Hearing Tests- High Street, NHS or Private

kah22

Some great information there, and I have to confess I didn’t know that Specsavers have a connection with the NHS, would the same be true of Boots?

Sarahspangles

kah22 said:

Some great information there, and I have to confess I didn’t know that Specsavers have a connection with the NHS, would the same be true of Boots?

Community pharmacies, and many opticians and dentists are ‘commissioned’ by the NHS to deliver services.  They receive a tariff payment from the NHS where they do.  Whether or not specific pharmacies and opticians are commissioned by the NHS to provide hearing tests and aids can be checked via the NHS website.  Even with big chains like Boots it varies from town to town.  

TELLIT01

I had my hearing test with the audiology department at our local hospital.  The appointment took nearly an hour and then I had to go back to have the aids themselves set up properly.  In the end I simply couldn't get on with them and returned them.  As much of my problem is tinnitus  the person I saw did warn me they may be of limited benefit.

My wife went to Boots for her hearing test and they tried to flog her a pair of hearing aids costing over £2k on the same day.  She declined their kind offer.

DT2001

I was able to self refer to my local Specsavers. I was tested and then offered the choice of NHS or private. The tester said to make a noticeable difference I would need to spend over £3k and in his opinion “stick to the NHS option”. I did and whilst initially, as another poster said, the bird song was very noisy they are very good and helped with tinnitus. It just took a little time and you can change the volume. 

The benefits apparently include reduced chances of dementia, I assume because you are more socially involved - I rarely now need to ask people to repeat themselves and my hearing loss is only 25%.
Free batteries and a replacement (lost, I think, taking off a hood or cap) at £80 seems like a bargain to me

pollypenny

NHS.  The audiologists in our hospital are excellent. I've had a lot time working towards the best pair for me. 

I can control them via my phone, too, by app or directly from the settings. 

SevenOfNine

My husband had a hearing tested at Boots & has a private pair from them, he had the rechargeable extremely tiny ones (behind ear). He also had a test via NHS & has a pair of theirs, much bigger. He finds the private ones FAR superior but yes, they cost an arm & a leg!  The NHS ones he wanted just for when playing golf & to take on holiday for daytime beach/pool/etc.

A friend has an NHS pair & isn't getting on well with them at all, doubt it's the hearing aids though, he's hearing sounds he hasn't heard for years.

daz378

Yea  needed my ears dewaxing... had and still have tinnitus...said could be 3 months before I'm seen...went private dewaxed and hearing test...for 65 pound...said I have mild to moderate hearing loss...but wasn't pay 2 to 3 k for an hearing aid...might still keep the appointment for advice on tinnitus...if it comes through

DT2001

daz378 said:

Yea  needed my ears dewaxing... had and still have tinnitus...said could be 3 months before I'm seen...went private dewaxed and hearing test...for 65 pound...said I have mild to moderate hearing loss...but wasn't pay 2 to 3 k for an hearing aid...might still keep the appointment for advice on tinnitus...if it comes through

I had tinnitus and was told you cannot do anything about it. It is quite often a sign of hearing loss.
I managed to get a free test thru Specsavers as I’m over 60 without a referral and have 25/26% loss in both ears. I was able to get free NHS hearing aids which seem to cure the tinnitus (whilst they are in). If you have had the test and have hearing loss can you get NHS aids?

daz378

Will check  it out, make an appointment,  get free prescriptions because of diabetes..not sure if I will qualify for nhs aids

Torry_Quine

daz378 said:

Will check  it out, make an appointment,  get free prescriptions because of diabetes..not sure if I will qualify for nhs aids

NHS hearing aids are given on the basis of need only. So if you need them you'll get 5hem.