best affordable hearing aids

[Virginic]

I’m writing for a friend who has mild tinnitus and considerable hearing loss. Her current hearing aids are not very effective and I wonder if anyone here can recommend some which aren’t too costly.

[Happyrosie]

NHS provides hearing aids. The audiologist should be providing the best for the patient.

[Virginic in reply to Happyrosie]

thank you ☺️

[perlcoder]

As Happyrosie says, the NHS really should be able to help. This includes replacing old (more than 6 /7 years) aids. There may be variations between NHS Regions, but in mine it is possible to self-refer - including for replacement aids. I am just coming to the end of that process, my aid is almost 7 years old and I felt that my hearing had deteriorated. Last week I had a one hour appointment with an audiologist in a nearby Health Centre, my medical history was brought up to date and we spent a long time discussing my T - going over a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. The hearing test showed a slight decline in my hearing. The audiologist recommend moving to two aids rather than my present one, because the balance may help my T. The new aids are Bluetooth capable and have many features that my existing one lacks. They will be fitted in about 10 days time. They are Phonak brand and every bit as good and modern as people pay for. Do please encourage your friend to go down the NHS route.

[rjb112 in reply to perlcoder]

Mine are also Phonak brand; received in the past 2-3 months from an Audiologist. They are very good. I raise and lower the volume with my cell phone, which I highly recommed.

[AgedCrone in reply to perlcoder]

I agree….when I first needed hearing aids my private ent surgeon advised me to use nhs hearing aids. He said many of his patients had started out spending a lot of money on private hearing aids…but the majority of them after trying the private option, ended up getting nhs aids.

I would add though…a lot depends on your individual physical ears…I apparently have very narrow ear canals…..& I have a devil of a job getting aids that fit right. ..so often don’t wear mine.

I have just had “discussions” & although my present aids are far from perfect ,,,, on the nhs you are apparently only entitled to new aids every 5 years & if I should change now…..my 5 years is up next year…I will have to pay £150.

[MBOY1 in reply to AgedCrone]

I’ve been wearing devices for over 17 years. I also have small and irregular ear canals resulting from radiation. A few years ago an audiologist suggested custom domes as I never got a proper fit from the ones that came with each brand. It can be a life changer. In US I paid about $100.

[AgedCrone in reply to MBOY1]

That sounds very reasonable…I have been quoted in the thousands for private hearing aids…..which still had the battery behind the ear,& a trailing plastic wire!

[Beesmac]

Good morning. I have 2 sets of hearing aids. NHS and a pair I bought privately for a considerable sum. I was always afraid of not having a spare set as I wouldn’t be able to hear without them. My NHS hearing aids win hands down and the aftercare is superb. Hence my privately paid ones sit in the drawer!!

[bantams]

I have NHS Oticon hearing aids with 2 masking sounds and bluetooth built in and I think they are just the same as most private hearing aids, I just think that if you spend £2000 plus you can get smaller hearing aids. Also you get free batteries, domes and tubes.

[Tal-r789T]

I have a pair of phonak from NHS and a pair I brought. My NHs ones are old model, battery and tube. My new ones are rechargeable, and deliver sound direct. May be regional variation but NHS ones are an ancient model. My (newer) private ones transmit sound a lot faster, which I can detect in conversation.

Oh, and my purchases ones are also sweaty proof. The NHS ones aren't.

I got the NHS ones first, tried them, they were okay, definitely a great improvement for me. Tried CIC and OTE privately. Found CIC expensive and very uncomfortable (hard moulded plastic) - oh and easy to come out and risk losing! Not sure who benefits from these?

[Philip6]

In some areas you can self refer to SpecSavers for NHS hearing aids.

[Tal-r789T in reply to Philip6]

Only if you are over 55. I'm not.

[Kellythecat-74 in reply to Philip6]

My specsavers don’t do NHS . But I did get Bluetooth ones from our local hospitil audio dept. Only difference was Specasavers were rechargeable and my nhs ones are battery .

[Virginic]

Many thanks to all of you for your helpful replies. ☺️

[RONf]

I have NHS hearing aids - they are excellent. The NHS audiologists are first rate! The after-service with batteries and other bits that are subject to wear and tear is brilliant. And the big bonus - it's FREE.

[Ruud1boy]

NHS all the way. If your friend speaks to any private provider, they'll promise that the equipment they supply is far superior to NHS gear, but it's nonsense - they're in it to make money obvs.

[Tal-r789T in reply to Ruud1boy]

I wouldn't fully agree, but do agree they are selling something. The newer models are definitely an improvement imho

[Virginic]

many thanks to all responders.