Help for Hearing Impairment

Errata

Has a different material been used that you're allergic to?

GlasweJen

No, both sets of domes are hypoallergenic silicon.

Savvy_Sue

Let me know if you find a way of reducing the itch. It may settle down as you get used to the new shaped domes, doesn't help me that I have a cyst in my ear so it's never completely comfy. I can still 'feel it' even after I've taken it out!

Guardsman

Being a mature male I have to trim the hair inside of my ear on a regular basis due to it itching.
I'm not suggesting you have hairy ears but the finest hair can cause a itch.

GlasweJen

I've been recommended putting a bit of oil in the ear but think ill leave that until I see my audiologist, I'm going for a fine tune this week anyway.

Hear-Hear

I usually recommend Eargene for itchiness of the ears. You should be able to buy a bottle at your local high street audiologist. If not, google it and look for around £5.00 for a bottle. The bottle looks small, but it goes on forever......

littlemoney

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Three years is the usual replacement/upgrade timescale for NHS hearing aids, but if you have the Zest models, then I guess you received them some time after August 2010. There has been no revision to the NHS Catalogue since then, so they won't have any better model to offer you from the standard range.

However, the range of hearing aids in the Catalogue is actually quite vast, and the audiologists can supply pretty much what they wish. Whether their chiefs will permit them to run with the extra costs of non-standard supply is a matter for your local PCT (local CCG after 31-03-2013, when the PCT's are abolished). So, you need to ask if your audiologist is permitted locally to supply anything better than the standard Zest. Even an upgrade to the Zest 'C' would be a leap forward, as it is Bluetooth-enabled.

When I asked if there was anything better I was told these were the best available that she could offer me. So looks like I will not be able to improve my hearing. I have paid National Insurance for over 40 years, never had any benefits and this is the best that they can offer me.:(

Not impressed. And I still have more years to work struggling to hear as my pension age has been increased :(:(

Hear-Hear

According to your previous post, you were provided with the Oticon Zest aids in October 2010, so you will be due for replacement/upgrade in October 2013. Make sure you ask again at that review. Unfortunately, the NHS Catalogue Review is not due until 2014, so if your local provider continues to only supply 'Zest', then you will be in the same position as all other users in your locality.

However, by the time October 2013 comes around, there will be many many more areas of England covered by the AQP scheme, and your Doctor will be able to refer to you to a selection of providers for your NHS-funded hearing aids. These providers may have alternative manufacturers and models to offer you, but still fully-funded by the NHS. (This is already happening in the North East, Merseyside, West Midlands, Hampshire, Berkshire, Devon, and Cornwall....).

littlemoney

Hear-Hear wrote: »

According to your previous post, you were provided with the Oticon Zest aids in October 2010, so you will be due for replacement/upgrade in October 2013. Make sure you ask again at that review. Unfortunately, the NHS Catalogue Review is not due until 2014, so if your local provider continues to only supply 'Zest', then you will be in the same position as all other users in your locality.

However, by the time October 2013 comes around, there will be many many more areas of England covered by the AQP scheme, and your Doctor will be able to refer to you to a selection of providers for your NHS-funded hearing aids. These providers may have alternative manufacturers and models to offer you, but still fully-funded by the NHS. (This is already happening in the North East, Merseyside, West Midlands, Hampshire, Berkshire, Devon, and Cornwall....).

Hear-Hear

Thank you for the advice I will have to try again in October. Will there be anyway of know if the other providers will be able to offer me anything different before I go to them?

Hear-Hear

The only way to find out what each of the Providers are (or will be) supplying is to ask them.

Those Providers who "qualify" to supply NHS-funded hearing aids will be able to select whatever they wish from the "NHS Catalogue", in exactly the same way that hospitals can choose products from the Catalogue at the moment.

But just as different hospitals choose their own small selections from the Catalogue, so the Qualified Providers are likely to select a specific range of models (probably from a single manufacturer) for their local market.