For many veterans, hearing loss becomes something they slowly learn to live with. Conversations become harder to follow. The television volume keeps creeping higher. The ringing in the ears never fully stops. Over time, many begin with withdrawing from conversations and social situations without even realizing how much hearing loss is affecting their day-to-day life. For Army veteran Mr Stephen Caney, this had become his reality for years.
Mr Caney serve with the REME in the Army between 1975 and 1987 and completed 16 operational tours during his military career. During his service, he was regularly exposed to loud military noise environments, including firing SLEs, throwing grenades, thunder flash deployment exercises, and working alongside Royal Artillery units. Like many veterans of his generation, hearing protection was not what it is today, and the long-term effects of repeated noise exposure stayed with him long after service ended.
Over the years, Mr Caney’s hearing continued to decline. He explained that he struggled to hear conversations and television clearly and was also living with tinnitus. The constant strain of trying to hear people properly started affecting people more than communication alone. It was beginning to affect his mental well-being too. Mr Caney shared that the hearing loss and tinnitus were making him feel increasingly isolated.
Struggling Despite Previous Hearing Aids
Like many people living with hearing loss, Mr Caney had previously tried NHS hearing aids in the hope they would improve things. However, he left them to do little to help with his hearing difficulties, and he continued struggling with everyday communication. When hearing loss continues for a long time, many people adapt their lives around it without meaning to. Social settings become tiring and group conversations become frustrating, some stop asking people to repeat themselves altogether because they do not want to feel like a burden.
For veterans, especially many simply continue carrying on quietly.
Receiving Support Through the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation
After reaching out to the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation, Mr Caney received support through funding provided by the Childwick Trust and was fitted by Homecare Hearing Ltd. During his fitting appointment, Mr Caney was fitted with L70R hearing aids, and the response from both Mr Caney and the audiologist was overwhelmingly positive.
Following the fitting, the audiologist shared:
“A very successful session with Stephen, he loved the aids and was amazingly grateful for what you guys are doing for him.”
For someone who had spent years struggling with hearing loss and tinnitus, finally finding hearing aids that genuinely helped made a huge difference. More importantly, Mr Caney now knows he has continued support moving forward.
The Importance of Ongoing Hearing Support For Veterans
Hearing loss linked to military service is something thousands of veterans continue living with across the UK. While hearing loss itself is common, the emotional impact behind it is often less visible. Having difficulty hearing conversations can slowly affect confidence, independence, relationships, and mental well-being. Tinnitus can add another layer of exhaustion and frustration, especially when someone has been struggling for years without the right support.
Stories like Mr Caney’s show why access to proper hearing care matters so much. Through support from funding partners like the Childwick Trust and trusted hearing professionals across the UK, the UK Veterans Hearing Foundation continues helping veterans receive the care, hearing technology and aftercare they deserve.
For Mr Caney, the fitting appointment was not only about hearing aids. It was about feeling heard, supported, and connected again after years of struggling in silence.
