NHS hearing aids

[Soontobe60]

I had my hearing tested today at Specsavers, and have hearing loss in both ears. The person doing the assessment said I qualify for NHS hearing aids. He said they didn't have any available to show me, but did show me some they have available privately.
Does anyone have an NHS hearing aid, and would they recommend Specsavers??

my adult ds (in his 30s) has just got one. He got it from the hospital though, he was referred to ENT Consultant by his GP, then sent to the hospital hearing loss clinic. They issued a fab little hearing aid that has bluetooth and connects to an app on his phone. It looks neat and I only noticed when he pointed it out! He’s getting used to it and learning how to change the settings and what works for him.

Yes, not that I wear them much, but that’s my fault. They came from Specsavers, although you can get them privately there too. Boots, I believe, only do private ones and they’re very expensive.

Id suggest trying the NHS ones and if you feel they’re beneficial, you could look at getting more sophisticated ones. If it’s something that is going to help, you might think it’s worth spending the money.

In some areas Specsavers have the NHS contract. However they will want to promote private ones. Waiting lists for NHS can be long, I've waited over six months so far....

In my area, Specsavers do have the NHS contract, so that’s good. @MissyB1 is your DSs an NHS hearing aid or did he pay for it? @Bluevelvetsofa you're right, I should try the NHS ones first to see if I get in with it. I just had an awful flashback to the days when my grandma wore aids that were always whistling, needed batteries changing constantly and still didn’t seem to help her!

I have NHS hearing aids.
If I were to buy private ones just as good, it would cost at least £2,000 per ear. I would also then have to pay for any repairs, and not have a replacement when my aid is being repaired.

I have NHS bilateral hearing aids.
No way will I pay for private ones when in my experience the NHS ones are very helpful.

I have had them since 2003 and subsequent updates have been very beneficial.

I attend a walk in clinic (on my high street if st local hospital) to get mine retubed whenever I need it and if I have any issues, which is rare. I get replacement batteries free of charge from the reception desk at my GP surgery.

I am linked to my mobile phone via Bluetooth which has revolutionised my ability to use a telephone.

Get some NHS aids & then explore private ones. The latter are expensive so don’t get sucked in.

The type, and quality, of NHS hearing aids very much depends on which NHS trust you fall under. Some do state of the art, pretty much comparable with privately provided aids, some provide basic aids with very limited functionality.

@IlonaRN @MinervatheGreat thanks.
You’ve all been very helpful. I’ll give the NHS ones a go!

Tinnitus and slight hearing loss in left ear,4 years, Covid end of last year, tinnitus and big hearing loss in right ear. Cousin prescribed aids last year by his GP writing to Specsavers. He had bought his own privately, said the NHS ones were far better. Rang Specsavers, they told me to get my GP to write to their head office. He wanted to see me,then sent me to hospital. Had audiology test, now apparently minimum 3 month wait for consultant.

I’ve always had NHS hearing aids and they’re great. If you did want to go the private route find an independent audiologist. Wouldn’t touch Specsavers with a barge pole!

@Soontobe60
ds has the NHS one, honestly he thinks it’s great and it’s totally free!

This.
My NHS ones are not great with very limited connectivity. My friend lives in a different area and hers are much better.
Wish I could afford the private ones.

I think that if my hearing loss was significant, I’d look to get something less basic and more discreet, although they aren’t obtrusive. I didn’t know there was anywhere else that offered NHS ones, other than Specsavers. The process of getting a referral was lengthy and the GP surgery wasn’t helpful.

It seems to depend on a) what type of hearing loss you have and b) where you live. The NHS seems to be fine in most places for 'standard' hearing loss. It's also fine in some places for more complex hearing loss. Round here, though, Specsavers has the NHS contract and it's very much a question of 'it's this or nothing, just get on with it'. My private aids from a recommended audiologist are several orders of magnitude better. Some (but not all) of this is down to the skill of the audiologist and the time she is able to give me outside the constraints of the NHS. So I'd say try the NHS ones. If they don't work for you ask if you can be seen by the most experienced person on the team. If they still don't do the job, consider going privately. The difference that good aids make to your life is worth every penny.

What brands / models do the NHS offer?

I used to have NHS aids back in the day before digital aid were widely available. I had to go to a private provider for those. I think there is less of a difference btw NHS and private these days; though private will give you more choice.

I have Phonak Audéo, rechargeable and bluetooth connectivity. I'm not in the UK anymore so NHS not an option.

When DH got his NHS hearing aids he was told they were gold standard. Private ones would be platinum standard. They have been more than adequate and he gets periodic upgrades and free batteries, which you don't get it you go privately.

There are high street audiologists who work NHS as well,I couldn't afford to go private. I will be honest I don't like Specsavers for eye related stuff, they have given me wrong scripts, incorrect information in 3 different branches, but my cousin said that was the way to go. I bought some amplifiers, online,in ear because I thought that was neater. They come with a range of ear pieces that fit in the end. Three different settings,you just touch lightly to go up a setting,but touch your hair,put on glasses,third setting is a loud screach, which is horrible. They don't stay in, and aren't very good at all.

I have NHS hearing aids and they are far better than the private hearing aids I had in Ireland and those I bought when I first came to the UK.

Don't know how old you are but if your under 50 I'd reccomend going to your GP and asking for a referral to a ENT consultant.
I did having worn hearing aids for a few years due to hearing loss and have had an operation on 1 ear and now don't need any aids. I'm having the other ear done soon too.
Its been life changing, didn't realise how much I'd not been hearing, restricting going to loud place and talking to people due to it.

Father in law got them recently.
tiny behind ear with an “ ear bud” type tip rather than a mould. He says good and comfortable.

prevuously had stonking expensive private in ear aids that he didn’t have the manual dexterity or brain power to operate - total rip off.

if it was me as a ( relative ) youngster I’d want blue tooth rechargeable ones but if the nhs would do me a free set I’d try them first.

My hubby has hearing loss from being in the army. He has NHS ones, which he got over 3 years ago now, but he has had major problems from the start. He was going back and forth to the clinic and they're still not right. He approached his GP for a retest and they don't do them, unless there is a problem! So I told him to tell them there is, because... There is! His hearing is as bad as it was before he was diagnosed. I wish we had the funds for private ones, but that's not an option at all. So no, I wouldn't recommend NHS based on that experience.

I do. I was going to pay for private ones, but the person I spoke to actually encouraged me to try the NHS ones first.

But of course Specsavers is a franchise, so you can't expect the same service across their branches. A recommendation can only really be based on a particular branch and its audiologist/s.

What sort of hearing loss do/did you have? Conductive?

Also to add, as I wasn’t aware of this despite over 30 years of deafness, you can also be eligible for a free bus pass and can purchase a disabled persons railcard which gives a third off all fares. Access to work can also provide you with equipment to do your job. I have the phonak Roger kit which I love as my current hearing aids don’t have Bluetooth.

Just a quick update - I went for the NHS ones and they’re really good! Practically invisible from the front, and only visible from behind if I have my hair up. I can hear much better in busy classrooms, and haven’t needed to ask anyone to repeat themselves! A big thumbs up to Specsavers!