Anybody using NHS hearing aid?

pollypenny

I am eventually happy with my hearing aid, after visiting audiology on Monday.

I saw a great bloke, who said the setting is wrong, checked my ears for wax and fitted a new tube. He was patient and understanding, rather than being cross with me as the others have seemed. He explained the different modes, too

I wore all week without a problem, even forgetting I had it in. I had even made an appointment with a private company. Cancelled that now.

sasparillo

Hi, Glad it’s better and you’re happy! What sort of hearing loss do you have. My mother was told she could not have a smaller one because she has ‘moderate’ hearing loss.

pollypenny

It's a Resound, but what sort I don't know.

writer5

Sasparillo- have you checked whether you can access NHS Hearing Services in your area? This is a sort of outsourced service that allows you /your mum to get free NHS aids, batteries, follow up appointments and adjustments in a local Specsavers or Scrivens shop [other suppliers may be available in your area].
No need to go to hospital appointments and much more convenient and swift service. It used to be run by a company called GPCare in Bristol but changed providers last year. I have aids for both ears-one small cone type for mild loss, the other much larger for moderate.
Just google NHS Hearing services and put in your postcode and it will tell you. Hope that helps

sasparillo

writer5 wrote: »

Sasparillo- have you checked whether you can access NHS Hearing Services in your area? This is a sort of outsourced service that allows you /your mum to get free NHS aids, batteries, follow up appointments and adjustments in a local Specsavers or Scrivens shop [other suppliers may be available in your area].
No need to go to hospital appointments and much more convenient and swift service. It used to be run by a company called GPCare in Bristol but changed providers last year. I have aids for both ears-one small cone type for mild loss, the other much larger for moderate.
Just google NHS Hearing services and put in your postcode and it will tell you. Hope that helps

Hi, I don’t think it’s done in our area. When I googled ‘NHS Hearing Services’ Specsavers comes up but when I put in the postcode the following comes up:

‘ We are currently not able to offer NHS funded hearing aids in your area. Unfortunately you live in an area where your local health authority has chosen not to commission this service in the community – however this may change in the future. You can still access NHS funded hearing aids through your GP.’

Ditto for Scrivens

‘ Sorry – outside of catchment area. Sadly we are unable to help as you live in an area where we are unable to supply you with NHS hearing aids.’

The hospital audiologist now says she is going to try a mould made of softer material which will take about six weeks.

Gers

Here's an article from The Guardian this morning.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/oct/12/hearing-aids-private-nhs-models

I've got an NHS hearing aid which seems fine. I needed very small tips as the ones offered hurt to put them in.

sasparillo

Gers wrote: »

Here's an article from The Guardian this morning.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/oct/12/hearing-aids-private-nhs-models

I've got an NHS hearing aid which seems fine. I needed very small tips as the ones offered hurt to put them in.

Good to know you’ve had a good experience. This article reflects what we’ve been thinking. We’re gaining as much knowledge as possible and trying all the options available on the NHS before even considering another route - especially if the hearing aids are by the same manufacturers and I suppose all the audiologists are trained on the NHS.

The problem in our area is that the hospital is quite far away, they do not give an automatic follow up appointment after the first fitting and there is no local support. We are persisting but it takes considerable effort. And as the article says it often needs at least several appointments to get them right.

For the elderly, physically challenged and others without their own transport and those dependent on others, it means it all boils down to the continued persistence and support of relatives and carers which of course is not necessarily forthcoming. The person with the hearing aid has to have regular access to stamps, envelopes and a post box to get the batteries as well.

One would think that it wouldn’t take much for all the GP surgeries in our town with the hospital department to get together to arrange at least a monthly local meeting place for hearing aid support, examination for ear wax and irrigation etc. I do know now people who have hearing aids who are willing to help out as volunteers alongside professionals.

And then it should be advertised adequately - another bugbear in an area where, for example, the local council provides free exercise classes but the GP surgeries do not put out the leaflets and refer instead to a scheme at the local leisure centre - also council owned but out sourced to a private company - which has three months’ free entry and then gives the choice of signing up - for £25 a month with a class with the exact same name as the always free keep fit class!

It took us a year and a half to learn that once a GP’s patient comes under the audiology department of the hospital several miles away, ear wax removal comes under the hospital. But the ear wax removal has to be arranged as a separate appointment with no guarantee it will even be on the same day as the audiology department. The commissioning groups in the area do not subscribe to the scheme allowing NHS patients to visit local commercial chains for NHS hearing services.

There must be many retreating into a silent world with no stimulation - not because they are not given hearing aids but because there are no support services and they give up on their hearing aids. I have tried to push the hospital about local support but with NHS superannuated GPs appearing to wash their hands of the situation and in the words of one person with hearing aids who has been trying for years to set something up, “At 65 they expect you to shut up and go into a cave.”, there has been no movement.

At least this is how it seems unless there are services which aren’t publicised and we haven’t been told about. Which considering our experience so far is quite possible ...

BillTrac

I was given an NHS hearing aid about ten years ago. I had lost the 'central' section of my hearing apparently. It was so uncomfortable I could only suffer it for an hour or so at the time. Haven't used it for ages but recently thought I either need to go back to my local 'Superhospital' (it's anything but) or look at private.

just looked up the Audiology department at my hospital and it's a bit concerning when they haven't updated the info since 2015!!!

Savvy_Sue

It can take a while to get the mould correctly adjusted, but I'd say it is worth persevering. Also it's possible that in the last 10 years moulds have changed: you may no longer need a specific mould as for some types of hearing loss an 'off the shelf' 'mushroom' ear tip will do the job. And there are different kinds of those as well, so again, experimentation can be helpful.

Pollyflinders

I agree with Sue. Just persist and nag them at audiology. I comfortable with mine after much trial and error.