Hearing-aid

Savvy_Sue

Magenta wrote: »

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!:)

Go to your GP and ask for a referral to audiology for a hearing test. They may check your ears aren't bunged up with wax before doing so ...

Ask what the referral options are - the GP said he could refer to another local health centre which would have suited us very well, but when DH's appointment came through it was for the not-quite-so-convenient hospital. I believe in some areas it is contracted out through SpecSavers.

But definitely try NHS free options first. There is no point paying for a hearing aid if you hate it and never wear it!!! Although you may need to persevere with follow up until you get it adjusted to suit you and fit you comfortably.

penelope_scott

Don't waste your time going on the NHS - you get what you (don't!) pay for! I've tried a few different places but my current hearing aid suppliers are fab - been with them nearly ten years now. Their name is Bedfordshire Hearing Healthcare - would highly recommend!

I hope this helps!

RomfordNavy

Anyone got experience of 'hearingdirect.com', and their own brand hearing-aids? On the face of it they appear to be reasonable value for money, only drawback is they don't say who the manufacturers are for their aids.

Ken68

All new to me Romford.
Spent more than an hour yesterday with the audiologist going through the "press the button when you hear a beep" routine. This for my new hearing aid due for fitting on the 22nd. Then he re-programmed the left ear aid. All for nothing.
Why pay for a private service.

GlasweJen

I bought my RICs from an independent (I have widex clears in electric blue) the NHS insisted on moulding my ears which muffled the sounds that I can hear perfectly well when I have my NHS ones in.

My widex can connect to my phone via DEX which is much better for me than trying to use a T system.

The NHS ones are alright but the private ones I bought restored my hearing to almost normal, normal enough to be able to tune my violin by ear which I can't do with the NHS aids in.

GwylimT

Ken68 wrote: »

All new to me Romford.
Spent more than an hour yesterday with the audiologist going through the "press the button when you hear a beep" routine. This for my new hearing aid due for fitting on the 22nd. Then he re-programmed the left ear aid. All for nothing.
Why pay for a private service.

My NHS hearing aids are barely any use, infact my hearing is better without them! I can't hear much of my sons speech with them in, without them I hear enough to understand him, with the aids I purchased I can hear him perfectly, even with lots of background noise.

jhiker

GwylimT - May I ask which aids you're wearing, make/model, etc.

jhiker

Has anybody used Watford Costco? The Kirkland Signature aids are very well thought-of and reasonably priced.

GwylimT

jhiker wrote: »

GwylimT - May I ask which aids you're wearing, make/model, etc.

Widex unique 440 fashion.

RomfordNavy

Went with hearingdirect.com in the end. The pair of HD 430 RIC's are working perfectly well.