Hearing aids

[Groomsport]

Can anyone recommend a truly independent hearing aid dispenser - not on commission from a big company?

[Canary42]

NHS

[bednobs]

was just about to write the same thing canary

[ladyalex]

Totally agree with above posters.
NHS hearing aids are marvellous and their aftercare is superb.
And free.

[MichaelZZ]

Just to expand on the earlier replies:

When my hearing started to deteriorate I first of all had a hearing test carried out by a nurse at my GP's surgery. The nurse explained that this test was relatively crude but would give an indication of the extent of my hearing loss. After the test, my GP looked at the results and said that although the test was pretty basic (not done in a sound-proof room, etc) it was clear that I would benefit from hearing aids. I mentioned "going private", as I usually do when faced with any specialist treatment. His reply was that he had no objection to private medicine or surgery in most cases (and indeed he has happily given me referral letters on a number of occasions) but in the case of hearing correction he was firmly of the opinion that the hearing aids provided by the NHS were not only perfectly adequate for mild to moderate hearing loss but were also a lot easier to get used to than some of the fancy "invisible" hearing aids sold at vastly inflated prices by the High Street opticians. His suggestion was that I should get a proper NHS hearing test and get some of their hearing aids. After getting used to these, if I felt I required anything more fancy, I could always at that stage go to the commercial enterprises. I followed his advice and have now had my NHS hearing aids for just over 3 years and I have no desire (or need) for anything any more sophisticated.
By contrast, my sister in law, when her hearing started to deteriorate, immeditely went to one of the High Street opticians and was sold a pair of hearing aids costing almost £1000. These are very small, so small in fact that she has difficulty putting them in and because she finds them uncomfortable she only wears one of the pair in her "better" ear. She feels that she has been conned out of £1000 but is in some sort of denial that NHS aids would be any better as she is a firm believer that "private is best" and if her expensive private hearing aids don't work there's no chance that free NHS ones will be any good. Sadly, she won't even try my recommendation.

[furrypusscat]

Totally agree. I wear hearing aids and have received excellent service through local hospital. Any problem and it is dealt with immediately.

[smurfchops]

Do NHS only have the hearing aids that are very large and show in the ear ? Or do they have the smaller inconspicuous ones ?

[MichaelZZ]

The NHS aids are certainly not invisible but my current pair are certainly smaller - and more sophisticated than the originals that I got 3 years ago. The new ones have a volume adjustment which is useful as well as the usual T loop option.
As I say, they are not invisible and can therefore be seen fairly easily by any observer. Having said that, my wife completely failed to notice my friend's new NHS aids and it was only when I commented that she said, "Ee, Dave! I didn't know you'd got hearing aids!" Incidentally, he is nearly as bald as I am but without being in any way sexist, I would suggest that ladies with "over the ear" hair styles would be able to disguise the fact that they were actually wearing them.

[furrypusscat]

I suppose when I first had one, I felt a bit embarrassed and self conscious as I have always had and still do have short hair. When I had been wearing them for about 9 months I just got used to the fact I needed one and that was it. It bothered me less and less. Now I need to wear two as I cannot manage without. I have never thought about going private, I need them, it isn't a big deal.

[smurfchops]

My dad had hearing aids in both ears and says that 'everything' was louder, including background noise in pubs etc. Do modern hearing aids differentiate between noises, or is this still the case ?

[furrypusscat]

Unfortunately that is the case and will be with any aid. There are 3 settings on the NHS ones, 1st is normal, 2nd does reduce some background noise but can't differentiate between conversation you want to hear and general background noise and 3rd is the 'T' setting which is used such as at bank counters, doctors etc where they have a loop system. I also use this setting for playing the TV through a loop system which I had along with other useful items on free permanent loan from social services for which I had to have a home assessment for.