Under the VA’s preventative care package, all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system may receive glasses and hearing aids. Those veterans in Priority Groups 6-8 may be required to make a copayment.

For assistance with hearing, you may schedule an appointment at the Audiology and Speech Pathology Clinic at the Sioux Falls VA for an evaluation of your hearing. To make an appointment, call 605-336-3230. The 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 veterans, except those required to make a copayment, and as long as they maintain VA eligibility for care.

The VA has recently expanded the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System Low Vision Clinic and Visual Impairment Services Team. They provide services to Veterans with vision loss due to conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, stroke or head injury. They help those with vision loss who are having difficulties with tasks such as reading, writing, cooking, telling time, seeing the TV and navigating the environment.

The team includes a low vision optometrist, low vision therapist and orientation and mobility specialist, low vision occupational therapist and a social worker.

Services include evaluation and providing a variety of devices to help people with vision loss. These include:

• Optical devices such as higher power reading glasses, magnifiers, sun filters and reading machines (CCTV’s).

• Talking watches and clocks, jumbo sized calendars, adaptive kitchen aids and writing guides.

• White canes and mobility training to help prevent falling and tripping on steps or curbs.

All services and devices are no cost to veterans. Legally blind veterans can also receive assistance to enroll in the VA Health Care System using the catastrophic disability benefit. This benefit allows legally blind veterans with qualifying military service to enroll in VA health care even if they are over income limits.

Please contact Veterans Service Officer Jerry Seiner at 605-487-7691 or 605-481-1338 if you have question or know of someone who would benefit from these programs.