VA audiology restores Navy Veteran’s hearing
By Jesus Flores, HSA 4.2 writer & editor
Hearing loss ended Navy Veteran Edward Romero’s career and silenced the world around him. A cochlear implant from VA Eastern Colorado’s audiology program changed that.
Invisible foe
Hearing loss stole Ed Romero’s career, his conversations and his connection to family.
Romero served as a communications specialist in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam from 1963 to 1965. When he returned to civilian life, he founded a public relations firm.
Then, slowly, his hearing began fading. It worsened for years until one day, he couldn’t hear his grandchildren, his children or his friends. He was ultimately forced to leave his firm.
“Then came the dark days of near complete loss of hearing,” Romero says. “No TV, no music, no restaurants, business meetings. In effect, a critical loss of any method of communication.”
He tried hearing aids, and they didn’t help. He says he reached a point where he just had to accept he wasn’t going to hear again.
A stranger at a wedding
In 2013, at his son’s wedding, he could not follow the conversation, and then, as the father of the groom, he was called to speak to the group.
“I had to announce to all that I was unable to converse as a result of hearing loss,” Romero says.
Then one attendee approached him. She introduced herself as a VA audiologist and asked if he was a Veteran. She checked his hearing on the spot and recommended he visit his local VA medical center to ask about services available to him.
“Fate and happenstance led me to VA,” Romero says.
Finding help at VA
Dr. Kerri Richter, a clinical specialist and cochlear implant audiologist at VA Eastern Colorado, says their evaluation process centers on the Veteran.
“Our goal is to improve a Veteran’s quality of life,” Richter says. “We evaluate how each individual is doing with consistent hearing aid use. The Veteran completes patient-reported outcome measures, and together we discuss results, their struggles and individualized goals.”
Romero’s cochlear implant surgery was performed by Dr. Stephen Cass, who works closely with VA Eastern Colorado on cochlear implant procedures. Before surgery, Romero had just one question for his doctors.
“Will I be able to hear?” Romero says. “The doctor answered, ‘Yes.’ Can you imagine how that moment felt?”
After his surgery, Romero returned to VA for activation of his cochlear implant. His audiologist sat across from him, asked if he was ready and pressed a key on her computer.
“In that moment, I could hear clearly,” Romero says. “My life was reborn, fully capable of functioning in everyday life.”
Letting others know
Romero says he asks himself how he didn’t know sooner that VA could help. Now he’s joined a Veteran advocacy group to spread the word about VA services.
“I, for one, will forever be grateful,” he says.
Richter says Veterans with hearing loss don’t have to accept their situation.
“There are options if hearing aids are not beneficial, and we will work with them to determine what is most appropriate,” she says. “The team is here to help improve their quality of life and keep them connected to family and friends.”
If you’re a Veteran with hearing loss, talk to your VA care team about a hearing evaluation. You can also learn more about VA’s audiology services.
Jesus Flores is a writer and editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force and a Marine Corps Veteran.