Hidden Hearing hearing aids

Rooneyroo

I just wanted to highlight a surprising hearing aid price difference that doesn't seem to ever get mentioned in reviews. For my hearing test I chose a well established high street company with great reviews called Hidden Hearing. I was happy with the knowledge and professionalism of the Audiologist who then suggested I would benefit from one hearing aid and suggested Oticon Intent 1.  The price for one hearing aid was £3749 which included 60 day trial, check ups and adjustments for lifetime of aid (6-7 years) plus 2yr warranty (a pair was over £5700).   I had done some research on prices before I went and that did seem very high, but I thought I must have been mistaken so agreed. When I was home I checked prices with other suppliers and they ranged from £1625 to max £2045 for a single Oticon Intent 1 aid including the same after service, but all with a 5 year warranty. So at Hidden Hearing - prices not published on their website, the clues in the name - they are charging over double with 3 years less warranty. I cancelled and am now booking with another well known company and paying £1625 for exactly the same service with 5 yr warranty, saving £2124. When it comes to your health you put your trust in the experts in their field and I am sure many older people who go privately and do not have access to the internet would just accept the inflated prices which is awful. I really did not expect this from a nationwide high street shop so just thought I should warn. 

Rodders53

Hearing aids are Free on NHS if needed.  Now that is money saving!

PS never heard of the company you mention, above.

Voyager2002

Rodders53 said:

Hearing aids are Free on NHS if needed.  Now that is money saving!

PS never heard of the company you mention, above.

Yes, but expect to wait around ten months between being told by a GP that you need them, and actually being seen.

MikeJXE

I had hearing aids on trial from 2 big high street chains both around £2.000 per ear 

I couldn’t get on with either and returned them on money back guarantee within 3 months 

I then applied for NHS and was given a pair including service and batteries FOC

That was before the covid. I rang the NHS hearing centre about 6 months ago asking when am I going to be reaccessed 

I attended a clinic within a couple of weeks and was supplied with new aids, Bluetooth batteries and spare parts all FOC

Far better than the high street chains and total free 

Rooneyroo

Rodders53 said:

Hearing aids are Free on NHS if needed.  Now that is money saving!

PS never heard of the company you mention, above.

Hidden Hearing have over 300 hearing centres, are one of largest hearing care specialists in the UK and have been around 50+ years.

Murphybear

Voyager2002 said:

Rodders53 said:

Hearing aids are Free on NHS if needed.  Now that is money saving!

PS never heard of the company you mention, above.

Yes, but expect to wait around ten months between being told by a GP that you need them, and actually being seen.

My husband didn’t wait anything like 10 months to be seen.  Like GP appointments it varies a lot around the country.  

Descrabled

Ms Descrabled booked us both a heating test at a local high street opticians/audiologist with an appointment 2 weeks later. Not a national chain.

Hearing test lasted just under 3/4 of an hour each and we walked out after 2 hours with free NHS hearing aids, enough batteries for 6 months, and an appointment for a checkup in 3 months time, and much better hearing.

No hard sell of private (expensive) hearing aids and no waiting. Couldn't want for more. No cost whatsoever and superb service.

silvercar

In my area you would wait months for initial appointment and then more months to be fitted on the NHS.

My local Costco has a hearing aid centre that has appointments within days and will order hearing aids within 2 weeks of the appointment. Total price including warranty, aftercare and a gadget for the TV is under £1,500.

millie

The latest NHS one that I had a few weeks ago is a vast improvement against the one I had 3 years ago. When using my mobile phone the call goes straight into the hearing aid. (you can choose to have it to the phone when taking the call) I do not even need to hold the phone to use it. Especially good when you waiting in a queue on the phone. You can carry on doing other things until it is answered.