Hearing loss and Hearing Aids Question

[slonestranger]

I know I have hearing loss and I was given hearing aids in the NHS about 10 years ago.

I really tried with them but I couldn't tolerate them.

1. I wear glasses and the arms would sit on the top of the hearing aids and both would dig in.

2. The hearing aids just amplified everything. There was constant background noise and when people spoke in noisy situations I still couldn't make out what was being said as everything was amplified.

However I am worried about getting older and losing my hearing which can make dementia more likely.

I really need to sort out my hearing and am looking for recommendations for consultants or hearing aids that actually work.

I would be willing to pay to be seen privately if it meant actually being able to hear and not getting frustrated with discomfort and excess noise.

TIA

Hearing aids have changed a lot in 10 years.

I use nhs aids and wear glasses. I can adjust the volume and range to cope with busy situations.

they also have Bluetooth so I can use them for listening to music and answering phone calls.

Have you had any reviews since being given nhs ones? .

No I haven't been seen since.

This sounds promising, thank you for relaying your experience. I've just sent a request to my GP for a referral to the hearing clinic.

You need to request another appointment. HA age and often need maintenance or eventually replacing or your hearing loss may have changed so they need tweaking.

My mother says her specsavers hearing aids are better than her NHS ones.

Would you believe me if I told you I sent the request to my GP earlier. Not only did they respond within half an hour, I managed to book an appointment at my local hospital in 4 weeks time.

I'm well impressed!

You do need to get this sorted. Go back to the NHS and see what has changed. I can't fault my NHS ones but it took me months to get used to them. They can also advise you whether anything private would be better, they have no vested interest in you having NHS ones. The link to dementia is huge.

Look at Lyrics. They are invisible and the only kind that you can wear all the time, the only ones to deal with tinnitus, I think.

Vision express have glasses with tiny amplifiers in the arms. They’re about £1k though.

Boots are good but pricey.

There are lots of rechargeable ones on eBay, brand new and cost around £20.

Not in the UK but my mum wears hearing aids for nearly 50 years now, the change in design and function is absolutely amazing.

Her latest ones are miles away from the ones she got 7 years ago and when I talked to the specialist (mum is 88 and disabled so I have PoA and we agreed beforehand what is actually required), she said that mum's aren't even scratching what is now available on the market.

HA and glasses are the two things I would always pay extra/go private if possible, they make such a difference to life.

Excellent, I’m having to wait at least six weeks for my next appointment!