: normal Earphones used: supra-aural earphones Test reliability: good Impressions: AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%). 52% @ 85 dbHL AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%). 80% @ 90 dbHL AU: Hearing essentially unchanged. Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations, Realistic expectations from hearing aid use Recommendations: The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient. RTC if hearing changes. Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."

Yes, my audiogram is missing.  However, its evaluation is still there.  The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system.  It is not capable of being presented graphically.  

Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue.  Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports.  I hope this might shed some light to this issue.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

I'm searching for the records now .  There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 11:36 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

Understood.  Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments.  As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ.  That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need.  Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.

I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records.  I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one.  They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.

What do you think?

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 7:24 PM N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:

I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids. 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 8:24 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records.  I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities.  I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section.  I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013.  The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:

"Audiological Evaluation (view Audiogram under Tools menu) Purpose of visit: re-evaluation Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity History: Situation(s) of greatest difficulty: Background noise History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied Tinnitus: both ears constant Dizziness/vertigo: present occasionally when leaning head back Aural Fullness: No Otalgia: No Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time. Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly. Results: Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum Left ear: clear view of eardrum Tympanometry: Right ear: normal Left ear: normal Earphones used: supra-aural earphones Test reliability: good Impressions: AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%). 52% @ 85 dbHL AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%). 80% @ 90 dbHL AU: Hearing essentially unchanged. Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations, Realistic expectations from hearing aid use Recommendations: The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient. RTC if hearing changes. Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."

Yes, my audiogram is missing.  However, its evaluation is still there.  The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system.  It is not capable of being presented graphically.  

Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue.  Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports.  I hope this might shed some light to this issue.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

That's too bad.  All of the notes that I found in my record were very professional and very detailed.  Maybe you should contact your Audiology Department head and explain your specific needs to him or her.  In the meantime, maybe we can get a general letter from HLAA to the National VA to suggest that audiologists notes be held to the same standards and detail of the other medical practitioners that we veterans see. 

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 9:48 PM N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:

I'm searching for the records now .  There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 11:36 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

Understood.  Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments.  As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ.  That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need.  Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.

I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records.  I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one.  They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.

What do you think?

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...

 

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 7:24 PM N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote:

I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids. 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 8:24 PM Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote:

I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records.  I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities.  I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section.  I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013.  The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:

"Audiological Evaluation (view Audiogram under Tools menu) Purpose of visit: re-evaluation Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity History: Situation(s) of greatest difficulty: Background noise History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied Tinnitus: both ears constant Dizziness/vertigo: present occasionally when leaning head back Aural Fullness: No Otalgia: No Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time. Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly. Results: Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum Left ear: clear view of eardrum Tympanometry: Right ear: normal Left ear: normal Earphones used: supra-aural earphones Test reliability: good Impressions: AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%). 52% @ 85 dbHL AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%). 80% @ 90 dbHL AU: Hearing essentially unchanged. Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations, Realistic expectations from hearing aid use Recommendations: The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient. RTC if hearing changes. Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."

Yes, my audiogram is missing.  However, its evaluation is still there.  The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system.  It is not capable of being presented graphically.  

Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue.  Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports.  I hope this might shed some light to this issue.

 

Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.

10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA  90603-2608

Phone (562) 947-2258

Email: steve.sterry@...