Hearing aids – NHS or private?

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who is deaf. In my own case it's congenital and started in my mid forties, so I've been using aids for over twenty years. Exclusively NHS for me. That's been OK until recently.

The main purpose of this is to ask if others have experienced benefits from going private after having had experience of NHS aids. I'm less interested in the 'bells and whistles' (Bluetooth etc) than (a) subjective improvement in hearing quality and (b) expertise and accessibility of audiologists. I'd be grateful to hear of any experiences before I splash out. I'm thinking either Boots or Specsavers.

Robin.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Only recently started wearing them myself; I don't use them all the time, but great for TV theatre etc.
Have you had your present ones re-programmed recently to suit your current hearing defects?

Good Luck
Bill

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Siemen make NHS hearing aids, after a time the ear form becomes loose and will move when you incline ones head. then it whistles or osscilates, annoying. make an appt. to have a new earform made.

Much depends on what type of deafness you have, whether noise induced with accompaning tinnitus or congenital.

The hearing test will show the waveform and how to adjust the hearing via a computer set up at the audiology clinic.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

No experience with NHS aids but recently used Boots (central Cambridge). Very impressed with the service. I have loss of high frequencies. Bought some higher end Phonax receiver in ear aids with bluetooth (SWMBO insisted) and must admit it is very handy having wireless TV, handsfree for phone etc.

If I'd gone with NHS I'd still be waiting for an appointment…..

[David AmbroseParticipant @davidambrose86182]

I have had an NHS aid for about four years. It works for me, and I happy to have free batteries, and the knowledge that it will be replaced for free if it breaks.

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I have used aids for 20 + years and the NHS aids outperform any expensive private aids I have tried.

Plus one for an audiology check and update the program.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I have NHS aids ( Phonax )and have audiology checks every 2 years

Also have aids cleaned and serviced every 6 months plus free batteries.and updates when needed. All for free.

And I've usually got an appointment within 2 weeks

Roy

Edited By roy entwistle on 06/07/2023 09:17:02

Edited By roy entwistle on 06/07/2023 09:25:18

[lee websterParticipant @leewebster72680]

I have had NHS hearing aids for over two years. I have regular checkups at the hospital to make sure everything is OK. My last checkup was a few weeks ago. A year ago I lost one of my hearing aids. I contacted the hospital and they made an appointment to have a new aid fitted. I had to pay £70.00, not bad considering they cost the NHS £1000.00 the pair. If I was still going to music concerts and opera I might consider going private to get a better sound, but £3000.00 might put me off.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

I am fortunately not using any hearing aid device but can report that my late brother-in-law had 2 sets from different private suppliers that had all bells and whistles, but changed to a set from the NHS which he said gave improved hearing and less trouble than those costing a fortune, in one case £4000

Emgee

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

I have had Phonax aids via the NHS now for about 15 years? Main problem is high pitch sounds, missed hearing the song birds when out and about. Several different units, the first had the very small tube with "bud" for the ear, 2nd & 3rd ones the same but more sophisticated. Now I have reached the limit for these units so a couple of months back had a new test and now they have a soft ear mould and a larger tube with blue tooth and volume control — very happy with them and the service from the NHS staff.

Personally I don't think its worth the money to go private, setting aside development etc cannot see why they should be so expensive when they must be produced in vast quantities.

[Kevin MurrellParticipant @kevinmurrell62078]

I have sexy new hearing aids from SpecSavers. They pair up using Bluetooth to my phone which is great. I can watch videos etc without bothering anyone else. It's also clever on the phone with the other caller sitting inside my head! Not cheap and they run through batteries. Re-chargable was an option, but I already have enough I forget to recharge as it is.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Friend of mine went private and finished up with an aid that was exactly the same as mine with the exception that his was rechargeable and my aids use throw away batteries. The difference in cost about £1400. In my opinion people that go private are being ripped off.

Andrew.

[ChrisLHParticipant @chrislh]

I've had NHS hearing aids for at least 10 years. NHS in my area take the initiative and invite you in for a check-up every 2 years. At my last check-up I got a new pair of aids (Oticon, Danish) which are excellent. They are free as are the batteries.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

I should have said: My aids are re-chargable. Not easy to forget to charge. They just drop into the storage case / charger on the bedside table at night. A lot greener than zinc air cells. Cost of aids includes annual check-up. I was given a 1-2 month wait for a initial NHS appointment. It might be better elsewhere or if you are already in the system.

Robert.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

I have worn hearing aids for 30+ years, I currently have 90 db hearing loss on high frequencies, which is classed as severe, resulting from noise exposure in the Air Force without hearing protection, this was in the 60’s when we had noisiest generation of gas turbine engines. My hearing loss is a War Pensioned Disablement so I receive priority treatment via the NHS, both my aids are Phonak aids provided by the NHS. The same aids are currently available from private suppliers at well in excess of £1,000 each, I can see no reason why I would go private for the same piece of equipment. A few years ago I worked as a volunteer for a hearing disability charity, came across lots of people who had paid extortionate amounts for private aids and regretted not going for the NHS models. As an aside my wife is profoundly deaf with no hearing at all as a result of having had meningitis many years ago, twelve years ago she was fitted with a cochlear implant by the NHS, it transformed her life, nowadays she complains that I have the tv and radio too loud, this from someone who can hear nothing without her implant switched on. My NHS Phonak aids are Bluetooth enabled which means that I can couple my IPhone to them so that I can hear the phone directly through my aids, I find that this is now the only way that I can use a phone nowadays, I cannot hear on landlines anymore, sometimes that can be convenient. Also have a gadget that connects with our tv so that I can hear that through Bluetooth coupling with my aids, this means that we can turn the tv sound off and still hear everything through my aids. My experience of hearing loss and hearing aids is that I would never entertain privately provided aids, why pay when the same item is provided by the NHS, they have a huge range of aids from which they choose to match your hearing requirements. One important factor is that your hearing will constantly degrade over time, the NHS will retest your hearing every three years and adjust your hearing aid provision to suit any changes. This is still all free from the NHS. Totally irrelevant to this thread is that I have a deaf cat, he is with me always and when I am in my workshop he sits on the bench alongside where I am working and usually goes to sleep there. Dave W

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

I use NHS hearing aids, and am supposed to get them, and me, checked every 3 years, otherwise I need another referral by the GP. But what the heck, at the mileage involved, 27 miles to the main Audiology clinic or 14 miles to another clinic, both of which have proper sound insulated hearing rooms, (I mention that because there are two nearer clinics which don't have sound proof rooms and which I now will not use.) there is a strong disincentive to go.

Anyway, I have Menieres in one ear which after the application of Gentamycin to stop the vertigo etc just about works, indeed one audiologist, at least I think that's what she was, actually asked why I was bothering with a hearing aid in that ear, it was so bad. In the other ear, well, I don't know what happened, something did, but during a choral concert which I was taking part in, I lost most of my bass response, resulting in the provision of a hearing aid for that ear. Gradually over I think about 18 months or so, some bass response has returned and the last ime I had it checked, she said that I was better than before. Explain that one!

So, private or NHS? Well, after discovering how a certain underclass seem able to live off State funds without working, with no-one doing anything about it, I thought, right, if the state supplies it, then if I need it, then I will take it. Selfish? You bet! But I have spent a large number of years working, paying large amounts of tax etc, and then to see people getting stuff for free, well it sticks in the craw.

Sorry about that moan.

Cheers,

Peter G. Shaw

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Spec savers audio supply all aids as pairs and therefore all prices are for two.

NHS aids will go louder than private and Spec savers can supply them if you are referred by your GP.

Rechargables are a bit larger than the battery versions.

My wife's have the speaker in the ear and are better in crowded places with lots of background sound like the supermarket.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Forgot to mention in my posting above that Bluetooth enabled aids will couple with Ring Doorbell so you can hear sounds and speech directly through the aids therefore cutting out any background noise which if you have a severe hearing loss is very helpful. When working in my workshop at the end of the garden I can hear the doorbell and still speak to the caller. Dave W

[HowiParticipant @howi]

it depend on where you are, in South yorkshire I can only have one hearing aid on the NHS, over in NE Derbyshire I could get two – go figure.

Had an NHS one but was not brilliant, My hearing deteriated quite markedly so decided to go private (Boots).

I now needed two hearing aids and decided to go top of range Phonak and yer the price is eye watewring.

Blue tooth connects them to my mobile phoine which really helps, they come with acharging box, drop them in over night and ready next morning (actually onlt takes a couple of hours). the charger has a built in rechargable battery which will last about 5 days worth of charging. My only gripe has been replacing the receivers (the speaker bit that goes in the ear) which don't seem to last very long (may be me though!). So far they have been replaced free of charge.

If you have been deaf for any length of time, you appreciate what hearing aids can do for you and your quality of life.

While i wouldl ike not to have to pay £3500, I would not like to be permanently deaf either.

You pays your money and take your choice, as they say.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I've got 2 NHS ones and am very happy with them. However I'm not very deaf, just lost high frequency, so can't comment on those with more profound issues

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

I have two NHS hearing aids. Had them for about seven years, one has been replaced in that time. A friend used to have private ones but has recently moved to NHS ones and has no regrets.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Peter G. Shaw on 06/07/2023 11:42:55:

…

So, private or NHS? Well, after discovering how a certain underclass seem able to live off State funds without working, with no-one doing anything about it …

Come now, Peter, unkind to refer to us poor old pensioners as an underclass. Admittedly we're the largest financial burden the country has to support but I like to think you and I aren't complete wasters!

Dave

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

A couple of years ago I stumbled on a list of NHS Hearing Aids on the net and the price that industry charged the NHS, the list was endless, I was surprised to find it in the public domain but apparently it was part of an open policy to ensure fairness in dealings with industry. I cannot remember how to get to it now but I do remember that most prices were in fact below £100 the most expensive then was about £120, the same aids were being retailed for £1,000 plus. I understand that there are those who would choose to knock the NHS but the identical aids are being provided through the NHS, the low prices they are supplied under comes about because the NHS buys large volumes through contracts with the suppliers in industry. Dave W

[Chris Pearson 1Participant @chrispearson1]

Samsaranda is spot on. Before I retired, I had a professional involvement in the subject.

When I started, hearing aids were simple amplifiers. NHS ones were made under contract and were either the BW series (body worn, i.e. the size of a fag packet with a wire to an earpiece) or BE (behind the ear). The standard offering was BE11, then BE31 was more powerful, etc. Some of them had tone controls so that there was some (i.e. not a lot) scope to tune them.

Nowadays, the NHS buys them from the various manufacturers so you get exactly what is available privately. They are all digital so they are programmed to your audiogram, i.e. the amplification is greatest at the worst thresholds.

I am fortunate: I have very good hearing for my age despite never really bothering about noise exposure. If I live long enough, I may well need aids, but I would be happy with NHS ones. I have the means to pay privately, but I was brought up in Yorkshire.

The only reason that I can see for purchasing hearing aids is that you want the various bells and whistles. You can bluetooth to your 'phone or telly. You can get in-the-ear ones (which I think show more than standard behind-the-ear ones) or even in-the-canal miniature ones if you are particularly vain. You can get a remote volume control (or I imagine, ones which are controlled by an 'app' on your 'phone).

In summary, as far as improving communication is concerned, NHS hearing aids are the same as private ones.

P.S. Would there be the same discussion concerning walking sticks or crutches?

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