Boots Hearing Aids

MusicLover

My mother recently had a hearing test at Boots. The audiologist was very helpful and seemed very experienced. My mother was hoping to have invisible/inner ear hearing aids, but due to the severity of her hearing loss was advised not to have these. She has opted for a Phonak Belong 90 which sits behind the ear (Receiver in the Canal). They cost £3195.00 for a pair.

We could have paid via an interest free payment plan, but opted to pay outright. Mum has paid a deposit and the hearing aids have been ordered. She will be picking them up in a few days.

My main question is should we have asked for a discount? But if anyone has any other useful information about this type of hearing aid it would also be appreciated.

Dclutterchique

Can I ask why your mother didn't go for an NHS hearing test and aid? The main problem with private hearing aids isn't the quality (or cost) of the tests and/or the aid(s) but the cost of the ongoing after care. Batteries and maintenance (eg cleaning and replacement of tubes) cannot be provide free by the NHS, but have to be supplied by a private supplier and they are allowed to charge for this. Batteries last only a week on average and aren't cheap. As far as I know the test is either an NHS or NHS standard test and some (if not all) branches of Boots and Specsavers supply NHS approved hearing aids.

Ilona

I almost choked when I saw that price. I've just removed my NHS hearing aid from my ear, it says on it Phonak Nathos auto SP. It works brilliantly and it cost me nothing. I get free batteries whenever I need them, and free check ups. I cannot understand why people opt to pay for their hearing aids.

ilona

MusicLover

Thanks for your replies. The model she has chosen is rechargeable so no need to purchase batteries. Apparently, it is the latest technology and not available on the NHS. She wanted a hearing aid that is as small as possible. I believe the NHS only offer the larger behind the ear type which don’t have the receiver in the canal.

Boots provide free follow up appointments to adjust and fine tune the hearing aid.

Boots no longer provide NHS hearing aids. They ended their contract a while back. I understand that some branches of Specsavers still work with the NHS.

Ilona

Thank you Music Lover, I've never heard of re chargeable hearing aids before. I always wonder though why a female person wants a small in the ear hearing aid. Is it for vanity reasons? I can understand why a man would want one because a conventional aid would be highly visible, but most women have longer hair to cover it. No one knows I have a hearing aid unless I tell them.

ilona

MusicLover

My mother has short hair, like a lot of older ladies. She’s also hoping that a smaller hearing aid will be more comfortable particularly when wearing glasses.

pollypenny

Ilona wrote: »

Thank you Music Lover, I've never heard of re chargeable hearing aids before. I always wonder though why a female person wants a small in the ear hearing aid. Is it for vanity reasons? I can understand why a man would want one because a conventional aid would be highly visible, but most women have longer hair to cover it. No one knows I have a hearing aid unless I tell them.

ilona

My hearing aid is too painful to wear for more than a couple of hours. It is so big that it pushes the whole cartlige out of line and it hurts for hours.

I also wear glasses. I have pleaded for a smaller one. Ironically, my friend, in another part of the country, has a slimmer model.

MusicLover

pollypenny wrote: »

My hearing aid is too painful to wear for more than a couple of hours. It is so big that it pushes the whole cartlige out of line and it hurts for hours.

I also wear glasses. I have pleaded for a smaller one. Ironically, my friend, in another part of the country, has a slimmer model.

I’m sorry to hear that pollypenny. I think what the NHS can offer depends on what health authority your area has.

Boots do offer much cheaper hearing aids too. They also have 0% interest payment plans.

Ilona

I must be lucky then. I had a new NHS hearing aid a few weeks ago, they put some soft putty in my ear to make a mould. It fits perfectly. I wear it every day, all day, as I did the one before, can't feel it's there. I also wear glasses.

ilona

nuttywoman

How long do NHS hearing aids last ? does anyone know ? Thanks