Hearing-aid

RomfordNavy

RomfordNavy wrote: »

Thanks GwylimT, will have a look into those. Good to get an answer from someone who has actual experience of buying these.

Unfortunately having looked at their website Widex don't seem to sell directly to the public. How did you get hold of your ones?

teddysmum

Boots are currently sending out circulars offering a free hearing test, with 150 points on your Advantage card.

GwylimT

RomfordNavy wrote: »

Unfortunately having looked at their website Widex don't seem to sell directly to the public. How did you get hold of your ones?

I used ebay USA.

Ken68

Specsavers told me last Wednesday that my ears weren't suitable for RIC and to stick with NHS supplied behind-the-ear aid.
Price list said minimum £495 for RIC.
Don't know whether to be pleased or not.

Hear-Hear

RomfordNavy wrote: »

Anyone got experience of buying hearing-aids online.

They will obviously need to be programmed for the individuals particular hearing loss but with the aid of a computer and a good quality set of headphones that should not be beyond our abilities.

Are they much cheaper online than buying via a local hearing-aid shop. Just wondering if anyone has a recommendation for any particular supplier.

Thanks,

There's a lot more equipment needed than just a computer and headphones. You would need the industry interface called a Hi-Pro that connects the aids to a computer - cost approx £600.00, programming cables £50.00, general fitting software called NOAH approx £900.00. You will also need a NOAH Licence which is only generally for sale to qualified Audiologists. And you will need the specific Manufacturer's software - this is available free of charge, but only to Audiologists who are trained to use the software competently.

If cost is an issue, then Boots or Specsavers are probably your best bets, as they seem to follow their optical business models of supplying in relatively high numbers, with lower costs - as opposed to other firms that supply low numbers but with high costs and margins.

NHS aids are seriously worth considering too. At present, they are available at no cost to the user. Current technology available to the NHS is pretty good now, matching the levels seen with 'mid-range' private aids (although waiting times, ease of access, time spent with the user, and aftercare can still be a problem). And the NHS are certainly able to supply RIC and In-The-Ear aids - the models are listed in their 'catalogue', and can be supplied in the case of clinical need. However, cosmetic appeal is not considered to be a clinical need.

RomfordNavy

Hear-Hear wrote: »

And the NHS are certainly able to supply RIC and In-The-Ear aids - the models are listed in their 'catalogue'

Well our local hospital Audiology dept deny that they can supply any proper electronic RIC models. They tell me the best they have available are the Siemens Impact which have a sound tube but are not full electronic RIC aids.

Hear-Hear

Your local hospital audiology dept are only unable to supply RIC models because they choose not to. More specifically, your local Clinical Commissioning Group will have chosen which manufacturer(s) and which fitting style(s) to offer - from a very wide range available.

By the way, the Siemens Impact became obsolete a couple of years ago. It was replaced by the NHS Siemens 'Octiv', which itself is now obsolete - having been replaced by the NHS Siemens 'Teneo' earlier this year. You could do worse than google the details for 'Teneo' to see what's available in the range. Teneo models (including the Teneo RIC) are only available to NHS users; they cannot be bought privately.

Ken68

Thanks HH...that explains why Specsavers have booked me in for an upgrade from Impact Pro M NWL. after only two years.

Magenta

ariba10 wrote: »

Got mine on the N H S.

Faultless service ( and at no cost)

Hi ariba, may I ask how you got your hearing aid? I always thought that you went to specsavers or similar! I have been counting my pennies before going there, I had no idea that there was a cost free option!:)

elsien

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/894.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

If you've had an optician hearing test that indicates there is an issue take that along to the GP with you.