Bluetooth hearing aid on NHS

mrgross9

I have lost my hearing aid after a few years.

I was wondering if the NHS did bluetooth ones as I use headphones without my aid and they are just not loud enough so I was looking at getting some bluetooth ones and getting a bluetooth wireless set for my television, hopefully then I will be able to hear it a lot more clearly.

Any help on this would be very much appreciated

kurgon

Yes they are - and have ben seince 2012 - at least the Siemens ones are. I'm not sure about oithers.

RazWaz

I didn't know this, I'm due to get some new ones soon anyway so I will be asking about them

brook2jack

Not all pcts will stock all hearing aids. In our area they stock oticons and if you can demonstrate need will supply the communicate version which pairs with a streamer box which you have to pay for. This can then be set up to work with phones,tvs etc.http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=3546514

Otherwise you can buy a blue tooth loop that feeds sound from mobiles, etc direct to hearing aids on a t loop setting. http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do;jsessionid=A47E156C19C436677C72BD608F662336?id=3892140

For her I pod my daughter uses ear hooks which feed sound direct to hearing aid on t loop setting.http://www.connevans.co.uk/store/viewProduct.do?id=4371281

Hear-Hear

The two current major suppliers to the NHS are Siemens and Oticon. Both of these firms supply Bluetooth enabled hearing aids - Siemens Reflex and Oticon Zest 'C' - and have done so since August 2010.

The NHS will not supply the Bluetooth accessory kit that allows you to pair the aids with mobile phones, iPods, TV, etc. You need to obtain these directly from the manufacturers, and they will cost around £350.00. You cannot buy them via the NHS, but the NHS will set up the kit for you (ie. programme the aids to connect with your accessory kit) once you have bought it.

Super kit in both cases. Answer your mobile phone via your hearing aids, as long as the phone is no more than 10 metres away !

All this is relevant only for the next 6 months and 2 days, with the private sector being able to supply and fit NHS-funded hearing aids from **01 April 2013. You should be able to buy such accessories via the private supplier, along with the NHS-funded hearing aids, and have everything set up for you in one simple session.

**This date applies to England only. The authorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have no plans yet to follow the English route.