now its my ears

[Jaybird19]

i am just wearing out, have had dodgy ears for ages but reached the point where i had to do something . breathing was the most important but i want to hear too. so went to Boots and had a day full of laughter . that is not the point but i dont get to meet many people and it leaves a good impression. . i had avisit from hidden hearing yesterday too . impressed but the cost was even moreup to three and half k.

has anybody had experience of this . it is a lot of money and i am

a scrooge I know .i have a reaction to the material used previously by nhs I react to silicone which is how my lungs got worse inhaling a mist of hair spray containing silicone which is supposed to make hair shine > so now i ca n react to some silicone .

any advice would be welcome.

[Bevvy]

Have you tried NHS hearing aids? There should be something that doesn’t affect you.

I would be very hesitant privately purchasing hearing aids. The standard of aids via nhs is very high these days. A few months ago my father had a similar query about private aids. He was advised that his NHS pair bought privately would cost several thousand pounds.

Also some people simply can’t get used to hearing aids and won’t wear them. Again a potential heavy outlay for something you might rarely use.

I certainly wouldn’t purchase anything without seeing and trying what is available via NHS.

[Bardear in reply to Bevvy]

Hidden hearing do do a hearing aid which is attached to your glasses. But I can't imagine how much it would cost. Rocket Fuel money I expect but try them you never know.

xxxx

[Nula2]

Hi Jaybird 🙋‍♀️. I've been wearing hearing aids for about 20 years now. Mine are NHS. As Bevvy says I would start by going via NHS as they are very thorough and specific to your hearing and ear shape. My ear canals are very twisty and narrow so they mould my hearing aids accordingly and the audiology department (in my local hospital anyway) are very helpful and always there for any problems . Even if you decide to go privately I would recommend seeing them as well . Either way hope you get some help. I know when I first had mine I was so delighted at hearing the birds singing and bees buzzing again 🙂. xxx

[Alberta56]

I agree that you should try the NHS first. Private hearing aids are appallingly expensive. I've been wearing NHS ones for a couple of years -I've lost one a couple of times, but it's still a lot cheaper than going private.

[Patk1]

I'm glad u enjoyed yr day out but soz,cant help re hearing aids x

[Jaybird19 in reply to Patk1]

ts abit pathetic, isnt it, when you actually enjoy a day spent having eye sand ears tested !

[Patk1 in reply to Jaybird19]

Nice to see people,whatever the reason 💕x

[Kaya74]

Hi I have had hearing aids all my life. You can request non - allergy and non-silicon moulds to be made up. I have these and it helps enormously

[Jaybird19 in reply to Kaya74]

thanks for the info . where do i have to go to ge tthese ? would nhs do this ?

[Kaya74 in reply to Jaybird19]

Hi Jaybird19

I go through NHS Audiology. You have to ask for them. Hyper-allergy moulds. Specify non silicone.

Also you can ask for a specific mould colour from a selection - not many people aware.

[Jaybird19 in reply to Kaya74]

i should have asked earlier. but try not to ask local surgery. have to wai so long. and given up on NHS

. I had heart scan last aug at Whythenshawe --- no follow upso recently asked surgery to get me an appointment to do that. which they did but I was booked me in and i started again as patient being examined for breathing problems with lungs and bronchietasis , and not the heart . manchester started a new system last september and very complicated and the heart report didnt get on to that so the consultant i was seeing couldnt find it at the time . just checked me over for bronchiectasis which is not any worse at this time and on new system. A wasted journey for me, transport by pateint transport in ambulance also wasted. only of value to get info on new system and learn how to use it ! this doctors time wasted to an extent , and doctor who had requested that scan last year does nt work there now. so consultant will have to find this report , she says , but when?.

nhs locally is over worked . live in area with thousands of new houses--- whole new villages ---or towns even, and no more doctors surgeries . so getting through is worse problem than most . I have not seen a doctor since way before covid isolation and when i needed a doctor they sent a paramedic who couldnt prescribe . he was good though. I do find the paramedic nurses are so much better informed than some doctors. our surgery had one years ago when it first started .

sorry to go on and again thanks for the info

[B0xermad]

Hi if they are available for you I would suggest NHS but my husband has specsavers ones for about 1,200 pounds top of the range Bluetooth ones which are rechargeable for the pair

[Jaybird19 in reply to B0xermad]

I had one NHs aid 9 years ago but gave up and relied on the better ear , now i have to get more. shouldnt have prevaricated !

[Maximonkey]

Hi Jaybird, why are you not using the NHS hearing service. I have developed Tinnitus and loss of hearing due to taking Azithromycin and I use NHS hearing services. The aids are the same as my neighbours who paid over £2000 for his. I highly recommend their services. Take Care, Maximonkey

[Jaybird19 in reply to Maximonkey]

Is there a NHS hearing service ? . I had one aid 9 years ago but nothing since and couldnt wear that aid as it irritated my ear . Boots have offered an alternative material that shouldnt do that and, if no good it woud refund all my money for up to 3 months so accepted . hidden hearing was even more expensive and that was the limit of my research. since posting on here have had so much info and help that i am really regretting not asking earlier. thanks so much.

[Maximonkey in reply to Jaybird19]

Hi Jaybird, if I were you I would phone your GP and ask who is covering your area for hearing tests. They should be able to either arrange this or give you the phone number of the audiologist who will carry out your test. You can tell the audiologist about your allergy and they should be able to offer you a hearing aid which suits your needs. I have a hearing test every 3rd year so if you have waited all these years you should be seen pretty soon. Good luck and take care, Maximonkey

[Jaybird19 in reply to Maximonkey]

will try that and see what response i get from my local surgery, thanks again for info

[Greenthorn]

Jaybird, I've just seen your post and I have a load of info to share with you. But right now I'm on a train travelling north. I will make a full and helpful reply later today. I have worn NHS hearing aids for 30 years or so. The advances made over the the last few years are really good. But I have suffered with h/aid moulds that are ill fitting in that they can rub or cause tiny sore. When I hear a technician say its like v wearing in new shoes I get very angry. It is NOT like wearing in new shoes. Wearing in new shoes is done with socks on our feet? I actually use a lubricating jelly wear the h/a mould fits and this has enabled me to wear the latest set.

In summary I have been given 3 sets for left and right. Each set came in two different materials. One soft and one hard. The first two sets were ill fitting so new moulds were taken for the third set, which were thinner and lighter, the A set a little pliable oncevworn and the reserve set very pliable - you could easily bend the material. Shaping hearing aid moulds is an art.

NHS are good. Please try and go down this route and make sure the technician is fully aware of your needs. If it's sore or does my easily fit then say so!

There now, I've said quite a lot. PM if you like. I'll give as much info as I can an.

[Jaybird19 in reply to Greenthorn]

thanks for your comprehensive reply . I have had such reallly informative info . i had such bad service from NHS that i had given up on NHS and now i am told to go there for best results . but how long will it take through getting to local surgery is the first step and that is not good enough . i will try again though

. NHS these days is not as it was when i worked for it .. I retired after 37 years in public health and hospital medical lab working all hours and it is so upsetting to see what is happening now. And is all down to many years underfunding by both labour and conservative governments.

you say you are going north on train . i know you are a musician . Off to liverpool ?

if so have a good time . it looks fantastic. liverpool is a good place for something like that. and do go and look at the statues of the Beatles on the quay there..

I f not still have a good weekend ,and again thank you.

[Greenthorn in reply to Jaybird19]

Jaybird, not Liverpool but Northampton. My son is there and it's his 16th birthday today the 14th. I did watch all of the Eurovision. It was more of a light show. Music? Song? Oh dear!😭

[Jaybird19 in reply to Greenthorn]

hope you enjoyed your weekend with your son and , so sorry fo r thinking you might be be heading for liverplool ! as you say not much music . i heard a preview programme when a greek 16 yr old boy was singing a slow song wit h meaning, and no lights and noise, and thought it was good but it was different for the actual competition and he was thrown out before the saturday event . the music was there in some entrants but hidden by the noise and light show . That was very clever but that is the way it goes these days.

it was a light show and noise show !. But it was right in being in support of the ukrainian people. Today have been listening to a liverpool- born neighbour telling me about the atmosphere in the town before the show , people all joining in dancing and fancy dress , and her children all being amazed so they will remember it . I hope they will remember the reason for it being held there too.

[Greenthorn]

Jaybird, you should be able to phone the Audiology dept of your local hospital and ask for an appointment for hearing aid test and the issue of new and updated hearing aids with new moulds taken. This is your right. Hearing aid moulds can become dirty and the tubing stiff. Tubing should be replaced every 6 months or so and new moulds fitted every 5-7 years. The hosp that issued you with a hearing aid is the hospital that has your records and so should give you an appointment. If you Google your hospital you should be able to discover the telephone number for Audiology. You have no need to trouble your GP. You should also be able to e mail the Audiology dept Don't give up on it. Audiology and NHS provide excellent service to people with hearing difficulties. Plan that phone call and plan being a nuisance. You deserve better.

[Jaybird19]

thanks again for all the info . very useful . wish i had found all this out earlier .. hearing seems to have loss accelerated since i spoke about it too. more concious of it .