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Some very good advice here thanks. My first appointment with the NHS specialist is organised for later this month. The good lady Bill can't wait as she is fed up with repeating everything at least once. Will keep you all posted on my progress, or otherwise.
After working in the metal fabrication business for over 40 years my hearing is now getting very dodgy Plus having tinnitus doesn't help. I am ok in one to one conversations in an empty room but in, say a pub or crowded place, forget it. The wife is always telling me to turn the telly down and every time she speaks it has to be repeated. My elder brother, who has just retired, is the same. He has now got himself fixed up with a digital hearing aid from the NHS. He tells me it is ok for the TV but he is not over impressed with the day to day results. I will of coarse be booking myself in soon with my doctor for tests etc, but can anyone recommend a private company that can give me advice etc without the "hard sell"?
Tia, Nick.
Well, I had my first appointment with the NHS specialist on Monday. It seems that I have "moderate" hearing loss The upshot is that I can either have advice on how to deal with it and adjust or be supplied with a hearing aid/s. I've decided to go down the hearing aid route. The specialist took a moulding of my inner ear and I should have the aid sometime in March. Although I have gone for the standard flesh coloured one they have a range of around 10 colours to chose from. I really liked the red 1 and the yellow 1 looked ok too. Trouble is I would have to wait longer for one of those. The specialist did warn me that it can take months to adapt to the aid as your brain needs to be able to get used to the added sounds. Also she doesn't think that it will work too well in a noisy crowded environment. So roll on March and hopefully I might be able to hear what the good lady Bill is having a moan about
When you get your hearing aids don't be tempted to take them out because everything is too loud or confusing. It will only take longer for you to adapt and things DO get better quite quickly.
Crowded environments are always going to be difficult, but there should be a "noise reduction" mode which helps a lot in some circumstances (but very little in others). A noisy pub with everybodytalking loudly plus background music will always be problematic. But if you're getting hearing aids it's probably bloody awful now anyway.
I have almost no hearing at all in one ear and had audio test at NHS who fixed me up with a digital hearing aid. First one, the grommet on end of tube was too large and very painful when fitted in my ear. Grommet changed to smaller on but I had constant difficulty fitting it in my ear canal as part of my problem is that my ear canal is very narrow. Been back several times and now have been measured up for a mold, hopefully ready for me early next month. So far with all the variations I have tried there has been no really noticable improvement in hearing but awful whistling noises that my wife complains that she can hear!!! One thing that does concern me about the whole process of being fitted with my hearing aid, during initial hearing test I was fitted with headphones and subjected to all sorts of varying sounds and asked to react on hearing them. When fitted with hearing aid the nurse/technician or whatever they go by turned her back to me and said "is that any better". Quite frankly I could hear her well enough with my good ear so told her so and asked why no more specific testing to see if aid is working ok and was told that as it is digital it is all set up on the computer according to my test graph. Here's hoping things will be better with the mold in place.
Like yourself I have a moderate hearing loss, in both ears. I went down the NHS route but found them cumbersome and not that good for me. I went to Boots during one of their half price promotions and they fixed me up brilliantly. The more expensive ones have additional channels which can be 'tuned' to your personal taste making hearing as normal as possible. I opted for £2K model, not quite top of the range, but small and discreet and stops me a) shouting at others as I speak and b) asking hubby to repeat. There are still times when I don't hear everything but they are a) better than none and b) better the NHS if you can afford it.
One last thing, once you have been recognised with a hearing difficiency you can get cheaper theatre/show/cinema tickets etc.
The model and money spent really is down to 'horses for courses' so to speak, good luck.
Like yourself I have a moderate hearing loss, in both ears. I went down the NHS route but found them cumbersome and not that good for me. I went to Boots during one of their half price promotions and they fixed me up brilliantly. The more expensive ones have additional channels which can be 'tuned' to your personal taste making hearing as normal as possible. I opted for £2K model, not quite top of the range, but small and discreet and stops me a) shouting at others as I speak and b) asking hubby to repeat. There are still times when I don't hear everything but they are a) better than none and b) better the NHS if you can afford it.
One last thing, once you have been recognised with a hearing difficiency you can get cheaper theatre/show/cinema tickets etc.
The model and money spent really is down to 'horses for courses' so to speak, good luck.
ps - Boots will let you do a money back trial.
Thanks for your comments and advice. Initially I am only having one fitted but have been told that I can always have another later if required. I will see how I get on with the NHS model first and then maybe make some enquires further down the track about going private. I would like to think that after a few months that I will have some idea if it is worth the time/money splashing out the extra 2k or so.
Hi.
I have been a member of MHF since Jan , 2010 and I am a semi retired
Hearing Aid Audiologist . Also founder member of the Association of Independent
Hearing Healthcare Professionals (http://www.aihhp.org/) with 45 years experience.
That out of the way I have just noticed this thread and I have to say there is some very good advice in there but a lot that is totally wrong.
It is important to know that although the more advanced the hearing aid the more control there is over the speech and the noise, please note that it is a device intended to help (therefore called an aid). They do aid cases of noise damaged hearing and age deterioration which has the same result damage to the nerve endings.
It is important to know that the ongoing help with rehabilitation and retraining the brain is THE main component of the fitting and this is what you should be getting whether private or NHS. If you are not getting a good level of service then you have the right to choose a different audiologist. Look into "Any Qualified Provider" which is being introduced in some areas via your doctor, the
other areas should follow soon.
Standards of dispensing are very good now in both sectors
with a degree in audiology required for trainees at entry level. This does not mean you won't find the odd cowboy but they are few now.
Good luck with your fitting (though luck has nothing to do with it).
Look at "what happens at appointments”
http://www.binnshearinghealthcare.co.uk/Consultations.asp
All hearing aid dispensers are now under the HPC
Yep, I guess thats what SHOULD happen.
It took my GP and a so called hearing specialist over six months to get me an appointment at Kingston hospital in 1994.
After being tested with headphones on in a soundproof room the tech said "Yes your deaf" ...................... "NEXT" and I was ushered out.
That was it.!
I ended up buying one off e-bay which worked until I showered with it in a few times. Now I still use the cheap (€900) ones (now only one) until I can afford the new and much improved ones at £2,500.
Ray.
______________________________________________________________ The FSA licensed a twice convicted fraudster to handle our life´s savings. Guess what? He robbed us. http://raynipper.com
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Plus having tinnitus doesn't help. I am ok in one to one conversations in an empty room but in, say a pub or crowded place, forget it. The wife is always telling me to turn the telly down and every time she speaks it has to be repeated. My elder brother, who has just retired, is the same. He has now got himself fixed up with a digital hearing aid from the NHS. He tells me it is ok for the TV but he is not over impressed with the day to day results. I will of coarse be booking myself in soon with my doctor for tests etc, but can anyone recommend a private company that can give me advice etc without the "hard sell"?
