Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Does anyone wear a hearing aid / or have partner with one?

111 replies

Indigoo03 · 28/09/2022 10:53

Just wondering how practical they are? How costly are they ? Information on the internet appears confusing as i am not sure if monthly subscription?

If working in an office how does that feel too for someone under 45....or any age for that matter...

OP posts:
Original poster
Indigoo03 · 22/11/2022 20:08

@Socathe super thanks!

OP posts:
infohere · 22/11/2022 20:11

rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/technology-and-products/

Assistive tech etc here also

CrabbitBastard · 22/11/2022 20:12

cochlear implant here, used to have hearing aids. The audiologist always said you can't get any better private than what is available via the NHS. They were right as I tried to go private and the private providers told me I already had the best on offer. Don't waste your money.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Wilma55 · 22/11/2022 20:14

I have nhs via specsavers.

As an aside hearing aid wearers are entitled to a disabled rail card irrespective of age. It also covers one person accompanying you.

lipstickwoman · 22/11/2022 20:17

DH has them. After I had a MASSIVE strop about having to repeat everything, him missing so much conversation it was pointless trying to have one and how bloody frustrating it was

About £2k from Boots. They've saved my sanity, and he loves them. Another gadget to work from his phone.

Best thing is he can Bluetooth the football commentary straight to them 😀

PeloFondo · 22/11/2022 20:21

Ooh people I can ask!
My dad is meant to wear them, and doesn't. He says it's because his ears are really waxy, and after he's had them in they're full of wax and it takes him ages to clean them every day
Any ideas?

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 22/11/2022 20:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

3partypics · 22/11/2022 20:33

My DH got 2x hearing aids at 29. He got them on the NHS, they are 2 or 3 models behind the private ones you can buy but we were still pleasantly surprised. Due to his age, they prioritised getting him the newest model possible and he got to choose which colour (grey/various skin shades/white/black). They are quite small so not overly noticeable even though he has short hair.

He has 3 or 4 modes programmed into each aid, for things like watching tv vs busy environments or listening to music. He goes back annually for a check up and can book direct to adjust settings etc as needed. We looked into private but didn't see the cost was worth it vs what he was getting NHS. We are lucky to be in Scotland though where things like this tend to be better funded.

My DH has seen a massive difference with them in, but took him ages to get used to wearing them as I think it became a bit overwhelming at first. Just small noises like hearing the fridge hum or other people typing in the office. He has 30-40% hearing loss in both ears. It doesn't make up the gap to give him perfect hearing, but does help massively.

fairycakesandtea7 · 22/11/2022 20:51

I'm 25, bilateral hearing loss and I have had (various different types) NHS hearing aids since I was 7. They definitely do help amplify sound but when there is background noise I still struggle. I am better in one - to - one conversations and tend to shy away from large groups as they make me anxious.

Doingthework · 22/11/2022 21:12

Hi @Indigoo03

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but if you work in an office you may want to consider the connectivity to other devices via Bluetooth and low level Bluetooth.

The gold standard is still radio/FM which you need a separate pice of kit .A receiver and a transmitter. Some brands have integrated receivers built in. Some of the smaller hearing aids forgo size for some of these features.

Although modern hearing aids are amazing they can struggle over distances such as lectures and meetings. They are used more extensively in education with deaf children but I would recommend them to anyone in a work office environment. You can get them funded though access to work.

Best of luck and I hope you find what ever to try transformational.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/11/2022 21:15

lipstickwoman · 22/11/2022 20:17

DH has them. After I had a MASSIVE strop about having to repeat everything, him missing so much conversation it was pointless trying to have one and how bloody frustrating it was

About £2k from Boots. They've saved my sanity, and he loves them. Another gadget to work from his phone.

Best thing is he can Bluetooth the football commentary straight to them 😀

You can do that with NHS ones.

lipstickwoman · 22/11/2022 21:21

@CaptainMyCaptain that's good. I wasn't suggesting they were any better than the nhs.

He was so reluctant I just went for the easiest option.. a Boots appt and off he went.

Violinist64 · 22/11/2022 21:34

I have two NHS Bluetooth hearing aids. The left one has a mould as that ear canal is a strange shape after operations. They are great and a lifesaver for this music teacher. They are behind the ear and mostly hidden by my hair but if someone gets a glimpse of them, it doesn’t bother me. I wear glasses and cannot see why they are considered any different. The only problem I have is in crowds as the noise is amplified - the specific programmes on the aids do not seem to work very well and I have to resort to lip reading. I am quite good at it - a lifetime’s practice.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/11/2022 22:23

lipstickwoman · 22/11/2022 21:21

@CaptainMyCaptain that's good. I wasn't suggesting they were any better than the nhs.

He was so reluctant I just went for the easiest option.. a Boots appt and off he went.

I wasn't getting at you but didn't want people who haven't got £2000 to be put off.

NotMyDayJob · 22/11/2022 22:28

CrabbitBastard · 22/11/2022 20:12

cochlear implant here, used to have hearing aids. The audiologist always said you can't get any better private than what is available via the NHS. They were right as I tried to go private and the private providers told me I already had the best on offer. Don't waste your money.

Not strictly true. They don't offer the Bluetooth compatible hearing aids at my hospital and honestly it would make my life a lot easier if I could have them. I rather ironically have to take my hearing aid out to answer the phone. If they were Bluetooth that wouldn't be an issue.

I don't know if the Bluetooth ones are any better, but everyone that I talk to who has the bluetooth hearing aids seems to be having a better time.

Bilateral hearing aid wearer of 15 or so years since my 20s

purpleme12 · 22/11/2022 22:38

NotMyDayJob · 22/11/2022 22:28

Not strictly true. They don't offer the Bluetooth compatible hearing aids at my hospital and honestly it would make my life a lot easier if I could have them. I rather ironically have to take my hearing aid out to answer the phone. If they were Bluetooth that wouldn't be an issue.

I don't know if the Bluetooth ones are any better, but everyone that I talk to who has the bluetooth hearing aids seems to be having a better time.

Bilateral hearing aid wearer of 15 or so years since my 20s

Show quote history

I asked about the Bluetooth ones at my hospital (as I don't have them)
He said they're quite new and he said some people love them and some people aren't that keen - he said some people can have connectivity issues with them still for example. He did say he could book me in for a hearing test again (cos I'd need another one if I was getting those) and we could fit them. So my hospital doesn't automatically give them but they must have them. That was only cos I asked.

But it was interesting what he said about some people loving them and some people not being that keen.

I don't know whether to go for them or not.
He said on the Bluetooth ones you have to change the batteries every day

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/11/2022 22:40

He said on the Bluetooth ones you have to change the batteries every day
No they last 8 or 9 days. I get them free from the hospital.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/11/2022 22:41

I picked up 3 months worth this morning.

purpleme12 · 22/11/2022 22:43

Oh right
I don't know then 😕

lipstickwoman · 22/11/2022 22:43

OH charges his overnight.. usb. So no batteries

NotMyDayJob · 22/11/2022 22:52

purpleme12 · 22/11/2022 22:38

I asked about the Bluetooth ones at my hospital (as I don't have them)
He said they're quite new and he said some people love them and some people aren't that keen - he said some people can have connectivity issues with them still for example. He did say he could book me in for a hearing test again (cos I'd need another one if I was getting those) and we could fit them. So my hospital doesn't automatically give them but they must have them. That was only cos I asked.

But it was interesting what he said about some people loving them and some people not being that keen.

I don't know whether to go for them or not.
He said on the Bluetooth ones you have to change the batteries every day

Show quote history

They probably told you that about the batteries to put you off...

It makes sense that some people will get on with them and some won't, that's the same as anything. It just seems unfair that some people are getting them and some of us don't even get the option.

purpleme12 · 22/11/2022 22:54

NotMyDayJob · 22/11/2022 22:52

They probably told you that about the batteries to put you off...

It makes sense that some people will get on with them and some won't, that's the same as anything. It just seems unfair that some people are getting them and some of us don't even get the option.

Show quote history

Oh right maybe they did ☹️

NotMyDayJob · 22/11/2022 22:55

PeloFondo · 22/11/2022 20:21

Ooh people I can ask!
My dad is meant to wear them, and doesn't. He says it's because his ears are really waxy, and after he's had them in they're full of wax and it takes him ages to clean them every day
Any ideas?

Wearing hearing aids makes your ears more waxy. He doesn't need to clean his ears, just get them micro suctioned semi regularly (the audiologist can advise how often)

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/11/2022 09:36

Thinking about the batteries in the Bluetooth HA, if you were listening to podcasts or music all day it probably would use the batteries much more quickly. Using them as I do they last longer. I really only use the Bluetooth to check how much battery is left or alter the volume. The podcast thing works better on an iphone and I have an Android.

peridito · 23/11/2022 09:49

Interesting that there is such a variation in what is offered by NHS .

I have NHS ones ,nothing fancy .They help ,especially with my tinnitus ,but I do still struggle .
I find the batteries last about a week but I am careful to always open the battery compartment when I take them off .

Swipe left for the next trending thread