FW: Are there many piano techs who are veterans?

[Joey Recker]

Diane,
	Yes and Yes.

	I am still on active duty.  I've served 3 combat tours.  During the
last tour, I was hit with an IED.  Although I didn't receive a scratch
during the encounter, I did suffer hearing loss and still have tinnitus.
When I returned home, I received hearing aids (but I can't tune with them
in...  ) and complained of the tinnitus.  The audiologist told me there was
nothing that could be done for the tinnitus and didn't know much about any
special needs I may have as a musician and tuner.  Since I'm not an Army
musician, (I'm infantry) any additional care required to help me with music
and tuning would have been at my own expense.  Sometimes it is worse than
others but it is always there.  It seems that if I wear the hearing aids
regularly (I don't wear them like I should because they drive me crazy) that
the tinnitus gets better.  My injury is listed in my medical record as
"service related", but I have never filed a claim with the VA.  

	Didn't mean to get long winded, but this is something I'd love to
get some help with.  Thank you.

Joey

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Diane Hofstetter
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 3:52 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org; caut at ptg.org
Subject: Are there many piano techs who are veterans?

Are any of you veterans?  Do any of you have tinnitus?

Thursday evening I will be attending a talk; "Treatment for Hearing Loss and

Tinnitus: State of the Art" by Dr. David Lilly, at one of the largest, most 
up-to-date hearing research centers in the counry, the new National Center 
for Rehabilitative Auditory Research.

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Lilly at a recent hearing convention and am 
looking forward hearing him speak again and to finally seeing the research 
center.

Since this facility is part of the  Veteran's Administration, their focus is

on helping veterans with their hearing problems and I am wondering how many 
piano technicians are veterans.  It would be a good talking point if I ask 
them for help with research for piano tech's hearing problems.

Thanks!
Diane

Diane Hofstetter