Hearing Aids......NHS Vs private ??

[Dave7]

I have an NHS Hearing Aid. No complaints but then again I have nothing to compare it to.
Google is, at the moment, inundated with adverts for the latest 'state of the art' aids @ £80ish.
Tomorrow I am at an optician....they have just messaged me offering a free hearing test.
Just wondering what the CC masses think.

 

[vickster]

My mum just got her new hearing aids from Specsavers (as were the old ones). She’s very happy with them, cost around £2k. She had a ridiculous quote from Hidden Hearing of about £5k Hers are neat and sit inside the ears (as a glasses wearer, the over ear style don’t suit). If she actually used a mobile phone, the aids would work alongside via Bluetooth I believe for phone calls etc.
I’m happy too as I don’t have to change the fiddly batteries every time I see her!
£80 is clickbait (or the monthly fee for evermore!)

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I need to get a hearing test at some point, my mild tinnitus before long covid has been a near constant squeal in my ears for the last ~3 years and I'm not sure how it affects my hearing at times.

I think local Boots opticians said I need to book a hearing test with a big branch Boots (or other opticians) in Southampton city centre, then when I have results, book a hearing related appointment with my GP in order to get an NHS hearing aid if required.

 

[Drago]

If you get state of the art hearing aids for £80 I'll wash my Y fronts.

 

[All uphill]

I have had NHS aids for two years now, and find them excellent.

Referral through my GP, an appointment with audiology and aids fitted a week after that. The original pair have just been replaced with an updated pair and I get batteries from the library.

Total expenditure to date, zero.

 

[Dave7]

If you get state of the art hearing aids for £80 I'll wash my Y fronts.

Now THAT is a very serious situation.

 

[Dave7]

I have had NHS aids for two years now, and find them excellent.

Referral through my GP, an appointment with audiology and aids fitted a week after that. The original pair have just been replaced with an updated pair and I get batteries from the library.

Total expenditure to date, zero.

I have a single NHS aid. I lost it approx 5 years ago and they charged me £70 to replace it.

 

[Drago]

Mrs D has NHS ones. Not quite state of the art, but not far off. Theve got pooptooth and all the rest of of it.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I had my NHS hearing aids replaced last week with an upgraded model (Danalogic Ambio S 77). I only went in to get the old ones serviced.

They are so much better than the last ones, and they were very good, and I can now stream audio direct to them from my phone for calls, or my iPad or TV for watching programmes or listening to the radio. All controlled with a simple app on my phone.

And, once again, free at point of issue and batteries available free at my GP or library.

 

[Dave7]

I need to get a hearing test at some point, my mild tinnitus before long covid has been a near constant squeal in my ears for the last ~3 years and I'm not sure how it affects my hearing at times.

I think local Boots opticians said I need to book a hearing test with a big branch Boots (or other opticians) in Southampton city centre, then when I have results, book a hearing related appointment with my GP in order to get an NHS hearing aid if required.

Warrington hospital has its own dept so they test, prescribe and fit 'in house'.

 

[Mr.B-Campag]

Apple Air Pods apparently now have hearing aid functionality as well if relevant...

 

[numbnuts]

I have NHS hearing aids from specsavers, no bluetooth and to be honest, I can hear the birds chirping, which is nice
but I'll be dammed if I can hear the readers at church and they have a mic and speakers, I can catch the odd word or two
but that's all, on a one to one in person, I'm OK but if there is any sort of background noise I'm buggered.
I can't afford to go private, so what I've got that will have to do, google said NHS heaqring aids last 3-5 years,
so I'd have to wait another year as lest until I got newer ones.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I have NHS hearing aids from specsavers, no bluetooth and to be honest, I can hear the birds chirping, which is nice
but I'll be dammed if I can hear the readers at church and they have a mic and speakers, I can catch the odd word or two
but that's all, on a one to one in person, I'm OK but if there is any sort of background noise I'm buggered.
I can't afford to go private, so what I've got that will have to do, google said NHS heaqring aids last 3-5 years,
so I'd have to wait another year as lest until I got newer ones.

Can Specsavers prescribe NHS hearing aids or do you have to go via the long NHS waiting list process?

 

[numbnuts]

Hi you to go through your doctor, well I did, but that was some time again, the rules might have changed
as specsavers have the NHS contract.

 

[Drago]

Can Specsavers prescribe NHS hearing aids or do you have to go via the long NHS waiting list process?

Long? A couplathree weeks up my end.