Hearing Aid Advice

Mr C transferred to Specsavers from audiology when the walk in facility for adjustments was closed. Appointments became necessary for anything, no matter how small, with long waits

Often issues with his aids are cured by replacement tubes which Specsavers will provide whenever needed. Recently he had a mould changed to a better fitting one without the need for an appointment. He has also been told NHS complete hearing tests are now only available every five years but he will be reminded to have the aids checked every 18 months if he’s not asked for any adjustments in the meantime.

If you’ve not done so icandoit perhaps ask for the tubes and moulds to be checked, could be a simple fix. I hope so as I know how Mr C struggles when his aids aren’t working as they should.

I have Boots Phonak Bluetooth aids - at my age (82) the NHS were not prepared to invest in me and my son bought these for me. They are way superior to the NHS ones I had before, but I wouldn't recommend Boots to anyone and believe you get better service from somewhere like Hidden Hearing.
The thing I love most about the Bluetooth connection is how good it is with the phone. So long as my phone is nearby, I only have to tap my ear to answer or end a call, and I can hear perfectly. Great when I'm driving - brings a whole new meaning to 'hands free'!
My hearing, incidentally, is very bad - very little left on the left and the right, although better, isn't great either. As someone above said, poor hearing is so isolating and general conversation is a no-go area.

I wonder how often you wear your hearing aids Icandoit? You need to wear them very often to get used to them and for the brain to filter out irrelevant noise. I have Phonak aids and was told the audiologist can see how much use I make of them, so maybe if you’re not wearing them regularly the audiologist feels you wouldn’t benefit from any type of hearing aid?

Thank you all. I have been categorically told that going private will NOT enhance my hearing that my aids are what I need for my hearing loss, I can only believe the experts. I shall look into replacing tubes though, hadn't thought this may be a deterrent in my hearing. Going for a hearing test to an independent would only allow them to persuade me to buy aids and if I thought for a minute it would enhance my hearing I would but how do I know without buying!

Did you know the connecting tubes SHOULD be replaced regularly as they become brittle and the sound doesn’t carry? I have Bluetooth phonak nhs aids replaced only in Nov 2023 but the wait to be seen to have even the tubes replaced was months. Like you I felt my hearing wasn’t good but after waiting two years for a retest I was told it was no different. I have decided to order my own replacement tubes as I can then change tubing more frequently.

I had to get mine privately in the end. I was able to pay monthly but still found it costly. However there is a big improvement over the NHS ones. I believe you can get a free test from Boots or Specsavers which would at least give you another opinion. It’s absolutely vital for the health to have the best possible level of hearing.

Did they retest you at audiology? That is done every time I visit.

Oldfrill - yes I do have the App but tbh I have tried to work around the options it offers but really haven't found one that suits which is better to my hearing quality. I shall just have bite the bullet and try and contact Audiology once again and take it from there. I appreciate your comment.

My aids are not NHS

I had a cold and it seemed one hearing aid stopped working , but the audiologist found it was fine , the problem was mucus stuck behind my eardrum , Nasal spray sorted it out , I still get the problem when I have a cold

As yours are Bluetooth do you have a phone with the app that can adjust the sound on the aids? That may be worth trying though I've never needed to do can't advise.
I still think you should telephone audiology and explain the problem emphasising the effect it's having on your life and mental health.
Private audiologists offer a wider range of aids with more features maybe have chat with one.

My hearing aids I have are Phonak and are Bluetooth which I believe are used 'privately' as well so what would be the point of going private? Any suggestions?

Thank you all for your comments. It's true to say if I turn the volume up it makes no difference, it only makes the quality worse. I always get an ear wax check and have been told every time I don't have excess wax. For some reason I have in my head it's the batteries and wondered if they work ok, not really sure. I've tried opening a new pack but tbh they are just the same. My last visit to audiology when it was a locum assured me 100% categorically going private would give me no better hearing/aid than I have at the moment and I would be wasting my money. I am beginning to be feel very unsociable when in company and more people talking at once with background noise etc. it really is getting me down. Thank you all for responding. Not sure what my next step is.

I assume your ears have been checked for wax? Sounds obvious, but my DH needs his ears microsuctioning quite often, since wearing aids.

He puts oil in regularly too.

I've struggled with my latest NHS aids for the last two years, frequently getting them tweaked. I was told I couldn't have a retest as they were only allowed to do that every 5 years. This was at Specsavers. I the end I have had to have private ones as that was the only way I could get a test. This showed some deterioration in my hearing which the basic NHS aids wouldn't improve. So. £1800 poorer but much improved hearing with my new aids which can Bluetooth to my phone and are rechargeable.

Try your nearest branch of Scrivens. I have found they are very good. They do NHS and private.

Hi Icandoit,
There is something audiology can do and that's replace them, so go back and insist they do. At 3 years l wouldn't expect them to quibble but probably depends on health board It's the only way you'll know if it's the aids or you.
After never having a problem my last pair were dreadful, so bad l often didn't wear them (took me 18 months to see an audiologist - used to be walk in!) He changed them without question - these new ones are fine.
It is so isolating, frustrating and crippling to mental health if you cannot hear/communicate properly - so go back and fight you case.
Also try changing batteries even though you aren't getting the battery failing signal. May help, my last set a battery lasted days instead of weeks.
Good luck x

Been wearing my aids for two years now. When I complained to the audiologist that I was having problems with my hearing aids, her solution was to turn them up to the highest volume setting. The actual issue is a Eustachian tube dysfunction or glue ear that is causing the hearing to be muffled in my left ear. The higher volume setting is so loud that I have to turn the aids down so I’m back to square one! A friend has purchased his privately and each hearing aid has a separate volume control, he reports this has made a lot of difference.