Mum needs a new hearing aid...

[anonymous-user]

She's had one for a couple of years but doesn't get on with it - uncomfortable, whistles a lot, just generally a pita. At work, someone suggested a made-to-measure one. She's an appointment to have her ears syringed and visit the hospital (who apparently can provide them!) for a consultation.

But I'm wondering whether the NHS offering will be crap (both the made-to-measure fitting and the unit itself) and whether it's worth going 'private' for something that's much better. If anyone's had experience of this and can offer advice I'd really like to hear. Thanks.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 26th March 16:54

[mrsshpub]

The NHS (in our area, at least) is now supplying Siemens Octiv+ units. They're certainly not crap — google them.

[sherman]

WHAT?

[oilandwater]

I've worn hearing aides for well over 30years, NHS and paid privately for in the ear models.
The digital hearing aids provided by the NHS are by far the better deal. For me, the in the ear models can be affected by condensation resulting in constantly returning them to be fixed.
I will say though, make sure when they are fitted and tuned to her hearing loss, that the volume is loud enough, I was told by the NHS that they don't give older people too much volume at first as it may shock them! Unbelievable! I recommend walking about in the hospital AND outside for a while, then going back to the hearing technician for some tweaking.
HTH.

[Gareth79]

AFAIK the whistling is just feedback and means either the earpiece isn't in properly or isn't sound-tight. I thought they were all custom-moulded these days? Maybe it just needs an ear piece moulding?

[Old Merc]

[quote=DDg]She's had one for a couple of years but doesn't get on with it - uncomfortable, whistles a lot, just generally a pita. At work, someone suggested a made-to-measure one. She's an appointment to have her ears syringed and visit the hospital (who apparently can provide them!) for a consultation.

But I'm wondering whether the NHS offering will be crap (both the made-to-measure fitting and the unit itself) and whether it's worth going 'private' for something that's much better. If anyone's had experience of this and can offer advice I'd really like to hear. Thanks.
.....................................................................................................................

All hearing aids are what you call "made to measure".The ear piece is produced from a mold of your mum`s ear and the behind the ear unit is made to suit her hearing loss.The ear piece must fit perfectly into the ear or you will get feed back (whistling).These ear pieces don't last for ever,so will need changing every two years or so.
All this costs money,lots of it.Do not waste your time and money going private,especially the "in the ear" models,total waste of money.Our good old NHS will look after your mum and prescribe the very latest digital aids programed to suit her.Make sure she gets a full audiometry at your local NHS hearing department and everything will get sorted.
Not only will they supply aids to suit her needs,she will get back up,adjustments etc,even FREE batteries for life.

I`ve been using aids for over 35 years,including a brief and very expensive period going private.My local hospital hearing aid department is perfect and I`ve had excellent service.

There was a discussion on here about hearing aids recently,have a look. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

mrsshpub said:

The NHS (in our area, at least) is now supplying Siemens Octiv+ units. They're certainly not crap — google them.

Exactly. Wife has had NHS hearing aids for 47 yrs. Started with a box on her chest when she was 4, things have moved on since then. Now has some mega expensive digital thing that they programme on a computer to match her particular frequency losses. All free. Just brilliant.

[HotJambalaya]

I've bought a few sets privately for my dad and found a company with good prices and excellent service. Every time I'd thought about NHS hearing aids the image that came to mind is those giant pink coloured behind the ear models. From whats being said above things have moved on dramatically since then. However I've stuck to private, the guy comes to the house, makes adjustments etc and after sales has been very good. Best of all the company I used is less then half the price of the big boys, does all manufacturers, and I got the latest widex hearing aids at a very reasonable price. After having been through a couple of manufacturers (though not seimens or oticon) we're generally of the opinion that the Widex ones are the best.

Have a look also if the manufacturer you're going with has accessories, for example the Starkey ones he had previously had bluetooth and a tv adaptor which would stream the tv straight to the hearing aids for clear tv hearing. The Widex he has now, has a phone that when he puts it to his ear to take a call senses the hearing aid, and then transmits the conversation directly to the hearing aids, they also have similar for the TV and even for mobiles. Like I said I don't know much about NHS models but I always assumed that they'd give the basic models lacking in that sort of functionality.

With regards to the other stuff: if its squeeking, its not fitting correctly, you can try pushing it in a little better which may help, or getting better tips.

As above, with older people they can often complain its very loud and ask for it to be turned down, which limits its effectiveness, so they should be adjusting it over the course of a few weeks.

Apparently, if there's been hearing loss for some time, it can take older peoples brain a bit of time to catch up, and they can get a bit jumbled in trying to process the spoken word at speed, so talk a bit slower!

Edited by HotJambalaya on Friday 27th March 13:37

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for all the responses chaps. I assumed the NHS service would be very basic (I remember the free NHS specs years ago) and wanted the best for her, but you're all telling me otherwise which is good news. I didn't know it would already have been custom moulded - perhaps it just needs further adjustment or as you say, Old Merc, simply needs replacing. I'll pass on the tips about the consultation and set-up, O&W and will look into accessories.

Thanks again.

[Old Merc]

[quote=HotJambalaya]I've bought a few sets privately for my dad and found a company with good prices and excellent service. Every time I'd thought about NHS hearing aids the image that came to mind is those giant pink coloured behind the ear models. From whats being said above things have moved on dramatically since then.
.........................................................................................................................

The NHS have definitely moved on,and in most cases supply the same type of aids available privately for FREE !
My local hearing aid dept`has a drop in centre where you can have while you wait adjustments,repairs carried out and pick up boxes of free batteries.
Only last year at one of my visits I was referred for another audiometry.After which I was given two of the very latest "Phonak" aids.(and there was nothing wrong with my old ones).
All these aids are compatible to the loop systems in cinemas,theatres etc,blue tooth mobiles and home phones.I even have a loop system in my TV.I`ve also found that they can self adjust if I`m ever in a very noisy situation.

At the end of the day its a person`s choice.If they want to go private,spend lots of their own money,its up to them.They may think because its private and the are paying they are getting something better?
All I can say is why?? when you can get up to date aids,prescribed by brilliant people,with technological back up,all for free,at the NHS.

[mrsshpub]

DDg said:

I didn't know it would already have been custom moulded…...

I believe custom moulds are now only used for moderate to severe hearing loss. For milder hearing loss, a very small in the ear dome is used. More details on the Siemens website here: https://uk.hearing.siemens.com/products/nhs-hearin...

[All that jazz]

Gentlemen, I would like to resurrect this thread if I may. Just going through the same thing with my Old Dear. She is in Llandudno area and apparently the nearest NHS hearing test place is in Bangor which due to other health issues is too far for her to travel to. She has instead been for a hearing test with Boots with a view to buying privately and Boots have said she has moderate hearing loss in both ears. The hearing test woman has been to her house for her to try some devices and measure for fitting and they have recommended she has the invisible in-ear ones. She was impressed with how well she could hear with them (unsurprisingly) but is a bit put off by the price for them (£500 for the pair), especially after being informed by the woman that they only last "about 5 years" before needing to be replaced and the battery will need changing "every couple of weeks".

Having read the earlier comments in this and the other linked thread about the reliability/longevity of them, condensation issues etc I'm not convinced this is the path we want to go down now.

I welcome your thoughts.

[RobinOakapple]

All that jazz said:

I welcome your thoughts.

Seems to me you need to choose which problem to deal with, either get her Bangor somehow, or pay the extra for the private ones plus deal with the maintenance/replacement issues.

[ofcorsa]

My Dad got went private 4 years ago and got some really discreet in ear ones. He really loved them. He's tried the NHS this time and I can echo what others have said, they have come a really long way. They are not as discreet as his in ear ones but the sound quality is great.

[Old Merc]

RobinOakapple said:

All that jazz said:

I welcome your thoughts.

Seems to me you need to choose which problem to deal with, either get her Bangor somehow, or pay the extra for the private ones plus deal with the maintenance/replacement issues.

I agree,Your local Boots is convenient but for how long? in a few years time she may need upgrades? more money? batteries are about £1 each? and will need changing regularly.(I have a free supply thanks to the NHS)
Those in the ear types will not be able to connect to the loop systems in cinemas,theaters and public places.Believe me loop systems really improve a visit to these places for us aid users.Also I suspect the small in the ear types are prone to condensation or wax blockage.(Regular cleaning of my mould and tube is a simple task).
The trip to Bangor sounds a problem but I`m sure it will be worth it in the end.If they are anything like my local NHS she will be prescribed the very latest types to suit her hearing loss,full back up,replacement moulds,batteries all for free.

[rolando]

I have NHS hearing aids and, as others have said, they are certainly fit for purpose, batteries are free, walk-in for adjustments etc. Feedback in my case is usually due to a build up of wax, which is easily dealt with.

Some Specsavers hearing centres have apparently been accredited to provide free NHS hearing services.

[anonymous-user]

Just a quick update - apparently mums' last hearing aid wasn't custom moulded, but a "small, medium or large?" fitting. She now has one which is - a Siemens one from the NHS and is very pleased with it. No more whistling, no more wobbling around behind her "sticking out ears", very impressed with the NHS. Thanks again for all the advice.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 20th May 07:05

[Old Merc]

Glad to HEAR that your mum`s sorted and more good news about the NHS.

[55palfers]

My dear old Mum is 89 soon and has two NHS "in-ear" hearing aids.
She is very happy with them and with the service she gets from her local clinic when they need a bit of a fettle.
They also supply free batteries too.

Give them a go?

[blueg33]

Mrs Blue works in a hearing aid centre. NHS aids are fine but they don't offer the top end models and the aftercare is lacking especially when it comes to cleaning and tube replacement.

Her practice does both NHS and private but the private uptake is much higher. All aftercare visits including home visits are included.