Deafness, Tinnitus, Hearing Aid and disability

[zeDuffMan]

TheJimi said:

I realise your post is well intentioned, but the above is incorrect.

The NHS does not have access to the entire market of hearing aids, what they do have is contracts with suppliers and hearing aids are chosen with criteria in mind.

So while you may well get a good hearing aid on the NHS, what they can offer you is restricted. So they will offer you the best hearing aid for your loss that the trust has access to, which doesn't necessarily translate to THE best hearing aid for you.

Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 26th May 13:42

I'd imagine private providers will have similar contracts though.

[TheJimi]

zeDuffMan said:

TheJimi said:

I realise your post is well intentioned, but the above is incorrect.

The NHS does not have access to the entire market of hearing aids, what they do have is contracts with suppliers and hearing aids are chosen with criteria in mind.

So while you may well get a good hearing aid on the NHS, what they can offer you is restricted. So they will offer you the best hearing aid for your loss that the trust has access to, which doesn't necessarily translate to THE best hearing aid for you.

Edited by TheJimi on Tuesday 26th May 13:42

I'd imagine private providers will have similar contracts though.

You're missing my point though; Old merc was saying "Go to NHS audiology, who'll give you the best hearing aid for your loss" which isn't true, that's the point I was making.

As for your point, well, that depends entirely on who you go to. For example, one of my NHS audiologists had a sideline in supplying hearing aids privately, and had access to the entire market of hearing aids.

[TROOPER88]

For those that want:

A hearing aid that is 100% invisible
One that you do not realise you are wearing
One that lasts for 3-4 months
One that you can shower in
One that does not need touching once it has been inserted

Have a look into the Phonak Lyric. It will cost circa £1500 a year.

Cheers

[Old Merc]

TROOPER88 said:

For those that want:

A hearing aid that is 100% invisible
One that you do not realise you are wearing
One that lasts for 3-4 months
One that you can shower in
One that does not need touching once it has been inserted

Have a look into the Phonak Lyric. It will cost circa £1500 a year.

Cheers

How are you getting on with them?? Please let us know.
Phonak aids are very good,I have two Phonak Nathos behind the ear types provided by the NHS, FREE.

I`ve had a look at these but at £250+? a month for life !!,(for two) they are well out of my league.For that price they have got to totally transform your hearing.From what I have seen online they are only of use to people with mild to moderate hearing loss.Also they are not suitable for certain shapes of ear canals.(what ever that means?).Not sure if I would want my ear "plugged" for over three months at a time.Removing my aids every day,having a wash,giving my ear a wiggle and spending time without them in peace is lovely.
Something else I find strange,they are analogue? not digital.As they are fitted deep inside the ear how can they be switched to "T" to connect with the loop systems in theaters,cinemas etc?.
At that sort of price they are targeting very well off people who do not want to be seen wearing aids.

[TROOPER88]

Old Merc said:

How are you getting on with them?? Please let us know.
Phonak aids are very good,I have two Phonak Nathos behind the ear types provided by the NHS, FREE.

I`ve had a look at these but at £250+? a month for life !!,(for two) they are well out of my league.For that price they have got to totally transform your hearing.From what I have seen online they are only of use to people with mild to moderate hearing loss.Also they are not suitable for certain shapes of ear canals.(what ever that means?).Not sure if I would want my ear "plugged" for over three months at a time.Removing my aids every day,having a wash,giving my ear a wiggle and spending time without them in peace is lovely.
Something else I find strange,they are analogue? not digital.As they are fitted deep inside the ear how can they be switched to "T" to connect with the loop systems in theaters,cinemas etc?.
At that sort of price they are targeting very well off people who do not want to be seen wearing aids.

Hi
Very well.
You are correct in that my loss is moderate.
I only have one fitted and it lasts 3-4 months. At renewal time I pop to Harley street and it is a 5 min job to have it changed.
I do not think they can be switched to 'T'.

You do not realise you are using one within a couple of days of being fitted for the first time.

[TotalControl]

For those who have received units from the NHS, what kinds are there? I'm going to Watford General Hospital to have mine done so no idea on what they will supply. They decided to skip the impression appointment and just supply me with generic ones.

[TotalControl]

I had my appointment earlier today (well, yesterday) and received some hearing aids, finally. They're Phonak branded so not sure how good they are. Quite small and fit rather snugly.

We did some tests with them on and I was rather surprised (and delighted) to hear noises I haven't heard in over a decade. Simple things like the front zip of a coat being done up and the rattling of keys could be heard.

I'll be needing regular checks (every 3-4 months) to fine tune it and keep an eye on the tinnitus retraining therapy.

[Old Merc]

[quote=TotalControl]

We did some tests with them on and I was rather surprised (and delighted) to hear noises I haven't heard in over a decade.

Some noises may irritate you though?? I can remember many years ago when I first started using aids,got home and found almost all the doors in the house had squeaky hinges,so went round with WD40.I can also hear the central heating pipes click and knock.My wife does not understand what I`m on about.
By the way Phonak aids are very good,my NHS supplied ones perform very well.

[TotalControl]

True, they are pretty good. I can hear keys, door hinges, crisp packets etc now. It's quite nice to be hear these but I'll probably be back next week to say how annoyed I am with the noises.

I had an interview today and noticed that there was a bit of an echo when conversing. Like a bad line had been connected. Yeah, I'll need to get used to that.

[TheJimi]

thelittleegg said:

Also, a big warning, if anyone is looking at going private for hearing aids, be VERY wary of the big high street chains of audiologists.

Like everything else, do research, get opinions from other aid users.

You're right though, some of the high street dispensers are shysters indeed.

Most good NHS audiologists will be able to point you in the right direction in terms of hearing aids that aren't available via the NHS but would be a good for your loss.

[WinstonWolf]

HELLO FOLKS, I MIGHT BE JOINING YOU...

Had a checkup yesterday following a cholesteatoma removal and the surgeon said I might not get much benefit from a reconstruction of my ossicles two bones gone) and to consider hearing aids.

Firstly I'm going to push for the operation, I wasn't expecting to be brushed aside with a half finished job. I've still got tinnitus post surgery which I think skewed the results and I'm certain my damaged ear has more capability than at present.

That said I'm definitely at the "eh"? end of the hearing spectrum.

Can you get funky looking ones that work well via the NHS?

I notice the latest ones are bluetooth enabled, any one have any experience and are they on the NHS?

Oh, and it'll have to look funky...