Discussion
NHS. Talk to your GP for referral. There's a huge thread on here about hearing aids too.
ETA: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
ETA: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Talk to GP for a referral, same happened to me 20 years ago at age 40, doc did a quick test and said yes need a full hearing screen, within a week I had a brain ct scan as deafness at that age is rare, thankfully no tumour.
I've been wearing aids since then, first just one ear, after a couple of years 2 ears. Hearing aids out can't hear a thing but thunder and dogs barking, but they're muted sounds.
In short if she thinks it and you think it get it sorted.
Going back to when I first thought I was it was triggered by the Mrs saying listen to those Blackbirds going bonkers, I couldn't hear them, also retrospectively missing people talking to me especially from behind was a missed trigger.
NHS hearing aids now are pretty good, ones I have (free) are still available commercially for £2k each!
I've been wearing aids since then, first just one ear, after a couple of years 2 ears. Hearing aids out can't hear a thing but thunder and dogs barking, but they're muted sounds.
In short if she thinks it and you think it get it sorted.
Going back to when I first thought I was it was triggered by the Mrs saying listen to those Blackbirds going bonkers, I couldn't hear them, also retrospectively missing people talking to me especially from behind was a missed trigger.
NHS hearing aids now are pretty good, ones I have (free) are still available commercially for £2k each!
Bill said:
NHS. Talk to your GP for referral. There's a huge thread on here about hearing aids too.
ETA: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I don’t usually venture onto this forum, so thanks for the pointer to that thread. Lots of useful stuff on there. ETA: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
sparkythecat said:
Perhaps not hard sell, but the cynic in me thinks that they’ll make your hearing out to be worse than it actually is, so that you’re more likely to want to consider some aids.
The test is computerised and standard. You click the mouse when you hear a sound. The computer produces a graph showing your response at different frequencies. That'll show if you need aids or not. The graph produced by Specsavers will be identical to the graph produced by an NHS hearing test. sparkythecat said:
uknick said:
Specsavers. I went to see them a couple of years ago and never got any hard sell.
Perhaps not hard sell, but the cynic in me thinks that they’ll make your hearing out to be worse than it actually is, so that you’re more likely to want to consider some aids.I am now the "proud" owner of hearing aids! Two of them, one over each ear... they are the model Phonak Bolero.
Initially booked an appointment with a local ear clinic who dewaxed them but hardly anything came out, leading me to think that maybe there was something more deep rooted wrong. Booked a GP appointment through Anima at the end of December; GP referred me to audiology department at the local hospital for end January. Had hearing test which proved that I needed two aids and nearly five months later, was fitted for them today!
Take some getting used to tbh. Everything is quite tinny still and I can hear my own voice every time I speak which is off-putting but sure I'll get used to it. Have been going out for long walks each morning (followed by a shower) so probably won't put them in until after my shower which means I'll be wearing them from around 7am-10pm each day.
Initially booked an appointment with a local ear clinic who dewaxed them but hardly anything came out, leading me to think that maybe there was something more deep rooted wrong. Booked a GP appointment through Anima at the end of December; GP referred me to audiology department at the local hospital for end January. Had hearing test which proved that I needed two aids and nearly five months later, was fitted for them today!
Take some getting used to tbh. Everything is quite tinny still and I can hear my own voice every time I speak which is off-putting but sure I'll get used to it. Have been going out for long walks each morning (followed by a shower) so probably won't put them in until after my shower which means I'll be wearing them from around 7am-10pm each day.
Funny story. Mine had been telling me I was going deaf. There was a local Boots type place doing free hearing tests and she wanted me to go for one. I agreed as long as she did as well.
Sat there with the headphones on: “These ain’t working mate” (only in German because I live in Austria)
The fella checks and agrees, but only after telling me my hearing is scheisser!
Kaputt pair are thrown away and a new pair materialises.
I do the test and so does SWMBO. Turns out I not only have better hearing then SWMBO, they were keeping some kind of chart (I suppose on who to target marketing wise) and said I had one of the best results that day!
PS, I’ve never tried it but there are free tests online, listen with headphones and press a button when you hear the noise type deal. I suppose there are apps too.
Sat there with the headphones on: “These ain’t working mate” (only in German because I live in Austria)
The fella checks and agrees, but only after telling me my hearing is scheisser!
Kaputt pair are thrown away and a new pair materialises.
I do the test and so does SWMBO. Turns out I not only have better hearing then SWMBO, they were keeping some kind of chart (I suppose on who to target marketing wise) and said I had one of the best results that day!
PS, I’ve never tried it but there are free tests online, listen with headphones and press a button when you hear the noise type deal. I suppose there are apps too.
Stick with our good old NHS. They will prescribe aids that are suitable for YOUR hearing loss, not your budget, so no hard sell. People think that if you go private and spend £000`s you will get better aids. In most cases you will not.
Mind you sometimes its a bit of a post code lottery with the NHS.
I`m lucky where I live, our local NHS audiology department in Reading is first class, I`ve had aids for over40 years.
Six months ago I asked for some new ones, got an audiometry straight away. Two new Danalogic GN https://www.danalogic.co.uk/ aids fitted in a couple of weeks. These are blue tooth, and can be adjusted via an app on your smart phone or ipad. I think they cost about £2-£3K EACH privately.
Remember the earmolds should normally need replacing every two or three years. This of course is carried out quickly and free.
Last time I visited them the audiologist suggested that I can be referred for an assessment to have a Cochlear Implant. This costs over £30K !!!
I`m waiting for an appointment, thank you NHS.
Mind you sometimes its a bit of a post code lottery with the NHS.
I`m lucky where I live, our local NHS audiology department in Reading is first class, I`ve had aids for over40 years.
Six months ago I asked for some new ones, got an audiometry straight away. Two new Danalogic GN https://www.danalogic.co.uk/ aids fitted in a couple of weeks. These are blue tooth, and can be adjusted via an app on your smart phone or ipad. I think they cost about £2-£3K EACH privately.
Remember the earmolds should normally need replacing every two or three years. This of course is carried out quickly and free.
Last time I visited them the audiologist suggested that I can be referred for an assessment to have a Cochlear Implant. This costs over £30K !!!
I`m waiting for an appointment, thank you NHS.
Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 13th June 12:02
Old Merc said:
Stick with our good old NHS. They will prescribe aids that are suitable for YOUR hearing loss, not your budget, so no hard sell. People think that if you go private and spend £000`s you will get better aids. In most cases you will not.
Mind you sometimes its a bit of a post code lottery with the NHS.
I`m lucky where I live, our local NHS audiology department in Reading is first class, I`ve had aids for over40 years.
Six months ago I asked for some new ones, got an audiometry straight away. Two new Danalogic GN https://www.danalogic.co.uk/ aids fitted in a couple of weeks. These are blue tooth, and can be adjusted via an app on your smart phone or ipad. I think they cost about £2-£3K EACH privately.
Remember the earmolds should normally need replacing every two or three years. This of course is carried out quickly and free.
Last time I visited them the audiologist suggested that I can be referred for an assessment to have a Cochlear Implant. This costs over £30K !!!
I`m waiting for an appointment, thank you NHS.
Good post, OM. Mind you sometimes its a bit of a post code lottery with the NHS.
I`m lucky where I live, our local NHS audiology department in Reading is first class, I`ve had aids for over40 years.
Six months ago I asked for some new ones, got an audiometry straight away. Two new Danalogic GN https://www.danalogic.co.uk/ aids fitted in a couple of weeks. These are blue tooth, and can be adjusted via an app on your smart phone or ipad. I think they cost about £2-£3K EACH privately.
Remember the earmolds should normally need replacing every two or three years. This of course is carried out quickly and free.
Last time I visited them the audiologist suggested that I can be referred for an assessment to have a Cochlear Implant. This costs over £30K !!!
I`m waiting for an appointment, thank you NHS.
Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 13th June 12:02
My story is above & you're probably right, it does depend a lot on where I live. However with hearing loss, I went from initial online enquiry to having them in my ears and finally hearing folk in the space of five months for free. That's a big W in my book.
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