Hearing Loss

DH had his hearing checked by one of these firms that then sell you hearing aids; they said he definitely needed one as he has lost the higher register of his hearing apparently. (He can't hear high-pitched bird tweeting for instance.) The surgery thought he was fine, however, and he decided not to buy a hearing aid for the time being.
The same firm kept phoning every six months until one time they phoned and said he could be due for compensation for hearing loss due to industrial injury, so he went along and when he was tested they said there was not enough hearing loss to claim for compensation.

So enough loss to sell him £6,000 of hearing aids but not enough to claim for compensation
So be a bit careful.

Thank you for the warning! Perhaps I should just keep shouting or develop a deep voice!

£6000! Definitely shouting!

I would not go to a private hearing aid clinic unless I had been to the NHS first. A referral from your GP to the Audiology dept who will issue you with digital hearing aids free of charge, plus your batteries will be free. Why pay £6,000 when you don't need to? I know so many people who have bought aids then not been happy with them.
Years ago the NHS hearing aids were very basic, but now they are up to date and lots better than they used to be. Another point to consider, is, if your hearing should deteorate (heaven forbid, but it might) then the NHS will update your aids, again, free of charge. It's no contest is it?
I am profoundly deaf and I rely on my aids 100% as without them I hear nothing at all. It's not much fun I can tell you.

I'm another very happy NHS hearing aids wearer, I'd never go private!

I've heard absolute horror stories about private hearing aids from my patients- one lady paid £6000 then had to take out a direct debit for new batteries every month (£60) and there are extortionate charges for any repairs etc.

I totally agree with mrsmopp, go NHS. I've been assured that you'll get the top of the range through them, whereas private companies sell the ones the NHS discards, so be warned.

Another NHS aids wearer here, and very satisfied with them I am too...

Mind you I don't like to wear them when driving - every creak and crunch becomes audible - most disconcerting!

I hadn't even thought we might have to go private really and at £6000 we just wouldn't anyway.

I thought I would ask 'those who know' what the drill is when you get to the clinic and what sort of things they do to test because I know that DH would feel more comfortable knowing before he goes.

You will have an audiology appointment, and the hearing will be checked to establish the degree of hearing loss. Through headphones there will be a series of bleeps, varying in volume and pitch. You press a button when you hear the bleep. From this the audiologist makes a graph called an audiogram and he then decides on your hearing aid. It will be digitally tuned in to match the level of hearing loss. Maybe 2 aids are needed.
Things do sound different at first, but with perseverence you soon get used to them. Don't give up! There will be a follow up appointment after a few weeks to see how you are getting on and to iron out any problems.
Hope this helps! I have worn aids for 60 years, so I have a bit of experience.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. You are in good company as nearly half of people over 65 have a hearing loss - it is very common.

I need to say you won't be issued with the hearing aid immediately. There will be an impresson taken of your ear so the earmould will be a snug and comfortable fit. The hospital will contact you when the ear moulds are ready and the aids can then be fitted. Usually a wait of a few weeks depending on your area.

I was struggling to hear what OH was saying so decided to get my hearing tested at the same place I buy my specs. The audiologist detected hearing loss, worse in one ear than the other but said two hearing aids would be necessary for them to work properly. She also assured me that the ones her firm supplied were superior in every way to the ones I would get through the NHS.
Because I had slight tinnitus in one ear I visited my GP to get a referral to the hospital for further tests. I told him that I had been convinced, before the hearing tests, that I couldn't hear OH because he mumbles. He replied "No man ever mumbles"
To cut a long story short, the NHS audiologist found that my hearing loss did not justify the need for my massively expensive purchase. So I went back to the firm that dispensed the private hearing aids and they gave me my money back immediately.
The audiology registrar said my hearing problem was probably due to my husband's mumbling and there were other ways of dealing with that.

Yes, oldgoat keep a sharp stick with you, that will do the job nicely, any mumbling and a quick jab in the side will soon stop it.

mrsmopp - thank you that is a really helpful post and just what we need to know. I am hoping that DH will make an appointment to see his Dr himself and get the ball rolling after Christmas.

You are welcome, Synonymous, do let me know how it goes.
Best wishes!

Perhaps a little story to make you smile. I wear a hearing aid, and went for a check up. The young lady in charge duly sat me down in a small room, and I faced the wall, so that I could not see her. The ear phones were placed over my ears, and the button handed to me to push when I heard a sound. We sat there for about some minutes, and the young lady came over to me took the head phones off, and said "Will you please push the button, when you hear a noise" to which I replied "Yes, when I hear a noise I will push the button - I am deaf".

Something just struck me PRINTMISS coming from your post and DH's ever increasing deafness, I know how isolating it is. Much of what I say to him is lost, or by the time I've made him hear and understand the moment has passed.

But being able to 'talk' freely on a forum like GN must be a bit of a relief,and to 'listen' to others expressing views you might otherwise have struggled to 'hear'.

Is that right?

I had my hearing checked about three years ago, it was on the cusp as it were, but think it has got worse, so will have another NHS check this year.As others have said, the NHS hearing aids are fine, very discreet.We know several friends who have them and you wouldn't know.

Oldgoat thanks for sharing your experience. I wrote on here a few months ago about maybe needing hearing aids, family members said I did, and I can never hear husband very well. He has a loud booming voice but it becomes muffled by his very bushy beard.
I got a referral from my doctor, and the audiologist said I had a slight loss in both ears, but not enough for aids. So a similar story to yours.

Yes Anya often communicate with friends via e-mail, sometimes Skype(because I can see them), and those friends know why. People tell me I am a good "listener", perhaps because I do have to LISTEN rather than HEAR.

rosesarered - sharp stick at the ready!

triciaf - OH also has a bushy beard!

Is it a ' beard you could lose a badger in' ? Or a neat Elizabethan type goatee?

Sorry, cannot lipread a person with a beard.
It has to be a no no for me. No chance!

OH keeps his beard trimmed now, since several people remarked that he bore a striking resemblance to Dr. Harold Shipman.

Or Jeremy Corbyn??

Since DH has become harder of hearing I have become very conscious of the necessity of lip reading and aware of how many people keep their hands over their mouths which means that what they say can't be read. If you are deaf this must make life very difficult. Our friend who is profoundly deaf often uses Malapropisms which would seem to be the natural result of mouth covering. I have to admit that some of the things he says are hysterical and I struggle to keep a straight face but, although he has a great sense of humour, I hesitate to say anything as I don't want to offend or be hurtful to him. Anyone have any thoughts on this?