Advice on Cost of Hearing AIDS

[Icequeen01]

Following a recent appointment at the memory clinic one of the things they advised was to get DM's hearing checked. We had thought she possibly struggled to hear conversations and this could be one of the reasons she can't always follow a conversation.

Today we took her for a very thorough hearing test and we were not surprised to find out she has moderate hearing loss and would benefit from a hearing aid. The only thing is the cost - £5,300 for their Diamonds package and going down to £4000 for the premium package. Is this off the wall expensive or is this how much a good hearing aid costs these days? This is obviously not through the NHS.

Any advice please. I have zero experience of hearing aids!

FIL has just paid a good couple of grand for his hearing aids. Eye-watering. They're pretty good, though.
MIL's (mixed dementia) weren't nearly as high spec, and I'm sorry to say it was probably for the best that she didn't want to fork out for expensive ones. They spent more time lost/hidden than they did in her ears. Which obviously didn't help matters. You'll want to keep a careful watch on where they are, whichever kind you go for. Depending on your budget, it might be an idea to try out something cheaper first, just to see how she manages them.
FIL in his mid-80s has belatedly come to the conclusion that it's time to spend some of the money he saved for his old age on things that make his life easier. He probably still winced when it was time to pay for them.

Do you not want NHS ones or is she not eligible for an NHS prescription?

Dh had his hearing checked by boots. They told him he needed hearing aids, he went to gpwas quickly referred and has free nhs ones. He was never going to pay Boots prices. He has been well looked after by the nhs, he is only in his 50's.

Go to nhs audiology. Ours prioritises appointments for those who are elderly and/or have dementia,

I've got mine free on NHS..I was suprised to be told even the batteries are free! I live in Norfolk so not sure if its different in other areas!

Similar experience for me, in my 30s and moderate hearing loss. I was referred straight away by my GP based on the print out I took in from Boots. It still took a while to get seen by Audiology, but once on the system it is all easy, effective, and free.

My mum has NHS hearing aids and they are brilliant. Invisible, individually tuned to the correct frequencies, regularly checked, and a supply of batteries included.

NHS - free at the point of need, no choice in aids, often give one even for a bilateral loss which can increase issues with balance, no choice, can be bulky and obvious also loud and grating sound. Often patients get no follow ups and are not called back for 5 years +

It may vary by area, but that's not been my mum's experience at all. Bilateral aids, tiny, choice of models and colours, excellent sound quality. Fitting appointment and and several follow-up tweaking visits, plus regular checks after that (I think they may be less often than 6-monthly, but she's certainly had several since she got the aids despite that being just before Covid). And when 1 broke she had a replacement in a week.

I've worn hearing aids all my life. NHS aids do tend to be about 5 years behind the private sector for all the bells and whistles (e.g. bluetooth), but they are excellent at delivering the basic function, which is hearing. However, if you want (and are eligible for) the smaller in-the-ear sizes, the private sector is better. Mine is bad enough to need the behind-the-ear version, sadly.

If you do go private, get them insured. There's nothing worse than that heart-sink feeling when they have been through the washing machine by accident.

So you could try the NHS hearing aid service in your area. As others have mentioned, the provision varies greatly from area to area (for example some areas can only supply you with one hearing aid, even if you need two). The NHS also often has long waiting lists for audiology services, some areas are at a year or more wait. The actual NHS aids are a lot better than they used to be, some areas even offer Bluetooth versions.

With private you have much more choice of styles and colours, and you will get a much better level of technology and software in private hearing aids than you can with NHS aids. The service in the private sector is also faster, you can be fitted with new hearing aids within two weeks, and then usually you can easily book in quickly for any adjustments / repairs etc.
With regards to cost, make sure you get quotes from multiple private providers such as Boots, Specsavers etc as all private hearing aids providers can give you the same level of hearing aids but the prices vary hugely.

There’s nothing wrong with NHS hearing aids. They are free and the whole experience at the audiology department is usually very positive for elderly people.

Very interesting
In our area it's a year wait for new patients and 4 months for repairs.

I didn’t have a long wait for my first hearing aid, offered 2 but accepted 1 because I had barely any hearing loss in one ear. At check-up 1w months or so later, hearing in both ears had declined, so accepted second aid, issued on the spot. A year ir so later I felt my hearing had declined, so got it tested again, changed to 2 different aids, again on the spot. NHS, subcontracted to Specsavers. After 2 years, neither DC was aware I was using hearing aids.

Same.

@Icequeen01 have you looked at Specsavers , they do some very reasonable ones and we’ve used them and the aftercare has been excellent .

Go to boots if you can't wait for nhs.

Fil got hearing aids recently from boots as waitlist is long here.

He paid just over £1000 to get his. They're very good.

Yep, same here. 2 years ago my cousin now aged 57, was struggling hearing a conversation, and in a room/dinner party of say, more than 10 people, he could only hear the 2 people either side of him. Also couldn't hear any low tones (from anything.)... He went to Specsavers (and had a hearing test,) and they who said he was quite deaf and needs hearing aids.

They started peddling 4 or 5 pairs that cost between £3K and £5K. He just laughed and said 'I am a single man, with a teenage daughter - living in a social housing home. Do you seriously think I have five grand to spend on hearing aids?!' 😆They want to sell their (expensive) wares - and in many cases ,there's no need to have private ones.

He went to the GP who referred him to audiology, and he had a hearing test at an audiologist at a local clinic. Confirmed he was not deaf but had age-related hearing loss. He went on the list to for a hearing aids fitting, and was given them about 6 months later. Small, can hardly see them, had a choice of 3 different ones, and can make an appointment at the clinic if he has worries or problems - and be seen within 2 weeks... sometimes 2 days.. Gets the batteries from there, and waited a week for a repair when he had a fault with the hearing aids.

Obviously depends on the area, and it is a lottery, but if you are one of the lucky ones, you have no need to spend to low to mid 4 figures on hearing aids. Moreover, most people (like my cousin) can't afford it!

/

Ive had bilateral NHS aids since 1993. Absolutely nothing wrong with them. Digital so my mobile phone is Bluetooth linked to them which means phone use is fantastic.
DONT pay for private aids until you’ve explored the NHS service. I get fantastic service where I live.
Do your research via GP.

My MIL preferred her NHS hearing aid to her expensive private one. She had the private one first, then went to NHS when the private one broke.

DH has NHS ones via Scrivens, who seem to be regular providers in our area. He's had excellent service, they're bluetooth and so he can adjust to background via app, They're as discreet as private ones and he was advised he wouldn't notice an improvement if he paid. He has a plentiful supply of batteries and has had several follow ups.
So a happy customer so far.

My mum was very deaf and had problems with both NHS and private but I think it was the nature of her deafness. It was very annoying when the private ones disappeared in hospital never to be found again!

I have just got hearing aids fitted - through Specsavers via NHS. I chose to get the free ones in the first instance as I think the cost of private ones is extortionate.
I am extremely surprised at how good they are. I have moderate bilateral hearing loss. Ive been given 2 hearing aids, they're not visible at all from the front.
OP, go for the NHS option initially. I live in Bolton so the NHS has handed care for audiology to Specsavers. From my initial enquiry to being fitted took 3 weeks.