Hearing aids advice

[gmaz]

My hearing has gradually become worse and I find I am missing conversation, mishearing words, cannot focus on a speaker when there is background noise. I have had tinnitus for years. I don't really like the feeling of things in my ears (e.g. music earphones) so I've no idea what type of hearing aid will help. I also don't want to spend upwards of £2000 on a good quality one if I find they are unsuitable.

We have a Specsavers in town with an audiologist so intend to go for tests, but don't want to be sold something without looking at the best products on the market.

Can anyone advise what I should be looking for?

[henrycrun]

Can't help, but check Specsavers terms and conditions - they might offer a refund if you're not 100% happy

[smashy]

gmaz said:

My hearing has gradually become worse and I find I am missing conversation, mishearing words, cannot focus on a speaker when there is background noise. I have had tinnitus for years. I don't really like the feeling of things in my ears (e.g. music earphones) so I've no idea what type of hearing aid will help. I also don't want to spend upwards of £2000 on a good quality one if I find they are unsuitable.

We have a Specsavers in town with an audiologist so intend to go for tests, but don't want to be sold something without looking at the best products on the market.

Can anyone advise what I should be looking for?

Hi Buddy I have bad I mean really bad tinnitis, without my hearing aids I genuinly have no idea how I could cope with life ,they make it bearable. I have come on just to say people with tinnitus should not have those in the ear type .Not my thoughts but the head of St Georges Tooting Ear consultant ( not ENT)

How it worked for me ,I saw him privately re tinnitus ,he then put me on his NHS waiting list and I got their hearing aids. I am glad I never paid a lot of money out for private ,they seem to only last a few years before having to be replaced nhs or private. I have had 3 new nhs sets in 12 years, they are digital behind the ear. On nhs aids the audiologist at The Tinnitus Clinic in Wimpole st told me its the skill of the audiologist that makes them good or not nhs or private ,nhs have been digital for years ,if you can get them I would go with them every time.Good Luck

[Old Merc]

Please don't think that if you spend money going private you will get something better, you wont.

I`ve had NHS aids for over 30 years, the help and service I`ve received over the years from the audiology department at Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading has been first class. If I needed an adjustment or new earmolds, just call in and its done, FREE.

Recently I emailed them pointing out that my currant aids are quite old and I haven't had an audiometry for years. I received a reply straight away with an appointment. Had an audiometry and a consultation. I will collect my new very latest Bluetooth/wi fi aids next week. I will be able to adjust them from a small pocket controller, they will be smart phone and loop system compatible. Privately I think the two aids would be £5000 ?

[anonymous-user]

Old Merc said:

Please don't think that if you spend money going private you will get something better, you wont.

I`ve had NHS aids for over 30 years, the help and service I`ve received over the years from the audiology department at Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading has been first class. If I needed an adjustment or new earmolds, just call in and its done, FREE.

Recently I emailed them pointing out that my currant aids are quite old and I haven't had an audiometry for years. I received a reply straight away with an appointment. Had an audiometry and a consultation. I will collect my new very latest Bluetooth/wi fi aids next week. I will be able to adjust them from a small pocket controller, they will be smart phone and loop system compatible. Privately I think the two aids would be £5000 ?

This, my dad went for a private hearing test and they put on the hard sell and tried to get him to sign up for £5000 hearing aids. Luckily my mum was there and was having none of it, otherwise there would currently be a pair of £5000 hearing aids sitting unused in a draw in their house.

My girlfriend's dad paid a similar amount and could not get on with them so again they sit unused in a draw. Part of the reason he refused to use them is because "they are for old people" despite him being 74. What he does now is annoy everyone by having the TV so loud you can hear it outside, and completely misunderstand what people are saying as he only catches half the sentence, makes up the rest in his head and often gives a completely unrelated reply.

[fat80b]

ellieellie said:

My brother is also pretty happy with the NHS hearing aids.
Maybe it's something worth checking out

Same for the Wife - She has had Bluetooth hearing aids from the NHS for the last 3 years.

They have been life changing. We keep looking at private ones, and there is little reason for her to change tbh

[Old Merc]

Joey Deacon said:

This, my dad went for a private hearing test and they put on the hard sell and tried to get him to sign up for £5000 hearing aids. Luckily my mum was there and was having none of it, otherwise there would currently be a pair of £5000 hearing aids sitting unused in a draw in their house.

My girlfriend's dad paid a similar amount and could not get on with them so again they sit unused in a draw. Part of the reason he refused to use them is because "they are for old people" despite him being 74. What he does now is annoy everyone by having the TV so loud you can hear it outside, and completely misunderstand what people are saying as he only catches half the sentence, makes up the rest in his head and often gives a completely unrelated reply.

This where the NHS audiometry department consultants come in. They are not there to sell and make commission, they are there to help their patients. Not only do they supply an aid that suites your hearing loss, they will help you use it and get on with it.
People use glasses, people use hearing aids, so what. If your hard of hearing tell people, please look at me and speak slowly.
There is so much technology now that helps the deaf and hard of hearing community. Cinemas, Theatres, Etc must have a loop system by law. I got a home system from the RNID online shop VAT free, plus a hearing aid compatible phone.

[pherlopolus]

I went to our local boots hearing care, no hard sell. I did end up upgrading from some mid range to top of the range last year, they were £3500 and they had interest free credit available.

[Old Merc]

pherlopolus said:

I went to our local boots hearing care, no hard sell. I did end up upgrading from some mid range to top of the range last year, they were £3500 and they had interest free credit available.

No hard sell, interest credit free, its all part of sales tactics, but you still ended up spending £3500 on aids that are FREE at your local NHS hospital.

Edited by Old Merc on Sunday 17th September 10:27

[Old Merc]

Gmaz, How did you get on? any more questions.

[pherlopolus]

Old Merc said:

No hard sell, interest credit free, its all part of sales tactics, but you still ended up spending £3500 on aids that are FREE at your local NHS hospital.

Edited by Old Merc on Sunday 17th September 10:27

Tbh I could afford it, and I had them within 3 weeks of making the appointment. I like the service I get tbh

[extraT]

I just bought my dad a pair of Amazon cheepies as a back up to his NHS pair, he said they are about the same quality wise and seems happy enough. USB recharging. Perhaps you could try that, around £30 I think.

[gmaz]

Old Merc said:

Gmaz, How did you get on? any more questions.

I'm going to book a docs appointment to get a referral. Thanks for all the advice, I guess my biggest misconception was that NHS aids were massive pink things.

[Zetec-S]

pherlopolus said:

Old Merc said:

No hard sell, interest credit free, its all part of sales tactics, but you still ended up spending £3500 on aids that are FREE at your local NHS hospital.

Edited by Old Merc on Sunday 17th September 10:27

Tbh I could afford it, and I had them within 3 weeks of making the appointment. I like the service I get tbh

Same for my wife. She's worn them ever since she was a kid, had all sorts of different NHS ones over the past 30 years. A couple of years ago we decided that we could afford to look at going privately so she ended up with some from Boots.

The service was much quicker and a lot more convenient. The local NHS were pretty crap, she'd request an appointment and despite asking for one early in the morning or late in the afternoon to fit it around work, they'd always come back with something in the middle of the day. And not for another 6 weeks. Or she'd go to the local clinic and they wouldn't be able to do what was needed, so another appointment was needed at the hospital.

What also put her off was 30 years of "making do" with NHS kit, and the stigma associated with it when she was at school, coupled with 95% of the waiting room being over 65, looking at her as if she didn't belong there. Yes, from a purely logical point of view you'd argue going private is a waste of money, but emotionally it was something she really needed to do.

[sherbertdip]

I've had hearing aids on NHS for 25 years, can't fault the service, regularly updated and current pair are available from private practice at £2500 per pair.

[XCP]

I got NHS aids about 5 years ago. They were so uncomfortable I gave up wearing them and they live in a box somewhere. ( having cauliflower ears probably doesn't help) I just say 'pardon' a lot.

[Old Merc]

gmaz said:

Old Merc said:

Gmaz, How did you get on? any more questions.

I'm going to book a docs appointment to get a referral. Thanks for all the advice, I guess my biggest misconception was that NHS aids were massive pink things.

It’s the technology that gets bigger, the aids get smaller.

I collected my new Danalogic aids yesterday from audiology at Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading. The very efficient guy set them up on his computer, explained everything, I’m most impressed. They are smaller and lighter than my old ones, and very comfortable.
At home I downloaded the app, I can now alter the settings on my iPad , while wearing the aids. The audiologist said it will take time for me to get used to the aids and any new sound. I will get another appointment in a few weeks just to see how I’m getting on and if anything needs altering.

Edited by Old Merc on Tuesday 19th September 10:46

[Challo]

Sorry to hijack this thread but was having a discussion with my mum on the weekend about hearing aids as she definatly needs one. Her hearing has never been great but certainly struggling with hearing in social situations.

Do the NHS complete all the tests, and provide the hearing aids in house or do they outsource it to someone like Specsavers?

She previously had labirintus and still suffers from dizziness but the Dr thinks the infection might not have gone away so they want to clear that first.

Once thats cleared, should the process be that she is referred by her local Dr to have a hearing test and then potentially get hearing aids through the NHS?

[Old Merc]

Challo said:

Sorry to hijack this thread but was having a discussion with my mum on the weekend about hearing aids as she definatly needs one. Her hearing has never been great but certainly struggling with hearing in social situations.

Do the NHS complete all the tests, and provide the hearing aids in house or do they outsource it to someone like Specsavers?

She previously had labirintus and still suffers from dizziness but the Dr thinks the infection might not have gone away so they want to clear that first.

Once thats cleared, should the process be that she is referred by her local Dr to have a hearing test and then potentially get hearing aids through the NHS?

I had everything carried out by the audiology department at my hospital. Consultation, audiometry, ear mould impression, the lot. When ready I returned to have them fitted and set up. Any adjustments or repairs you just go back and they will sort it. You even get free batteries.
Of course the NHS do not assemble the aids, they get them from the manufacturer. Mine are Bluetooth-enabled digital aids designed exclusively for the NHS by Danalogic GN.

Edited by Old Merc on Tuesday 26th September 21:33

[gmaz]

Challo said:

Sorry to hijack this thread but was having a discussion with my mum on the weekend about hearing aids as she definatly needs one. Her hearing has never been great but certainly struggling with hearing in social situations.

Do the NHS complete all the tests, and provide the hearing aids in house or do they outsource it to someone like Specsavers?

I had my docs appt yesterday, and they said they give you a choice of where to go for the test, but the nearest is the Specsavers in town.