hearing aids nhs v private whats your opinions please if you ask in hearing hub takes a month to get one answer my lot are getting fed up with me a what say that again i am thinking of learning signing nhs ones well seem to leave a lot to be desired
hear i am with another non ra ? so sorry to the gods ... - NRAS
hear i am with another non ra ? so sorry to the gods of ra but i am asking it
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pauluk60
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My mum went private for her digital hearing aids. She paid a fixed price which included any repairs needed. The service was brilliant but it was from an independent hearing aid place. Her friend went to Specsavers and also got good service.
your hearing has maybe deteriorated so I’d go and get a check up as they may need adjusting.
Years ago my ENT surgeon advised me to use NHS hearing aids when I needed them.He said in his experience - his patients who bought their hearing aids privately often ended up regretting spending so much money, & decided to use the aids offered free by the NHS. …& they were very happy with them.
I have been happy with NHS aids until recently…..but it’s not the aids fault….the audiologist forgot to save the programme on my new aids,& when I turned them off at night…the next morning…there was no sound! Then she set the replacement on the wrong frequency…& one played music!
I’m just off to get them sorted out!
You couldn’t make that up if you tried AC!
I have found the real laugh ….the music plays when I use the clicker to open my car door! I just wonder if they will call the men in white coats when I tell them that tomorrow?
you’ve made my evening 🤣🤣🤣
we had a friend who was deaf and his wife said that NHS were best. Round here it’s Specsavers who do NHS hearing aids but in our county we can’t direct refer - s9me places you can which must make life much easier.
I’ve had hearing tests for the last two years - I didn’t think I was hearing well but I’ve been tested twice in Specsavers and I’ve ‘passed’ both times (as did my other half which I found really amazing) no attempts were made to sell me hearing aids. I like how they operate and that their prices are shown up front and are very clear - hearing aids aren’t cheap but at least there you can see what they will cost and there don’t seem to be any hidden extras.
Someone in one of my classes was referred to hospital after a hearing test in Specsavers so I imagine if they find anything strange then they would refer you on. She got her aids from hospital and found them uncomfortable - I think a lot of how successful they are depends on the fitter.
I was tested at our local Specsavers mainly because it is handy if I need follow up appointments - I’m thinking ahead to when I am a really old decrepit lady and probably won’t want to trek for miles to be seen.
I am already that really decrepit old lady F&NC.
Over the last few years I have been very swiftly referred to NHS Consultant Ophthalmologists by SpecSavers…once after I had eye problems after Covid jabs,..& then again when I had flashes & floaters appeared….but I reserve judgement on their audio services!
yep got them floaters and flashes snowing hallucinations or things swimming door handle moved up and down the door crazy very tired at time a/c di you say you where taking steroids tabs i want to try just taking one or two a day but doc not happy with that
No I never take steroids……my flashing lights were caused by migraine with aura….& the floater just appeared out of the blue!
NHS hearing aids are far better than they ever were. I’d highly recommend giving them a try. The technology is so much better with the new digital aids. They are small, come in a range of colours to match hair colour if you want them to or that’s applicable and there’ll be no charge initially or for repairs unlike private aids. What have you got to lose by trying them first?
My NHS hearing aids are just fine.
I have had hearing issues all my life. When I was in my mid 20s, I’m 57 now, I purchased a hearing aid that sat inside the ear. All very new at the time. However I had to remove it whenever I was doing blood pressure’s on patients, and we used to use metal trolleys, which were excruciating when I was wearing my aid. It went in a bottom drawer and I struggled on.
Many years later I decided to try again, and purchased small discreet ones that sat behind the ear. They were from Specsavers, but one get one free. I had them gir 8yrs and loved them. Everything sounded normal. When one broke and had to be sent for repair, I decided to try nhs ones. I received 2 digital nhs hearing aids, bulkier thanks my private ones, but acceptable. Despite being digital though they are not of the quality of my private aids, and doesn’t sound normal. I do still use them occasionally when staying home, but they are uncomfortable in noisy surroundings, so couldn’t tolerate them at work. After 8yrs of the initial private aids, I purchased 2 rechargeable aids, which I absolutely love, and the quality of hearing is so much better. However I’ve now retired and lead a quieter life, so will probably just get new nhs next time. I have profound hearing issues, as has my twin sister, but this wasn’t picked up till I was in my 40s. I guess if your born with hearing issues you know no different. So I’d say if you lead a busy life, private are definitely better, but otherwise nhs should be fine. I should add my nhs aids I’ve had since 2013, so no doubt they’ve improved since then 🤪
my god you have tried them aill what happens if you dont like them Maureen the private ones
you get very good support with the private ones, and can return to have them tweaked as and when. Mine have had 5yr warranties and been repaired promptly on the rare time I’ve had issues, at no cost to me. As the private ones are much smaller in size than the nhs digital ones, they do have a short battery life. My first ones lasted 6 days, my rechargeable I charge every night and they are still going strong 5yr on. The quality is just so much better. They are expensive though. My rechargeables were around £2500 5yr ago. As I said now I’m retired, I would probably opt for nhs ones next time, as my life is much quieter now
I have had a hearing aid….just in one ear for about 6 years.My first one was NHS & I agree it did sound a bit echoey….so I had free trial with a Private company who were offering a discount on their aids & tbh I didn’t find it that different…. except it was daintier….but tbh at first I only used the aid to listen to radio/TV, or at the cinema….so I didn’t think I needed to spend £5000!The company had tested my ears again & decided…Surprise! Surprise! I needed one in both ears! Eventually I had another test at Specsavers and they decided I did only need one. …Then along came Covid vaccinations & now I do need two. My ent surgeon has admitted that he has had quite a few patients who have developed unexplained hearing problems after the Covid vaccinations….but he doesn’t have any clue why…or whether the hearing will improve.I have just returned from SS with two new NHS hearing aids and so far no music….they are smaller than the musical ones. The audiologist said something like that does happen occasionally……they have a rogue set and she’s going to send my musical ones back to the manufacturer.I have never been charged anything as SS but maybe that’s age related like prescriptions?
I’m sure SS basic range are pretty much on par with the nhs ones. I’ve always gone for the top of the range, more discreet ones. I was initially conscious of wearing them and wanted ones you wouldn’t notice.
Other than the hearing aids I’m not charged for hearing tests, reviews or repairs. Now that I’m retired I’d probably manage with the nhs ones. Before I gave in to hearing aids, I would be standing at the bottom of a patients bed giving handover. The bed would be alarming and I couldn’t hear it. I’m worse with higher pitches, so used to struggle with our Indian Drs. The current nhs digital ones I have are still not quite natural sounding, and echoey as you say, but they’re 9yr old so I’m sure technology has advanced since then. I do really like my rechargeables and hope to get another few year out of them. They are 5yr old now so 🤞
They are the same thing…..SS provide NHS hearing aids on contract…but of course as a private company they very subtly mention a £2000 aid might suit Madame better!
the basic range are the same, the top end of the range are very different. I can use an app on my phone to switch off certain areas when I’m out socialising, and can tune it in to a very narrow range to focus just on the person in front of me. This has been a godsend in restaurants with noisy kids, why are hearing aids so sensitive to screaming kids 😂😂. I also have a device which allows me to play my tv louder for me through my aids, without it impacting the rest of the family. So I’ve definitely enjoyed some benefits from them, and more recent ones have even more perks. Definitely worth the money I’ve spent, no regrets 🤪👍
Is that an NHS hearing aid?
that’s my private ones. I’m not aware of nhs offering them yet.
I think you are given what the SS audiologist recommends unless you enquire if there is something you particularly need.As I kept my hearing well in to my 70’s I now have so much more sympathy for people who are deaf from an early age.I’m afraid I have told quite a few people who sigh & roll their eyes when I ask them to “please say again”….that I am “deaf not daft”.I usually don’t want to know what they muttered anyway…..but it must be soul destroying for younger people.
My father in law used to have NHS hearing aids and got on very well with them. Then he paid a small fortune privately and couldn’t hear a thing but was too stubborn to admit it. Anyway after much nagging by everyone he took them back. Then to our surprise went somewhere else and still couldn’t hear properly. His last ones only lasted a max of two years so he’s forked out another £2K for some more and his hearing is still rubbish. If it was me I would stick with NHS and don’t waste your money on private ones. Just my opinion I’m sure thousands of people get on very well with digital (private) hearing aids.
That is exactly what my ent surgeon recommended.Although there is a new hearing aid company in the same building as my physio, & the receptionist was telling me they are owned by the same company & they let you have a trial of their hearing aid that has just on insert in the ear with no tubing to the usual bit of plastic behind the ear.Sounds good….but tbh, if my new NHS ones are efficient…..discount or not…I think I will save my money!
I think that’s very wise. Some of the problem is that if there is any tubing which needs cleaning someone in their 80’s really struggle to do it because of shaking. My F.I.L has had a stroke too and gets confused which ear they’re supposed to go in as he has two. Wish to god he would listen to us as he has the tv on so loud because he can’t hear he’s actually made my mum in law deaf as a result. Technology is not for him he never had a problem with his NHS ones I bet he’s spent £10K on them all in all and they’re a waste of money IMHO.
you would think these days they wouldhave aids to pick up sound off tv without blasting everyone
Luckily I’m 80+ but I think I still have most of my marbles…but I did begin to wonder when my NHS HA played music.But wait until you get to 80….it’s great to be awkward just because you are old! 🤣I’ve had a couple of friends in for a drink tonight …& they are laughing at me because I can actually hear all they say…not just between the music!
Do you think it would help your FIL if you put a tiny blob of bright nail polish on one hearing aid?Maybe to start with add a blob on a finger nail on same side?Or would that be too confusing for him?
good suggestion he already has one coloured blue and one red. We keep telling him it’s red for right and he seems to understand but still gets them the wrong way around. He has ones which charge up overnight but mucks that up too. He knows what he’s doing just forgets. He managed to replace the Batteries in his NHS ones without a problem probably because they were bigger. He is a bit stubborn and won’t listen coz he knows best haha. That’s his stroke talking though and we kind of give up coz we don’t want to upset him and feel like we are nagging him.
Luckily I’m still reasonably capable of sorting things out…and I console myself if the day comes when I keep the butter in the oven,& the cake tin in the fridge….Nobody but me will know…so I won’t get nagged…..I hope!
I have NHS hearing aids, Paul, and they are almost invisible when placed in my ears...so much better than those I had twenty years ago. Scrivens supplied mine. Your hearing needs checking every three years apparently because it does continue to deteriorate in many cases. To be honest I lip read if I'm close enough to someone but masks made that impossible! I'm thinking of getting my husband a white board and marker pen...it's so frustrating for us both if we are sharing a 'crossword' puzzle when my hearing problems can elicit the not so nice cross words! Take care, K.
Not my experience but my late mother in law's. She went to Specsavers, the Audiologists though of course! Obviously they cost but for her medical circumstances the invisible ones were her best option, battery operated, though I believe there's a rechargeable option now. After sales was excellent too as she had a couple of niggles that needed sorting, & they were very patient with her. We still have them, couldn’t bring ourselves to dispose of them, silly really because they won't fit anyone else. Anyway, they made such a difference to her as we'd noticed she was becoming more & more isolated during general conversation, zoning out because she was becoming less & less able to interact.
The NHS may have moved on somewhat in the years since so I’d definitely ask your GP to refer you to an audiologist but at the time she needed them options were limited & not best suited to her.
Which have a Best hearing aid provider section which may be helpful reading initially which.co.uk/reviews/hearing... They also provide unbiased reviews of private purchase ones if you already subscribe.
You only pay for hearing aids at Specsavers if you elect to buy your hearing aids. On receipt of a letter from your GP, they provide exactly the same aids/service that you get from an NHS Audiology clinic….but they seem to have more staff, & you see a fully qualified audiologist…whereas at the NHS Clinic at the hospital that I first went to…I kept getting appointments with trainees…which would have been fine if there had been someone on hand qualified to answer my queries…but I was expected to wait until my next appointment…which turned out to be three months hence.That was why I changed to Specsavers….who apart from the recent musical fiasco have given excellent service.
You just need a referral letter from your GP. As I remember it was a standard letter the secretary just inserted your name & the doctor signed it.
When she needed them that wasn’t the case. They were so much more compact than the NHS ones at the time & the last thing she needed was lose face, to be seen needing hearing aids, & they were obvious! Dementia was really setting in & it was hard enough her admitting she was less able to hear as getting her to receive some help. So the money was worth it for that as much as being able to interact with more than one person at a time.
I did add that the NHS may have moved on somewhat & for Paul to ask his GP for referral to audiology, & that at the time her options were limited. They weren’t best suited because they were noticeable. It depends on where you live if you can get NHS funded ones from Specsavers Audiology. The choice is limited… in-ear still aren't an option on the NHS from them unless there's a physical reason to supply them.
Her son worked for Specsavers at the time (opticians) & they'd just opened their first audiologists in the North West, hence her choice to choose them specifically. Actually, said son has a hearing aid from Specsavers (only the one as he's deaf in the other ear from birth) & it is NHS funded as he's over 55 & was referred by his GP, though I believe in certain areas you can self refer.
I went to a private audiologist and he was brilliant, he let me trial different aids over a 3 month period to see which suited my problem. I then bought one over 5 years ago, it’s been repaired once, no regrets at all.
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