Help for Hearing Impairment

Hear-Hear

What a fantastic audiologist you seem to have, Guardsman. One that gives you a choice! Very much a rarity these days!!

The two models - Oticon Zest and Siemens Impact - are the main two models supplied to the NHS I suspect the audiologist has a preference for Oticon over Siemens, and there is nothing at all wrong with that. I wouldn't say the Zest is a better aid than the Impact, but nor would I say that it is any worse. I suppose it would be a bit like comparing a Ford Fiesta with a Vauxhall Corsa (or a Mondeo with an Insignia) - the Zest and the Oticon occupy pretty much the same middle-ground area in the technology range. You'll certainly be better off with hearing aids that are familiar to him, and with which he is more experienced. Going for a pair of Zests would seem sensible in the circumstances.

The price quoted for the Siemens Tek accessory is not at all bad at £300.00, if that was what you intended to do. It doesn't "really" need a Siemens technician to pair the hearing aids with the Tek. It is actually paired through 'Connex' which is the Siemens software that is used to programme Siemens hearing aids, so it would only be a matter of clicking one check-box for the Tek, adding a Transmitter programme, and adding a Bluetooth Programme when the hearing aids are connected to his computer. Three clicks of the mouse, that's all. But if he is unfamiliar with the Tek pairing process, then he is probably right to defer to someone with more experience.

Assuming you take his advice with the Zests, keep us posted how you get on.

Guardsman

Dear Mr. Williams

Thank you for your enquiry.

We do indeed have a hearing instrument which supports Bluetooth via an accessory called the Streamer. This new instrument is called the Spirit Zest Communicate and is available on contract to the NHS.

For more information on the capability of the streamer please visit : www.oticon.com/connectline

Please ask your audiologist if they are fitting the Spirit Zest Communicate? If they require any further information on this product please ask them to contact us.

If I can be of any further assistance please don’t hesitate in contacting me.

Best Regards
James Hannay
Technical Support Manager

Oticon Limited
Cadzow Industrial Estate
Low Waters Road
Hamilton, Lanarkshire
Scotland
ML3 7QE

My audiologist does have a preference for fitting the Oticon range and tends to fit the Siemens impacts to older people. Just had a reply to a e-mail I sent to Oticon enquiring if they had a Bluetooth enabled model available on the NHS and as you can read above they do have one.
I was wondering if anybody on the forum has any information on the Oticon Zest Communicate is it a different hearing aid or do they just simply link my existing hearing aids ( Spirit Zest ) to the Streamer.

Hear-Hear

Guardsman,

The Oticon Zest and the Connectline Streamer products are all fairly new to the NHS, so you'll be lucky to get much comment on here about people's experiences and product details.

It's really time to sit down now with your audiologist, and ask him/her to show you to technical specification of whichever Zest models are to be supplied to you. He/she will answer all your questions on the spot, and give you as much or as little information as you may require.

As regards other people's experiences, even if the Zests had been out a long time, successful outcomes all depend on how severe that person's hearing loss is, their personal expectations, and their individual lifestlyes. Too many variables, honestly. It's your own experience with your new hearing aids that matters, nothing else.

Pitlanepiglet

Hi all, I'm new to this section of MSE and would be grateful for some assistance with a number of questions. I posted this on a separate thread but Sunnyone directed me here - I'd missed this hoooooge thread!

This thread looks wonderful and should answer my questions I think but I've shown my post below as well and if anyone has any specific advice then I'd be grateful for it.

Mum in Law is nearly 91 and struggles badly with her hearing. She has one digital hearing aid but still struggles to hear. She's just moving close to us so we are now in a position to help her to try to improve things.

I imagine that either she isn't using her existing aid as she should be (we've checked batteries) or she needs a second one or it needs adjusting but I have absolutely no knowledge of hearing aids.

Should we start with her (new) GP and ask for some sort of referral?

Secondly, she likes to listen to the radio - I've been on the RNID site and they seem to have hearing loop gizmos - are those sort of things suitable for using with radios etc? She uses subtitles on the TV so that's less of a problem.

Thirdly, is there anything else that is worth knowing about, I've never dealt with hearing problems before and I'd really like to make her life a bit more pleasant but I don't know where to start.

Errata

Get her registered with a new GP as soon as she moves, they will want to give her an MOT as a new patient anyway, and as part of that she (you?) can ask for a referrral to the local audiology dept.
There should be an technical aids service for people with hearing loss in your local district, they will be able to make an assessment of her needs and which bits of equipment they can let her have on free permanent loan. The advantage of using the service is that if something she obtains from them isn't spot on they can try something else, which is better than taking a shot in the dark and spending money on kit which doesn't help.

rosieben

I’m hoping that I can get a little advice please

I have less than 30% of my hearing left after a virus some years ago;

I was wearing 2 aids until a few months ago when a test showed my left ear completely ‘dead’ so I gave that aid up (tested at an appt with consultant re Meniers).

Had an audiology appt yesterday, I was told that the reason I’m not hearing well for the last few months is that the aids were programmed to work in tandem and so I’m not benefiting as much since I only wear one.

Slight complication was that I’m using an old ear mould at the moment, not the full one which is needed for this aid which was cracked, so I have to go back when my new mould is ready and they will then do a full test and maybe reprogram my aid.

I asked about something more up to date (I've had this one for 5 years) but was told this is what they are issuing now.

I have a Prisma 2DSP+ and I’m wondering if I should push for something newer?

I'd appreciate any advice please

Mrs_Arcanum

Don't know if it is any use to folks but our ENT clinic visits the local town Hospital twice a month where a lot of questions/problems can be sorted (either by appointment or a walk in & take a number). In additiion all I have to do is see reception and ask for batteries/tubes any time needed.

Now all I want is some shoes to fit the hearing aids which will fit my phones headset (I use my phone as an MP3). I have conductive hearing loss so loud noises are also a problem (I wear ear plugs to concerts).

Errata

Rosie - the new NHS hearing aids catalogue was published last summer, it will have more up to date aids than those that were available in the catalogue 5 years ago.

rosieben

Thanks Errata, would you know if I can check the catalogue out online please?

Errata

I'm pretty sure it's an internal NHS document.