Hearing Aids

My first hearing aids over 20 years ago we’re from Hidden Hearing. I could hear well with them. Last year I needed to upgrade and audiologist at HH recommended behind the ear type with domes etc. as technology was more up to date. I am now having difficulty hearing in restaurants . I feel I should revert to in the ear ones again although the behind the ear ones are good for TV as I have a special adapter plugged in to TV. I can also hear my phone as itrings straight to my ears. These are from Specsavers as HH twice the price.

People who use batteries - how do you dispose of them? Just along with other used batteries? Or take the pile along to next audiology appointment (NHS in my case) ?

Thank you for your replies. I'll certainly check these out.
Grantanow I haven't heard about rechargeable ones.

Rechargeables are the way to go. No fiddly batteries to change.

Mamar Boots hearing care is good to

Mamar, try Specsavers or Scrivens for NHS hearing aids. Ring them directly.

I don't post very often. Has this last post worked about hearing aids please?

I had hearing aids provided by the NHS in 2018. The sound has never been right. It sounds like I'm in a tin can. Until last week I didn't know much about HA's, but I'm learning fast.

I went for an appointment to our audiology clinic (separate from the hospital) & was told the aids are out of date & that I need a new hearing test & new HA's. He said he'll put me on the waiting list & the waiting time for an appointment is 2½ - 3years.

Apparently HA's are supposed to last 4yrs before replacement. Something I wasn't told. I have since found out that I can self refer or go through the GP, if requested, to transfer my care to another hospital.

This is where I need help please. I live in Doncaster but have no idea where the shortest waiting time would be. I am willing to travel. I can't afford to buy privately as I've just had to spend £6.000+ for teeth implants.

Is there a list of some sort informing patients of hospitals' waiting times? Thanks.

I have free NHS hearing aids but have not yet learned how to use the rocker switch so have reverted to my good old OTICON hearing aids.

I am lazy about wearing the aids all the time so my brain has not adjusted to the sound quality of the aids, whichever brand I use. I use subtitles for the telly.

Have had HA's for close on 25 years - always via NHS. And all batteries have always been given out for free.

My first one was just one ear and a large box type thing. Could not get on with that, Since about 20 years go, had smaller ones provided for both ears. when I moved from London, to Weston super Mare, i was surprised that I was sent to local Specsavers for audiology.

Despite my original fears that they would try to persuade me to go 'private'. they have been excellent. Have the same audiologist as those who are going private, and, as far as I can make out, not much difference in the aids I get.

Yes, every time I get new Aids, I now it will take my brain a good fortnight at least, to get used to them and noises sound very loud. But once my brain has caught up, things are pretty good.

Hearing Aids do NOT give you back perfect hearing, they just make speech, etc more understandable. Serious hearing loss is very isolating. My HA's do not work well in a very noisy place, and I have just had to accept that.

Mine go in as I get up in the morning and stay until I go to bed. I do check a lot that they are still in place, as if pulled out accidently and lost, I have to pay for a replacement. Always ae them whilst I am getting dressed and undressed for any reason. Specs need to put over them and pressed down firmly on them. Putting on/taking off coats, scarves, etc can disturb them, so learn to check that they are still in place each time you do this (only takes seconds)

So grateful that we have the NHS and they provide these, and the batteries, and any re-adjustments and replacements of the little tubes without me having to worry about whether or not I can afford it. Annoys me people who get their NHS Aids, and then do not use them. Not sure who they think they are kidding.

I got mine on Christmas Eve from a NHS audiologist at our local surgery.
My mother, late nineties, has terrible hearing and to get her there I booked in for the 3 of us.

DH who accused me of mumbling has to go to the hospital as his hearing is worse on one side. Not sure when that will be.

Mum got hers straight away and it has made such a difference.
She hasn’t got to grips with changing the mode or volume but the improvement makes it so much easier to deal with her.

I had lots of wax so had to go back to get rid of that. I then had another test and got my aids. I don’t think that they have made much difference to the volume that I hear at (I could change that anyway) but I think I can hear more clearly. As curlywhirly mentioned my loss is similar to hers so we aren’t going to have the same improvement as my mother has had because our hearing has only deteriorated slightly.
Anyway my experience with the NHS has been good. I can go back if I have any problems.
I wear glasses but I do wear them all the time so they fit behind my aid and don’t seem to be a problem.
I haven’t notice any sweating but it is winter! I put them in and don’t even think about them until it’s time for a shower.
I was given 3 months supply of batteries and when they run out I can go back to the surgery and they will give me more.
What’s not to like?
It is, apparently, best to get your aids as soon you notice any hearing loss as your brain adapts better.

I find them a nuisance but necessary. I wear glasses for reading and often dislodge the HAs without noticing. I also can’t always hear the person opposite me in a noisy situation even though I have used the filters on my phone.

Just a quick update. Have posted several times on this thread re NHS hearing aids and for me I tried very hard with them. However after trying NHS for several years, also private ones from Specsavers which were worse than NHS one I have now found aids to my great satisfaction through a private clinic. Was given a free trial with them and the difference was night and day, very pleased with them. Back into the land of living for me and of course my family after years of struggling. Very happy. Without doubt they cost a lot of money but for me I feel I've been given my life back, worth every penny.

Erica23 thanks for that. No they aren't bluetooth. I've not had one instance where anything has seemed louder or clearer! The only problem I had with my hearing was listening to the tv - people sounded like they were mumbling, (and they still do, even with the hearing aids in). Maybe I do need to go back and have them adjusted.

Curlywhirley Hi I felt the same when my hearing aids were fitted last year. It wasn’t until I got in the car, turned on the radio and then realised how loud it was. Are yours Bluetooth ? If so you’ll be able to adjust them on your phone, maybe they have been set too low, other than that you can higher them on the hearing aid itself.
If still no joy, make an appointment, go back and have them adjusted.

Just had my new hearing aids (NHS battery) fitted on Monday. When asked by the audiologist how they were, I said that they didn't appear to make any difference to what I could hear! As my hearing loss was only 20-30% and not that bad, she said that any improvement wouldn't be that noticeable and it would take a while for my brain to adjust. I've worn them every day since (they are comfortable and no problem) but they still aren't doing anything, it's as if they are dead (they aren't as the little green light appears to indicate that the battery is engaged). Would turning up the volume be any use, or are they more likely to need adjustments by the audiologist?

I meant to say that you used to be able to buy new batteries from the Doctors reception for 50 pence.for 4 in a pack., that was a couple of years ago though.

If you had your hearing aids through the National Health Service you used to be able to get new batteries from them for 50 pence. You just asked at reception for them.

This thread has been resurrected but it's been very helpful as I've recently got my first NHS hearing aids. I'm also having them fall out if I take glasses off or push my hair off my face. My hearing loss is mild ATM so I'm using the NHS ones to acclimatise myself to wearing aids and to find out what is tolerable and what's not. Actually apart from the failure to stay put, I'm finding them pretty good. Just for info, I got an appointment within a couple of weeks and the aids were fitted the same day, which I was very impressed with. I went to one of our local NHS health centres but the service was provided by a private company. Explanation of how to use and maintain the aids was in a booklet and tbh I'd have appreciated a demo but I've gradually got more confident. Perhaps in the future I'll invest in more sophisticated aids but for now I think I'm ok with the free NHS ones.

olderme I had the same problem and tried various olive oil drops.

However the most effective ones I've found are these:

amzn.eu/d/i6BgGee

I just squirt one or two drops in each ear overnight. They really help.

I just can't wear my NHS one. The itch is intolerable. Just don't know how to manage it.

Our Audiology Department is wonderful. If only the useless hearing aids they dish out were as good!
I hate mine. They fall off everytime I comb my hair, put on a hat, change my glasses, take off a jumper. They bombard me with unwanted sounds - traffic, washing machine, sirens but I still can’t hear a conversation across a table.
I read that many people, including me, don’t use their hearing aids. Not surprising.

I have a device that plugs into the tv which plays into my hearing aids independent of the level others in the room have the sound set at. It is excellent. I bought it with my current hearing aids from Specsavers but it is probably available from most audiologists.

I've had hearing aids for 17yrs. First with NHS moulds which were very uncomfortable and weren't sufficient in my work environment. I later went Specsavers and have just bought my 3rd set 2 weeks ago - 4yr guarantees each time. They have a lovely audiologist who will do every adjustment possible to give me the best possible sounds. You do have to stick with it and wear them all the time. My new ones are due another tweek this week. When the bread pops up in the toaster it's sounding like a bomb going off. Like others, wearing aids has still been a problem with background noises being far louder than the foreground noise so I was amazed that in a very busy restaurant last week that I could hear everyone talking on our table with these new ones which hasn't happened for years. I had gone back to NHS this time, because of finances, who said my hearing loss is now bordering on severe and the hearing aids I've been using will no longer be enough for me and only moulds will do. I went back to Specsavers as my current out of guarantee aids had completed packed up. So glad I did as 5 months down the line still no sign of getting the NHS ones. They explained that the range NHS can offer is limited which is understandable due to financial constraints. I tried in the ear aids again and decided to sod the cost as I want coping feeling isolated in a near silent world. When I eventually get the NHS ones, they will be my backup.

It's normal to take a while to adjust, and the service whp provided them should have A) explained that and B) told you to come back and get them adjusted as often as necessary C) demonstrate to you what adjustments the wearer can make for themselves.

DH who has been wearing aids for over a decade, and hearing still deteriorating (nothing to do with aids) last year decided to try private ones from Boots. They cost thousands but came with a full -refund guarantee if AFTER THREE MONTHS he still wasn't satisfied. He went back for adjustments but still wasn't impressed, and they refunded in full. But that's an indication of how it can take a while to adjust to new aids.

Don't give up yet.