Forum Topic

In ear hearing aids

I wonder if anyone has experience of Spec Savers in ear hearing aids. I also wonder about the price as they advertise from £495 a pair. I know in Boots it is a £1000 an ear? Also what was the after service like? Many thanks

Nichols Beard ● 2146d5 Comments

Thanks

Nichols Beard ● 2143d

I started with GP and then went to Specsavers and got NHS ones.  Had them for almost 2 years and wear them every day,  I find them excellent.

Samantha Barwell ● 2143d

My MIL paid thousands (or rather FIL did) for more than one set for her and she never consistently wore them.  He did the hearing and she did the seeing as he had glaucoma and everything else eye related wrong.  This system worked well until there were other health problems which separated them except when others were there and when he was talking she would start talking not realising that she was interrupting a conversation.When he got his hearing aid (after accusing us of whispering in front of himwhen we weren't) he got a simple NHS one and was very diligent and determined to wear it.  This wasn't easy but he succeeded.  They are fiddly to put in and with older and less sensitive fingers as well as struggling to see which way round it was this made it a big challenge.  The batteries are very small and fiddly.  It is worthwhile getting support.  Action on Hearing Loss (ex RNID) did at one time try to provide a local volunteer to give support. You do need a lot of determination but it is definitely worth it.  We taught dozens of carers how to put a hearing aid in and how to change the battery.  Hearing loss is supposed to be contribute to memory loss and when you think about it that is quite logical.  A multi-sensory experience is much easier to remember!

Philippa Bond ● 2144d

I agree with Vanessa. Start with your GP and they should refer you to an audiologist in one of our local hospitals, there test are are very comprehensive and will come up with the right set up for your particular hearing problem.I have had many hearing test over the years but at first there wasn't a set up that would work for me, but over the years as hearing devices have become so much more sophisticated, there is a solution.Just out of curiosity I have had hearing tests carried out by a couple of private company's and I wasn't very impressed.Baring in mind theses company's are playing about with a very delicate part of the ear the tests I had were complete Micky mouse compared to and NHS hearing check.Give one tester his due, he decline to offer any device as I had a unique hearing problem. one offered me two hearing aids that I would have needed a mortgage to buy. But he had my hearing problem completely wrong.There is nothing wrong in buying privately as long the devices are the correct ones for you, But my opinion is to have a hearing test carried out by the NHS first.

Bernard Allen ● 2146d

From experience - 'im indoors - see your GP first - my husband was referred to the West Mid. Audio dept. and has had excellent service. The hearing aids are not visibly different to my friend's husband's - and he paid £1000 (and doesn't wear them much!) The hospital Audio people also supply replacement batteries, and my husband cannot speak highly enough of them. They also seem to help with Tinnitus if you have that.

Vanessa Smith ● 2146d