Hearing Aid Suggestions

thebullsback

At the stage now where I struggle to hear quite a bit be it the TV or conversation in a public place.
My wife and Sister have behind the ear hearing aids supplied by a well known optical supplier and are as good as useless so obviously don't want to go down that route .
I would prefer in ear aids and wonder if anyone has any choices on which aid is good .
Thank You .

SiliconChip

Sliced Bread podcast on Hearing Aids.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00282qp

PS If listening to a podcast is an issue for you:

"A transcript of this episode is available here: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/misc/sliced_bread_hearing_aids_transcript.pdf"

km1500

If you have a smartphone and buds or similar then you can try using your smartphone as a hearing aid just to see how you get on and get an idea of your needs

you may be able to use the inbuilt amplifier or download a hearing aid app from the PlayStore or from Apple Store

Torry_Quine

Unless your needs are very specialised then NHS aids are just as good as private. 

Voyager2002

I urge you to consult your doctor and have your ears examined by a professional audiologist. There might be other problems...

Pollycat

Probably better on health and beauty board...

Mum161111

Torry_Quine said:

Unless your needs are very specialised then NHS aids are just as good as private. 

I've had great help and care from the NHS Audiology over the years and have two hearing aids.  I still can't hear if there is any background noise.  The NHS have told me that there is nothing better available privately.  A well known "chemist" recommended private hearing aids at huge cost (to pay on credit) and the NHS, very experienced audiologist, advised against them.

I have to live with it and cannot fault the NHS at all.   Being so hard of hearing is really frustrating but I'm glad to have the best help that's  available.  If there was anything that would really 'work more effectively' I would be interested.

DullGreyGuy

km1500 said:

If you have a smartphone and buds or similar then you can try using your smartphone as a hearing aid just to see how you get on and get an idea of your needs

you may be able to use the inbuilt amplifier or download a hearing aid app from the PlayStore or from Apple Store

Apple now has built in hearing aid functions under accessibility if you are using a Made for iPhone set of headphones. 

Torry_Quine

Mum161111 said:

Torry_Quine said:

Unless your needs are very specialised then NHS aids are just as good as private. 

I've had great help and care from the NHS Audiology over the years and have two hearing aids.  I still can't hear if there is any background noise.  The NHS have told me that there is nothing better available privately.  A well known "chemist" recommended private hearing aids at huge cost (to pay on credit) and the NHS, very experienced audiologist, advised against them.

I have to live with it and cannot fault the NHS at all.   Being so hard of hearing is really frustrating but I'm glad to have the best help that's  available.  If there was anything that would really 'work more effectively' I would be interested.

I know someone who bought privately and found they were no better. Thankfully they got their money back. 

sarah1972

Torry_Quine said:

Unless your needs are very specialised then NHS aids are just as good as private. 

 My friend waited over a year for a nhs hearing test at the hospital, she had impressions made and has so far waited 7 months for it to be made. 

kipperman

I have been going deaf for the past 20 years - initially I went via the NHS route but their aids were clunky and not very sophisticated, so I went down the private route.

I'd struggle without documented proof ( so not just heresay) to believe that NHS aids are as good as private ones (in my case Phonak). I'm fortunate to be able to do this and to go for the more technologically advanced ones . They have a 5 year guarantee so I replace them roughly after 5 years meaning I always have a spare pair as given my love of exercise they get quite a tough life.

Newer technologies such as rechargeable, bluetooth streaming but more importantly refinement to their capabilities are quite simply life changing. My latest set have an automatic "AI" setting which I thought initially was a gimmick but vastly improve my hearing in loud group settings.

I've been dealing with the same audiologist (at a well known chemists..) for 15 years now, and have never had any pressure to upgrade - that has always come from me. No queues, waiting times and on the rare occasions something fails, repaired within days.

I know from experience how miserable and isolating deafness can be, so to be able to live largely normally is a price well worth paying IMO.