Hearing tests?

GlasweJen

I really think I have a problem with my hearing, it's come on gradually since 2nd year at uni when i started working in a night club (worked there for a year and a half and never once was given ear protection). Sometimes I can't understand people on the other side of the counter when I am serving them, especially when there is something going on in the background (which there usually is). On Sunday I was on the bus talking to a stranger and when the bus took off I couldn't hear him over the engines. Today I misheard at least 4 customers who almost got given the wrong stuff and then on the way home the radio was playing and I was in the back of the car and I couldn't follow the conversation at all with work colleagues!

Now I need to work out if I should go to the likes of Boots to get my hearing tested or if I should go through my GP. I hate going to the doctor with invisible problems because i've been accused of hypochondria before when it turned out i had a rare heart condition but i can't afford to go private if i do need something to help with my hearing.

Does anyone know what the hearing services are like for adults with problems like the ones above? Am I better getting the money together to go private with this?

timmmers

Strangely I met a guy yesterday in my local who was asking us if he ever worked anywhere noisy, his company was offering hearing tests with a view to compensation claims.

I took aa leaflet off him as I have a mate who really has bad problems from his old job.

www.hearingassist.co.uk it says on the leaflet .

I have a phone number too but this guy is probably local to me..so not much good to you. Hope the site has some help for you though.

t

munchings-n-crunchings

Hi GlasweJen,

I would always try and go the independent route first, so some form of NHS or GP route.
That way, you will know that you are not being sold something you don't really need.

My daughter has exactly the same problem, and she has perfect hearing.
She has several auditory processing problems connected with her ASD, and one of those is trouble in separating speech from background noise, even if the person is right next to her.
Believe it nor not, an optician, now located in Ayr, sorted the issues out.

Think about you hearing problems, the circumstances so you have as much indication as possible. My daughter feels like there is a brain delay in her brain processing speech, and sometimes it's like people talk in fast forward.

Speak to a GP, or see if your NHS has a drop in service for hearing tests first,

Regards
Munchie

GlasweJen

thanks munchie, i have neurocardiogenic syncope so i have damage to the vagus nerve and i sort of grew into dyslexia though the educational psychologist said that this could be due to coping mechanisms used at school not being adequate for university level. Could the hearing problem be part of that do you think? I can't describe what happens when there's loads of noise around, i just can't make sense of what's background and what's the conversation that i want to follow.

Errata

Have a read of this and check your hearing yourself. If you fail the test, see your GP who will refer you to you local audiology service.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1878551

bitsandpieces

That online RNID test is fine - but if you know you're struggling to hear, it's likely not necessary. If you can't hear right, you should get checked anyway. See your GP (or try a walk-in clinic or similar). With luck, it may be something easily treatable (e.g. too much wax in your ears). Either way, though, best to get it seen to.

beks

I was going to say the same as above ^. It could be something as simple as wax in your ears. Make an appt with your GP to rule this out and it can be easily treated. If not, they can refer you on to audiology where the problem can be looked into.

GlasweJen

I did the RNID online test and although i thought i did alright the result said that my hearing appears to be below normal. The suggestion said that i should mention it next time I see my GP does that mean it's not worth making a full appointment over or should I make one anyway?

Savvy_Sue

GlasweJen wrote: »

I can't describe what happens when there's loads of noise around, i just can't make sense of what's background and what's the conversation that i want to follow.

I had this problem when I was a teenager, my hearing was perfect at the time (because it was regularly tested) but put me in the school dining room and my conversation was limited to "What?"

bitsandpieces wrote: »

That online RNID test is fine - but if you know you're struggling to hear, it's likely not necessary. If you can't hear right, you should get checked anyway. See your GP (or try a walk-in clinic or similar). With luck, it may be something easily treatable (e.g. too much wax in your ears). Either way, though, best to get it seen to.

The point is that if you done the test, you can go and say "I did the test, and it said my hearing was below normal, so I'm not just making it up, please refer me to audiology."

GlasweJen wrote: »

I did the RNID online test and although i thought i did alright the result said that my hearing appears to be below normal. The suggestion said that i should mention it next time I see my GP does that mean it's not worth making a full appointment over or should I make one anyway?

Personally, I'd make one anyway. This has been going on for some time, it's not getting any better, they may find you have a mild ear infection and say "it'll get better in 3 weeks" so that will hold it up, and audiology appointments can take a while to come through.

If you go somewhere like Boots or some of the other opticians, even if they offer a free hearing test, you'll STILL have to see your GP to get a referral to audiology, OR pay for private hearing aids. And since hearing aids may not help, it's a good idea to start with free ones from the NHS!

I have a mild loss in one ear, and still tend to avoid noisy situations, especially noisy situations in darkened rooms.

My top tip is to try to find a local lipreading class! It's not a complete situation, but you should learn a lot about coping strategies, I know I did! eg how to phrase a question so that you get an answer you can see / hear ...

Hear-Hear

GlasweJen

Savvy-Sue (as usual) is so correct in her advice with all 'hearing' matters. Many GP's are unwilling to refer matters onwards if not obviously necessary. But you now have the evidence of the RNID telephone test, and you can use this to re-assure the Doc that you do indeed need a referral.

Just to clarify Savvy-Sue's point about "audiology appointments can take a while to come through", the maximum time allowed now from the date of GP referral to the date of your hearing test is 18 weeks. Most hospitals are currently testing within 6 weeks, and some as quickly as 2 weeks. It's a lot different from how it was only a couple of years ago, when waiting lists were averaging almost a year, and a few hospitals were named and shamed for hearing test waiting lists of 5 years plus !

Hear-Hear

IlonaRN

Make and appointment with your GP, and ask to be referred. My referral took only 3 weeks.
At least then you'll know, and the NHS will only give you hearing aids if it's appropriate for your situation, they won't try and sell you something you don't need.
If you end up with hearing aids and you find they help, you can then look at getting private ones if you prefer.

I wear hearing aids, and I am very happy with the NHS audiology service in the area I now live, but where I lived before things always took much longer to come through.