Help for Hearing Impairment

Savvy_Sue

The loss of hearing aids in hospital is a regular complaint, not helped by the fact that they're rarely named: when you replace them it would be worth asking if it's possible to add her name somewhere.

I can only say that I lost mine a few months ago, and it's going to cost me £70 to replace it. I have the new one, they've taken my name and address, and when the sheet of 'lost hearing aids' is full up then they will send it to Finance to invoice us all. I suggest phoning MIL's audiology clinic to ask whether she'd be able to replace them without a visit. If she has ear moulds there will be a delay while the new mould is made up, but see below ...

The 'it's not working properly', I personally wouldn't recommend going private before she's got some tolerance / understanding of how they are meant to work. If they are whistling, then the chances are that she hasn't got the mould in her ear properly. You would think it's not difficult, but I spent one early day feeling very uncomfortable, before realising I didn't have my mould in the right place. For some reason, the lady who fitted me in the audiology clinic didn't think it would be helpful for me to see what it 'should' look like once fitted, or to use a mirror the first few times.

This is where someone visiting her at home / in the residential home to go through this with her could be useful, and would be worth asking audiology whether such a service is available.

Also, the mould may not be a particularly good fit, which again could give rise to the whistling, or it may just feel 'wrong' to MIL, because she hasn't got used to it. Then there's the "it makes everything too loud" complaint, which is mostly overcome by getting used to it, but also by making sure that the settings are right. I very rarely use mine on its 'normal' setting, because I don't WANT all the background noise amplified, but next time I have to go I'm going to ask if the 'directly in front of you setting' can be fine tuned any more.

Another suggestion is to consider whether something like the Sonido would do the job: MIL wears a loop round her neck with ear phones and people speak into a small microphone. It's the preferred solution for one of my cousins who never got on with hearing aids! And it's half the price of two new hearing aids, plus you might get it sooner than hearing aids, plus there may be a 28 day money back guarantee on it if it's not suitable.

CAE

Sue

Thank you so much for your long and well thought out reply.

MIL has been wearing hearing aids for a while, but will always insist that no one shows her how they work. But she says this about most things, so no change there! There have been numerous visits to Audiology, but usually accompanied by one of her daughters, so I can't say hand on heart what she has been told or not.

I shall investigate the Sonido, and with a 28 day guarantee it would seem that we have nothing to lose.

Many thanks

Savvy_Sue

One other question, will she let anyone else help her put them in if she is struggling? And do the family feel comfortable doing this?

We used to have a lady at church who couldn't manage her aids at all, and usually arrived whistling away merrily! I was always sent over to give her a hand putting them in right, because I didn't mind doing so, and she didn't mind me doing so. Some people seemed quite squeamish about this.

They are, by their nature, small and fiddly bits of equipment, and you can't see what you're doing at all. Some of the private aids come with remote controls, but they also tend to have a lot more functions, and that wouldn't necessarily be much easier!

CAE

I have made an appointment for Friday pm to have new moulds done, so will have to try and get MIL into car for hospital appointment. They apparently do home visits, but no appointments readily available.

No charge was mentioned, and they will try and get them done ASAP, but no definite time scale given.

I have ordered a Sonido from RNID, which should be here tomorrow (paid extra for delivery before 12 noon), so hopefully that will work, but if it doesn't will take advantage of their 28 day money back guarantee.

Sue - thanks for your help

Carol

CAE

Sonido arrived before 12 noon as promised! Excellent service considering the weather conditions over the last couple of days.

It certainly looks like a neat piece of equipment. Will let you know how we get on with MIL.

Discogod

well, thanks specifically to this thread i've now got myself a free bus pass! I've been partially deaf since birth & have worn hearing aids since i was about 2 & didn't think i was 'deaf enough' to get a bus pass. I asked at my local hearing centre about it & they said it was down to the council to decide if i was deaf enough or not, so i contacted the council who sent me the forms. I got this form signed by the doctor (£7 charge!) & the council then issued me a bus pass. yay!

JournalGirl

naf123 wrote: »

Hi,

Is there any profoundly deaf people out here in MSE with NHS hearing aids?

I am curious to know what model of hearing aids the NHS gave you

For your information I have phonak supero 412 hearings aid from the NHS. Its OK but I am wondering if the NHS have better hearing aids?


Many thanks

My brother's severe profound and he used to wear the Phonak Superos from NHS. He's now in the new Phonak Naida aids and is finding them great.

Hear-Hear

Hello JournalGirl,

The Phonak Supero was a very good aid in its time, but the (relatively new) Phonak Naida is a really super aid, available free of charge on the NHS. Fully digital and fully programmable. :j

Be aware, however, that not all NHS trusts use Phonak as a first choice. For example, your local NHS may prefer to use Siemens products. If a Naida is wanted, and it is not offered to you, all you need to do is to tell the audiologist that it is "on contract" - that is the national 'bible' which lists what types of aids can and cannot be supplied nationally by any NHS location.

On a separate note, anyone who still has an older NHS analogue aid is fully entitled to a replacement digital aid through the NHS at no cost. And, if you need aids for both ears, you should/will be offered aids for both ears.

Hope this helps.

mazza2468

Discogod wrote: »

well, thanks specifically to this thread i've now got myself a free bus pass! I've been partially deaf since birth & have worn hearing aids since i was about 2 & didn't think i was 'deaf enough' to get a bus pass. I asked at my local hearing centre about it & they said it was down to the council to decide if i was deaf enough or not, so i contacted the council who sent me the forms. I got this form signed by the doctor (£7 charge!) & the council then issued me a bus pass. yay!

:money: Great you got the bus pass but you shouldnt have to pay your doctor to sign the form. I got mine signed by a social work for the deaf free of charge.

lozzer90

Discogod wrote: »

well, thanks specifically to this thread i've now got myself a free bus pass! I've been partially deaf since birth & have worn hearing aids since i was about 2 & didn't think i was 'deaf enough' to get a bus pass. I asked at my local hearing centre about it & they said it was down to the council to decide if i was deaf enough or not, so i contacted the council who sent me the forms. I got this form signed by the doctor (£7 charge!) & the council then issued me a bus pass. yay!

I get my form signed by my doctor & i dont have to pay (which reminds me ive got to get mine signed this month before my bus pass runs out)