Hearing tests and hearing aids

[Cogcog]

My hearing isn't great, especially with any background noise. I am tempted to have an hearing test, I think Boots and Specsavers do free NHS checks. But thereater will I get the hard sell on a £3k hearing aid or a referral back to my GP?

[Anastie]

I was experiencing a similar problem to you. When out in busy places like pubs and restaurants I struggled to hear what people in front of me were saying?

It was suggested I went for a hearing test. I went privately and was “shocked “ to be told I needed hearing aids. I went all in and paid £3,000 for the hearing aids. Although at first I I was extremely self conscious wearing them. Not anymore though.

But the difference in social situations to my hearing was huge. I could hear clearly what was been said in front of me no matter how load the background noise. There is no artificial tinniness to the sound. The Phonak ones I got make hundreds of adjustments every second given the sound your wanting to hear against the background noise.

I would not have believed the difference if I hadn’t experienced it. Best 3k I ever spent.

[Caddyshack]

You shouldn’t get a hard sell.

You can get decent hearing aids on nhs but I went private. I wanted the best and got Oticon with the highest level of sound noise reduction etc.

At 50 I was still vein but got them anyway, most people don’t notice them and are often shocked when they find out I have them and they have not noticed. Best thing I have ever bought and after a couple of months the brain gets used to them and you realise the sounds you have been missing such as some bird song etc

[xx99xx]

Just go for the free test and take it from there. The audiologist doesn't do the 'big sell'. That's the other (sales) lot.

Last time I went for a free test a few years ago, they didn't recommend I buy anything (after the test) and suggested I see my GP.

[Master Of Puppets]

I've got NHS ones and I've asked them at appointments if the ones you get privately are better than the NHS ones,
they always answer with ...These are state of the art, you won't get better.

Is that really the case?

[FlyVintage]

Master Of Puppets said:

I've got NHS ones and I've asked them at appointments if the ones you get privately are better than the NHS ones,
they always answer with ...These are state of the art, you won't get better.

Is that really the case?

Yes and no….. They are essentially earlier generation. So yes, state of the art, but not “todays” state of the art.

Currently technology hearing aids really are great; even NHS ones though will make a huge difference if you have hearing loss.

[MYOB]

Master Of Puppets said:

I've got NHS ones and I've asked them at appointments if the ones you get privately are better than the NHS ones,
they always answer with ...These are state of the art, you won't get better.

Is that really the case?

There are no such things as “nhs hearing aids”. They are all sourced from the same manufacturers that supply privately. The NHS Trusts all have their own tendering process and they are fit to purchase what they deem is best for them.

The hearing aids provided via the NHS will be the same as those available privately, albeit without the “bells and whistles”.

[Riley Blue]

You might want to listen to this - if you can

It's the BBC 'Sliced Bread' episode about hearing aids: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00282qp

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Master Of Puppets said:

I've got NHS ones and I've asked them at appointments if the ones you get privately are better than the NHS ones,
they always answer with ...These are state of the art, you won't get better.

Is that really the case?

Not quite. It's a bit like getting the choice of a free iPhone 14, or paying £3K for an iPhone 16. Knowing that if you choose the free 14, in a few years, you'll be upgraded to an iPhone 16 when the iPhone 18 comes out.