Thanks to some great programs through the VA, I’ve been lucky to get several upgrades to my hearing aids over the years. Besides the regular reprogramming to keep up with my hearing changes, there have been three improvements that really stand out for me.

The first was being able to connect my cell phone directly to my hearing aids. No more fiddling with an extra device just to take a call or listen to something — it’s all built in now, and that was a game-changer.

The second big upgrade was switching to rechargeable hearing aids. I can’t tell you how nice it is not to worry about running out of batteries or having my hearing aids quit on me because of moisture from sweating. Just plug them in at night, and they’re ready to go in the morning.

The third improvement — and maybe my favorite — was getting my “Roger On” device. It’s a small wireless microphone that connects to my hearing aids and helps “boost” sound in different situations. I can lay it on the table during a meeting or at a restaurant, have someone wear it on a lanyard (like a speaker at an event or a family member while traveling), or even plug it into the TV so I can control my own sound without messing with anyone else’s volume. It’s amazing how much difference this little gadget makes.

As time has gone on, I’ve gotten more and more “in tune” with my hearing aids and have started to really understand what they can do.

One other thing worth mentioning — my hearing aids are T-Coil enabled. That matters because many public places use something called a “T-Loop” system or other T-Coil-compatible setups to meet ADA requirements for people with hearing loss. If you’re curious, check out the page titled “Layman’s Explanation of T-Coils.” It’s a good read if you want to understand how it all works.