Audiology and speech

Face-to-Face, Telephone and Telehealth Audiology appointments are now available at the North Chicago location, McHenry, Kenosha and Evanston Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC’s).  Please inform the scheduler when you call to make an appointment of the location you prefer to be seen at.   

Speech Pathology appointments are available at the North Chicago location or via telehealth to home.

Include:

• Hearing aid evaluation / fittings / repairs 
• Pediatric evaluations 
• Retiree At Cost Hearing Aid Program (RACHAP) 
• Comprehensive vestibular evaluations 
• Central Auditory Processing evaluations 
• Tinnitus Management 
• TeleAudiology  
• Special Medical Exams (SME) 
• Hearing Conservation 
• Aural Rehabilitation 

Include:

• Diagnosis of speech, language and swallowing disorders 
• Treatment of speech, language and swallowing disorders 
• TeleSpeech Services 

All eligible patients may schedule routine hearing tests and hearing aid service audiology appointments without a physician’s referral/consult.   

Patients may call the Audiology Clinic directly, send a request via MyHealtheVet or request an appointment through VA Online Scheduling (VAOS).    

Consults from a Primary Care Provider are needed for the following Audiology conditions/eligibilities: sudden hearing loss, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) testing/treatment; comprehensive vestibular evaluations, active duty, active duty dependents and Tricare. 

Consults from a provider are required for all Speech, language or swallowing requests. 

Hearing Screening for school age children are scheduled with the Family Practice Clinic. If a full evaluation is needed, Family Practice will consult Audiology for a comprehensive examination.  

Earwax removal or issues is to be addressed/managed by patients Primary Care Provider.  Consults to either the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) or Audiology Clinic is required if deemed appropriate by PCP. If you are an established Audiology patient, ear wax will be addressed at your scheduled Audiology appointment. Please note that a $50 copay may apply for specialty clinic care.

Speech Therapy services are scheduled on an individual, as needed basis upon the clinicians’ recommendations.  Speech therapy services can be provided via tele-health or in person in North Chicago. 

Hearing aid issuance, adjustments, programming, etc. are scheduled within the Audiology Clinic upon request of the Audiologist or on an as needed basis.  Audiology appointments are now available at the North Chicago location, McHenry, Kenosha and Evanston Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC’s), via face-to-face, telephone and/or tele-health as well.  Please inform the scheduler when you call to make an appointment of the location you prefer to be seen at.  

All appointments are scheduled through the Audiology/Speech Pathology main clinic at – .  Please specify the location and type of appointment you would like to schedule. 

Walk In Services are no longer available.   This has been replaced with a new service called, Car side Audiology Repair Clinic, which is a scheduled drive up appointment offered at the main clinic in North Chicago, McHenry and Kenosha CBOC’s.  If you are interested in scheduling this type of appointment, please inform the scheduler when you call to make an appointment.  

Drop Off or Mail In:  Patients may drop off or mail their hearing aids for repair. McHenry, Evanston and Kenosha CBOC locations have secure drop off bins within the front doors of each location.  There is also a secure drop off bin located at the FHCC North Chicago within the revolving doors of Building 133EF.   

If you chose to mail your aid, please mail to FHCC Attn: Audiology (126), 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064.   Once the hearing aids are repaired, they will be returned via mail (unless other arrangements are made to pick them up at the Car Side clinic).  Please allow 2-3 weeks turn-around time.  

Hearing Aid Battery and/or Filter Reorder Options: 
1. Call the DALC: to reach the automated reorder line.  Select 1 to place an order or speak with a customer service representative.
2. Email: dalc.cc@va.gov (email orders include first initial of last name, last 4 of SSN, and battery size).
3. Call the Audiology Clinic – – to request an order be placed.
4. Send secure message via MyHealtheVet to request an order be placed.

What is it?  

Retirees can obtain hearing aids at significant savings through the RACHAP program. Retiree pays the government price for the hearing aids they wish to purchase.  Two hearing aids can usually be purchased for less than $2,000. Exact costs are variable and subject to change at any time without notice.

Who’s eligible?

Military retirees from active duty, Guard, and Reserve units who have hearing loss and/or tinnitus are eligible to participate in this program. Retired Commissioned Officers of the US Public Health Service are also eligible for this program at military treatment facilities, under certain conditions.

The FHCC offers the RACHAP program only to:

• Military retirees who live within a 75 mile radius of the FHCC
• As of April 13, 2018,  dependents of military retirees who live within a 75 mile radius of the FHCC
• Military retirees who previously received hearing aids form NHCGL or the FHCC using the RACHAP program

How to get an appointment? 

All retirees need to register at the facility, before trying to book an appointment.  Registration must be done in person, or by mailing in the completed and signed new privacy policy.  NOTE:  This cannot be done over the phone.  Links to forms can be found at http://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/patients/eligibility.asp or  by calling .

Two appointments will be needed.  The first appointment is for the hearing evaluation and will be scheduled for 60 minutes.  The second appointment is for the Hearing Aid selection.  This appointment is a 30 minute appointment.  Every effort will be made to make these appointments on the same day.

Other Information:

The closest clinic could be located hundreds of miles away from your home.  The costs to travel for this program need to be considered versus the availability of an audiologist in your local community to assist you with repairs, warranty repairs, re-programming, etc.

Not every medical facility is able to provide this program.  Care of active duty members takes precedent at all Military Treatment Facilities.

Facilities may discontinue this program for any reason without notice.

Payment is expected at time of ordering and is sent directly to the manufacturer. Please bring valid credit card or check at the time of the Hearing Aid selection.

This program is not a TRICARE benefit.

Further information on the program and which sites offer it can be found at www.militaryaudiology.org.