Send Three And Fourpence We're Going To A Dance...

[sandyRoe]

The time has come to admit to myself that my hearing isn't as sharp as it once was. I've seen hearing aids advertised by Boots. Do you just buy over the counter or should a visit to the GP be the first step?

[Sqad]

The first step is to get an audio gram ( hearing test) and this can be done either via your GP at the local Audiology Clinic or at Boots or anywhere that is selling the aids.

My advice go through the NHS first and then if you feel that you need something less obtrusive you can go and buy a private aid.

[murraymints]

Specsavers do hearing test and devices.very thorough and reasonably priced...

[Tilly2]

Sandy, go to the G Pand they will send you to the audiology department at the hospital .
You will have your hearing tested and be fitted with Nhs hearing aids You don't have to buy them

[yogasun]

Sandy had to admit I Googled your heading as I thought it must be a reference to miscommunication...very interesting!

Sorry to digress but you have had some good answers anyway.

[Mosaic]

bear in mind:
everyone's hearing deteriorates with age
many people do not speak clearly
specsavers etc are in business to flog you a hearing aid + reading glasses+ sunglasses+insurance as their dispensing opticians work on commission
as Sqad has said, get yourself tested out first and if necessary try the NHS route

[sandyRoe]

Yogasun, an eye catching headline attracts interest even though it's not strictly related to the question. :-)

[pixie373]

See GP first. It may be worth putting a couple of drops of olive oil in your ears twice daily for a week. Should clean out any blockages of wax.

[Svejk]

I can't recall the original message, Sandy. Care to divulge?

[sandyRoe]

Send reinforcements, we're going to advance. A message sent from the front line during WW1 which ended up as 'send three and fourpence...' by the time it had reached Divisional HQ.

[Tilly2]

Oh, chinese whispers. I see.

[chrissa1]

I'm in the same situation sandy. I had an Audiogram via my doctor and found I had considerable hearing loss in my left ear and tinnitus.
I'm waiting for a Hearing Aid on the NHS and I was told, back in April, it could take 4 months. I'm still waiting.

I guess if you can afford it, you could buy one.

[SlackAlice]

I suffered hearing loss many years ago as a child and as I got older it got worse. My main hearing loss was diagnosed as due to nerve damage but my ears were found to be undamaged other than age related deterioration.

This was diagnosed after my GP referred me for an Audiology test on the NHS. I was prescribed hearing aids to improve the age related loss, nothing could be done as far as the nerve damage. At that time hearing aids were still of the analogue type and they magnified all sound and I could not get on with them. I now have digital hearing aids from Specsavers which have been 'tuned' (for want of a better word!) for my ears and with the emphasis on speech, with programmable settings for noisy environments. Whilst they are good, I would not say they are cheap

NHS have now been doing digital aids for some time and I have a couple of friends that use them with every success.

So, I'd suggest you get a referral from your GP to an NHS Audiology Unit and see what they offer.

[New Judge]

Sorry Andy, I did not quite catch what you said. :-)

[SlackAlice]

^^^
Eh? What was that???????

[gingejbee]

The provision of NHS aids varies greatly with location.
When I was told that I would benefit from a digital aid by my audiology department (hearing loss due to Meniere's), I had it within three weeks - and it's been very good. All batteries, adjustments, repairs and re-tubing are without charge (I've only needed batteries, no repairs and I re-tube it myself).

[Sqad]

Slackalice

\\I suffered hearing loss many years ago as a child and as I got older it got worse. My main hearing loss was diagnosed as due to nerve damage but my ears were found to be undamaged other than age related deterioration.\\

You gave a good answer to the OP but the above paragraph interested me.
Hearing loss in childhood is serious and every attempt is made to find the cause and if necessary supply a hearing aid for learning aid.
Did your childhood deafness remain undiagnosed?

[SlackAlice]

Sqad
Basically yes. I'm 65yrs now and the experts at Barts had to check all the way through my medical records back to my childhood to about the age of 10 to 11yrs old (circa 1957). I had severe tonsillitis with very high temperatures for an extended period. At that time the NHS were in a phase of not removing tonsils and my Mother was constantly put off by the clinic just prescribing antibiotic's. There was little follow up. It wasn't until my Mother lost her temper and 'dumped' me at the clinic, my tonsils were removed shortly after.

Apparently, so the Audiologist explained high fever temperatures on an extended basis as a child can cause nerve damage? I have no reason to dispute this.

I was always aware that my hearing was impaired and in class always sat in the front two rows. I also became an excellent lip reader, being able to lip read nearly all people after they have spoken just a few words. Can also lip read at quite a fair distance, which is handy at the pub! Very few people realised I had a problem. Only one person (other than my wife) knew I had a problem in all that time and only because she had a son that was deaf and realised I was looking at her lips when she spoke.

Things finally came to a head when I got to about 45 and my very quietly spoken wife got fed up and suggested I get my ears sorted. I should really get another Audiology test done to re-assess my hearing loss but I'm fine and other than 'selected deafness' to the wifes various unwanted suggestions, may put that on the backburner atm.

[Sqad]

Thanks Alice....very interesting......i am very surprised at the attitude of St Bart's in you childhood.

[sandyRoe]

New Judge, after you'd have your hearing test you should pop into the opticians for a sight test. It's Sandy, not Andy :-)

[sandyRoe]

As usual, good helpful answers. I'll make the GP my first stop. Thank you all.