Hearing aids from a well known opticians

I have private aids from Boots. The joy of them is that I just pop then in a charging box at night - no batteries needed. I have neuropathy in my hands from chemo and couldn’t manage changing the batteries.

Here you cannot get in-ear devices on the NHS, and the over ear ones are a bit of a nuisance with glasses (you get used to it), but the quality of the hearing tests from the NHS is second to none, and they will discuss your particular needs to take with you to any non-NHS purchase if you cannot get in-ear. Mine are app attached too, and I get free batteries.

If you wear specs then you could ask if you are suitable for those in your spec arms too.

Yes, a lot of upselling goes on, but we did our research and found that, like washing machines, computers, phones, there are differences that you may not need, and some "elite" are not necessary. Dh did buy some online and they were really cheap and super sound.

NHS. Whole range of hearing situations controlled from smartphone. Discreet. Free trouble shooting, replacements and hearing reviews. Free batteries for life. No advantage to the advisor from offering expensive add ons. Simples

Luckygirl3

I have NHS ones from Specsavers - small, fine, free, connects to an app on my phones, all the bells and whistles, all the follow up and batteries free. I am at a loss as to why anyone pays ...

I think because people still have awful horrors of the big giant clumsy NHS ones. I too will be using the NHS when my time comes, which according to my family will be very soon!

Calendargirl

Luckygirl3

I have NHS ones from Specsavers - small, fine, free, connects to an app on my phones, all the bells and whistles, all the follow up and batteries free. I am at a loss as to why anyone pays ...

My DH had NHS ones at first, but his hearing loss was quite bad and he had to have ones that ‘filled up’ his ear, if you can see what I mean. In the hot weather, they got sweaty and uncomfortable.

So he decided to go for private ones, as they were more discreet. Obviously the type he needed wasn’t available on the NHS.

I have to have a mould due to my severe loss but knew I would qualify for the next grade up so insisted I had them on the NHS which I have now, they are totally different and now enables me to hear in most surroundings. I do have a Roger Pen and a loop which enables me to do one to one conversation in very busy places and also to do conference conversations. However the point is that no one needs to go private, it is all available on the NHS you just have to ask and depending on your hearing loss they will prescribe you accordingly. If the prescribve an inferior quality ask again. You need to be persistent to get what you need. Like everything these days we sadly have to push for it.

DH paid for some from Specsavers. They gave him a pair of NHS ones as well. When we go away he uses the NHS ones. Carrying a little card of batteries is easier than taking a charger. I asked if he will replace the paid for ones if they ever stop working. He won’t!

Good points there Greciangirl. I would add that Specsavers will ask you about your history and you might be asked to go elsewhere for scans etc. I had sudden onset of deafness in one ear so it had to be checked out as to cause. When I was waiting about for appointment, one of other staff commented that there was not much advance in basic technology with the fancier h aids but you were paying for the frills of bluetooth, rechargable etc. I thought that a good point .... As for wearing with glasses, they can adjust the arm of the spectacle a bit to accomodate it resting on the top of hearing aid. I have seen a hearing aid attached to the arm of the spectacle for full time glass wearers. There is also some new fancy one with 'loudspeakers' discretely located in the arms of glasses.

A family just couldn’t get on with the tube in the ear sadly so had gone private , astronomical prices though

Hi I have NHS PHONAK hearing aids they are fantastic supplied by my local hospital. I only waited four weeks for my first appointment, it does seem really unfair to the lady having to wait nearly three years , could you ask to be referred to another health authority?
Mine are Bluetooth enabled and it’s opened up a whole new world of music, audiobooks, podcasts etc. my Dr advised to try the NHS ones first, glad I did.

My NHS hearing aids are excellent and so is the app on the phone.
They were supplied within three weeks from first contact with audiology at the hospital (no need for GP referral).
Thank you, NHS.

62Granny

Would you be eligible for NHS ones? My DH has some that fit into ear cleaning kit was supplied, they are battery ones , which are also supplied free of charge although I think you can upgrade the digital.
If anything goes wrong or you need help they can be contacted . Our Audiology dept is very helpful.

In my health authority there is a 3 year wait for audiology, that's one reason people pay.

jakuss

Specsavers supply free hearing aids on the nhs with free batteries for life, I wear them, dont be conned into buying some

Depends on your local health authority having a contract with them, mine doesn't.

I have found my local Boots great for my particular needs. They are wonderful and you cant get them here on the NHS. An excellent audiologist, proper sound rooms, lots of support. They are the lightweight over the ear ones and go well with wearing glasses.

I can wear them for doing yoga like headstand and they dont budge. Cost - yes I had to dig deep, Worth - every penny imo, brand, Phonak. I haven't blue tooth enabled them yet, but already, listening to music -wow. They are tuned I don't know how to help with my tinnitus, don't notice it with them in.

ENT's do work differently up and down the country - we are a black spot, local NHS aids are 16 yr old models.

Floradora9

Mine aren't.
They're brilliant.
PHONAK
.

I have read all about how hearing aids are made.
And surprisingly, they are very cheap to make.

The hundreds of thousands of pounds we are charged goes mainly to the shops and suppliers who sell them on.

We, the public are being used for vast profits.
It’s a racket. Unfortunately, most of us can’t do without them so have little choice.

I’m due an appointment with Audiology soon, but shall take on all advice given here.
Very interesting.

I have Specsavers hearing aids, the second cheapest kind, and am quite happy with them. The waiting list here for NHS is very long and I was fortunate enough to be able to pay for them. The service, I have found, is very good and friendly, and although I don't need to wear the aids every day, they are a great help if I am in among people.

Specsavers supply free hearing aids on the nhs with free batteries for life, I wear them, dont be conned into buying some

Didnt they tell you, they are free at specsavers on the nhs with free batteries for life, I have a pair, they are super, dont be conned

.

As a long-term Aid wearer (meningitis in 1992 aged 22) I think that I'm well qualified to offer advice on this subject.

But really I would just offer this .......

ADVICE -

An efficient and professional Hearing Test can ONLY take place in an soundproof room or booth.
Most High Street offerers DO NOT have these.
Ask the question.
If it isn't affirmative then walk away.

HISTORY -

I had Meningitis in 1992 at age 22 which caused a considerable deterioration in my hearing.

I have had private Aids - Siemens £1,500 each in 1992! Private Audiologist. Lost one and couldn't afford a replacement (neglected to itemise on my Home Insurance). Totally in ear type which causes a build up of earwax that needed a trip to my Health Centre twice a year to syringe (not available on the NHS now; private dewaxing anything from £60-£100).

Saw my GP and explained the situation
referred to local hospital Audiology Department. Had tests promptly and within 3-weeks had the new NHS Aids - Phonek.

The NHS ones are far superior and more comfortable and no build up of wax *. Plus I save (c) £60 a year on batteries as I no longer have to buy them privately. The receptionist at my Doctor's Surgery keeps them in her desk drawer. I just ask for them and she hands them over.

CONCLUSION -

See your GP and request a referral.

* Wax is important to lubricate your ear drum and inner ear. Excess just evaporates normally. This can't happen with solid Aids that are moulded to entirely fill your ear. Over-the-ear and with just the soft cone in it is more efficient and allows for some evaporation and doesn't compact/harden the wax and block the ear. Just grow your hair over your ears and it can't be seen (skin-tone or silver options.
.

My sister had to start wearing hearing aids last year after a sudden total hearing loss in one ear. She went down the NHS route as they were investigating the cause. Her free NHS hearing aid is practically invisible it's a tiny thing and even with her very short hair it's not really noticeable, and the bit outside her ear is so small it doesn't get in the way of her glasses. Well worth checking out NHS ones before committing to pay out exhorbitant amounts for privare ones.

No NHS where I live but my mother had good service from her hospital audiology department. I opted for basic level Specsavers for my one deaf ear and have two identical ones for same ear taking advantage of 'buy one get one free' deal of year back. I later tried a fancier model with rechargeable batteries and App connection with Bluetooth so could use h aid like an earpod to listen to music/podcasts or take calls. I used it for trial period but returned it as my phone was not compatable with their app and I was happier with battery set up I was used to. I hated idea of another 'thing' to plug in every night and anxiety over travel and leaving it in a hotel. My batteries last a good while, over a week if every day use, and so small, easy to have spare in bag. I was very happy with Specavers service overall with free batteries and wax filters and check up whenever I felt the need,

Had aids for a few years that were light & manageable. Then new ones a few years ago that were bigger & uncomfortable. Now another new set that are slightly less weighty & a bit smaller but the pipes are uncomfortable & because I have very narrow ears they hurt after a couple of hours. Do not think there will be any use going back to Specsavers as my aids now are linked to my phone so that I can sort any problems myself! That is ok if I do not have arthritis in arms & hands & AMD in my eyes that make using the app a bit awkward! Still can only have a few years life left, if that long! So will plod on & put up with only using them when I am with other people to have a conversation with. TV & music can turn up a bit & shout at my cat as he seems deaf too! 😹

Luckygirl3

I have NHS ones from Specsavers - small, fine, free, connects to an app on my phones, all the bells and whistles, all the follow up and batteries free. I am at a loss as to why anyone pays ...

NHS aids are excellent if you have a mild to moderate sensoneurinal hearing loss, which is the loss that affects the vast majority of older people. I have a mixed hearing loss (conductive and sensoneurinal) in both ears and quite a large loss, especially in my left ear. To put this into context, when I take my hearing aids out at night I have a sudden wall of silence. This is most noticeable when I am running a bath in our en suite bathroom as, when I take out my hearing aids, I cannot hear the water running. I am also a professional classical musician and my NHS aids did not work very well for music. My hearing has deteriorated significantly since I was fitted with the NHS aids and it was almost as bad as not wearing any. There is also a very long wait for NHS hearing aids in my area. I went to an audiologist in a small chain of private hearing aid providers and have top-of-the-range models. Best of all, they have an excellent music programme, which allows me to hear in stereo, which I can't remember hearing since I was a child. I finally have a programme that works for hearing speech in a noisy environment. Yes, they cost an eye-watering amount of money but this also includes superb aftercare. They have been absolutely lifechanging for me and enable me to live a fulfilling life. This is why I have these expensive private hearing aids instead of NHS aids.

If you should end up going private OP, please be warned DON'T try 'Hidden Hearing'. They offer to come to your home so that you can discuss things in comfort etc., however, before you know it, they've got the hearing aids in your ears, and tuned in to 'YOUR' needs, etc., and while you're told there is no obligation to buy, you end up feeling that because of all the time they've spent, that you really can't live without 'the best that money can buy', as in their words, 'you deserve it', 'it's your health, and surely that's worth paying for', etc. Then, once they've left, you begin to realise that while you haven't actually been conned, you've ended up spending £5k, when all you actually wanted was to know if you needed hearing aids, and if so, how much they would be likely to cost you. This happened to my DH, and yet we normally think we're pretty savvy when it comes to salespeople in our home, and have on occasion been known to throw out those that come with the hard sell, 'I'll have to speak to my manager, maybe I can squeeze a little bit of extra discount for you, blah, blah' type. My husband had asked if there was a 'cooling off period', but was told that 'you won't need that, as I can guarantee that you won't regret getting the best, blah, blah'. So the salesman didn't actually say no, but crafted his words to make you believe that you wouldn't need to even consider getting your money back, basically he said anything necessary to persuade us to buy there and then. Thankfully, once we'd come to our senses, I looked them up online, and found that they do actually offer a 60 day money back guarantee, so we were able to cancel the whole thing, but were really shocked at how easily we'd been sweet talked into spending £5k on something that we hadn't really done any real research on, which is not at all like us, and it's not even as if we're that old yet, as we're both only in our 60's. Give that salesman his due, I feel absolutely sure he could sell ice cubes to Eskimo's!

I mentioned on another hearing aid thread that I'm totally lost what to do. I've been told by my audiologist that I need a new hearing test & new hearing aids. I'm on the waiting list 2½ - 3 years. I got my aids 2018 & should have been called back every 4yrs. I wasn't. Local Specsavers can't help as my GP haven't signed up to their scheme. My GP said they can't help so I'm left in limbo. What can I do?