Double trouble- help !

As others have said, you could go for an NHS hearing test and aids. However, depending on where you live, there may be a long waiting list and you might consider private aids are worth it. If you have a moderate hearing loss, you have lost a significant amount of hearing - at least 40db and, while you think you can manage fine without them, you are probably missing a great deal more than you realise. Wearing your hearing aids only in public is counterproductive and does not give you a chance to get used to them. You need to wear them all the time. If your television is turned up to 40/50, your family, friends and neighbours, unless your home is detached, will all thank you.

Peaseblossom, you may know this but just in case you don't, in my experience this means that the ringtone, notification and alarms sounds are set too high on your phone. These can be adjusted in your phone settings.

Your gp should refer you to Audiology, for nhs hearing aides unless you can afford Boots/private hearing aides - I don’t know what the difference is except the Boots / private ones cost more - I have nhs hearing aides and whilst they aren’t perfect, I’m very grateful to have them…
The Opticians (Vision Express) referred me for cataract ops; he sent my referral to a Private clinic which takes nhs referral s (?!) and I was seen, and had the ops within a month each time.
I live in Berkshire - maybe I am just lucky 🤷‍♀️
Not so lucky that I did experience a ‘common’ problem with both eyes in that the cataracts were coming back…again Vision Express diagnosed this and referred me to the same clinic and within weeks I was seen and had 3minutes laser surgery on each eye, within a couple of weeks of each other !
I’m hoping my eyes will behave now!
Good luck with your hearing and sight xx

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I've had private Aids (Siemens) at £1,500 each (x 2) plus batteries (about £60pa) for a decade+ (hearing loss caused by meningitis).

Lost one (and had neglected to list them on the House Insurance). Couldn't justify the now £2k+ to replace it.

Saw my GP who referred me to the hospital Audiology Department.
Appointment + hearing test + moulds done. Within three weeks of seeing my GP I was fitted with my new Aids (PHONEK).

The NHS ones are FAR FAR superior and no Battery charge (= a lovely lunch our with a friend every 6-months!!!)

See your GP
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Get your GP to refer you to audiology. In the past I have paid lots of money for private hearing aids, but I find my NHS bluetooth aids far superior.

If you get hearing aids - NHS or private - you qualify for a disabled persons railcard. Well worth the cost, as you and one other person get 30% off train journeys.

I recently discovered that if you have your cataracts operated on within the NHS you are entitled to free lenses when you visit the optician for new glasses. You can either buy new frames or have the lenses put in your existing ones.

In my area Scrivens (another optician chain) have the contract for supply and fit of NHS aids - once you have had a professionally done test by NHS. They do supply all sorts of aids, but those I was given are really good. I'd certainly push for NHS first. You may be totally satisfied with them - at worst you'll have had practice in how to use them and what you can reasonably expect.

It's gransnet not grandad's net! So tough! Personally I think some of these quibbles are ridiculous, like instead of having chairman and chairwoman it's now chair, which is ludicrous! We are not a piece of furniture! Chairman and chairwoman would have been perfectly acceptable, but you always get some annoying people that have to change things for the worse.

My dh has had both private and NHS hearing aids. It was a year’s wait for the NHS but the service he received was far superior to that of a certain optician chain’s service. The hospital testing was longer and they seemed to test more aspects of his hearing. They also took a more detailed history.

My optician told me it was about 4 weeks in my area.

Nanannotgrandma I turn my Bluetooth off when I've got them in, because I hate being deafened by phone calls and alarms on my phone!

I had my hearing tested a couple of times at Boots, because it didn't occur to me that I could get hearing aids free on the NHS, probably because of the Boots adverts, but I have now had them for about a year. So don't waste your money buying them, when you can get them on the NHS. I didn't have to wait long for an appointment either.

Another vote for NHS hearing aids. And I recommend developing a good (professional!) relationship with the audiologist who assists you.

I have NHS hearing aids. They are discreet and state of the art. They link to my iPhone. I Have an app on my phone where I can control them. They also link to my phone for calls and to listen to music and podcasts. There is no need to buy them if you are over 60 or 65. Not sure which age

Just got NHS hearing aids, no cost whatsoever. If you have cataracts fixed by the NHS you can sometimes pay a bit to upgrade the actual lens that gets inserted.

Agree Kathleen !

Agree!

Hi. Crazy.
We are a little bit expert on these two questions.
Q1.
Hearing Aids. are free from your hospital but you should go on the appt list as it could be a while. It was for me. Of course depends on where you live and the hospital you attend. My brother in law bought his own. £2000!
I used my earbuds connected to my iPhone to hear in company when necessary. Usually at special family times.l!
The NHS aids have very small battery life. Always have to order new ones from hospital.
The ear buds and iPhone if you have them work well for me. A relative showed me how to set it up.
Now as for Q2. The cataract surgery. Advise go for your appointment. Get on the list as it might be a long wait. It was for my partner. He has just had his second one done this week. The first was before Christmas. The delay was because of doctors being poorly.
He has been on the list since last spring. Again depends where you live.
So my advice is don’t wait go for it.
Makes a hugh difference to your life. Good Luck. 💐

kittylester

I was just saying that this site is not just for ladies. It's not very encouraging for men to read a question to 'lovely ladies'.

I'm sure that they can cope.

It happens far less now, but as a young women I was continually ignored as a woman in political meetings and the workplace as if my opinion didn't count.

Big time, and I have always been willing to speak up and join in and help out too.

If some men cant really get past a simple invitation to "the ladies" then its on them, not women.

What a nit picker

My daughter was referred for a hearing test recently by her Gp, she was seen quickly at a local centre, diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss in one ear, and supplied there and then with a hearing aid on the NHS . I wouldn't pay until you explored this option

OH has severe hearing loss. He tried private hearing aids but found them no better than NHS. Hearing aids are only as good as the audiologist fitting them. I'd try NHS first.

With that hearing reading id take that as not really ready for an aid but
Boots can supply one at a cost.
I've worn aids for many years. I always use NHS..

As for cataracts depends where you live I guess.
I've had both done plus laser. Well worth the wait.

Good luck

We've got a brilliant audiology department where we live. Two years ago I needed a single hearing aid to help me when in group settings. It was free - and so are the batteries. I had another appointment today and now that my brain has fully adjusted to the level set before, the aid was fine tuned. It's a really good service. Boots wanted to sell me a state of the art hearing aid, but I'm pleased with my free nhs one.

In our health authority people over the age of 75 can self refer to the hospital for a hearing test.