Are there any hearing aids for elderly parents that work well and feel comfortable?

[Skippythebeercan]

Are there any hearing aids, that work are comfortable and not too expensive? My Dad's hearing is awful, he knows its not great but is somewhat in denial about just how bad it is. I have quite often said something when I have been behind him and he has not heard me at all, not even realised I have spoken. There have been so many conversations where I have realised afterwards that he has not at heard what I have said and either thought that he had heard, or that I had said something different as he has asked the same question later (I'm as confident as I can be that this isn't a memory issue). I can see from his face sometimes he hasn't heard after asking for something to be repeated and is embarrassed to ask again and has managed to sort of style it out!

He does have some hearing aids, some cheap ones just from the internet and has tried with them but despite good reviews we cannot get them to work at all and honestly they are probably a waste of money. The problem is that despite several of us suggesting he needs to visit a proper audiologist, he won't, he's convinced that he will pay thousands for hearing aids that are no better that the ones he has - as the adverstsing stated that they were the same as audiogists used. He's also had a friend (who is clearly in the same situation tell him that his audiologist supplied hearing aids are awful)

So I suppose - does the NHS supply any hearing aids anymore and are there any hearing aids that are comfy, and actually work?

Also any ideas on where to go from here? to be honest the frustration is all mine and my Dad is sick of being told, he is of course an adult and is now quite upset about the whole thing and has just convinced himself that his hearing is actually not that bad.

My mum spent 4500 on hers but could have got very similar and the same brand on the NHS just not quite as top end according to her audiologist. She is almost completely deaf and had soft silicone moulds made specially for her.

the reason she went private is that under the NHS all follow up appointments have to be at the hospital, she’s 90 and can afford them and preferred the convenience of the audiologist.

he should go to the GP and get a referral. I’ve literally spent about 30 hours at the audiologist over the last year due to various issues, trust me, there’s a solution to everything.

mums come from Oticon

Yes, the NHS still do hearing aids, but be prepared for lots of wasted time in numerous appointments and long delays etc. (My experience).

In some areas, you can get NHS hearing aids via Specsavers, which (again my experience) is a lot smoother/more efficient procedure, fewer appointments, etc., and you get the same standard of hearing aids as the NHS audiology dept at your local hospital.

My first two aids were via the local hospital. First time was over six months between initial GP referral and working/properly set hearing aids. Second time, again, local hospital, was a bit quicker, but still 3/4 months and probably 3/4 appointments. Latest time was Specsavers - one appointment that did the consultation, hearing test and issued the hearing aids, with just one follow up appointment to "tweak" the settings a couple of weeks later - far smoother and better aids too!

My relative was 90ish when they got theirs, tiny little things which they used to lose constantly. They used to complain that they could hear what was being said the other side of the room rather than what the person talking to them was saying. Crowded rooms were a nightmare. I think really, they waited to long to get them so the sounds were unsettling. It was certainly a complete waste of several thousand pounds anyway! They’d been losing their hearing for so long they were a quite proficient lip reader. They lost them completely after about 6mths, so were not a great success here.

The audiology services and the hearing aids they now supply on the NHS are very good where I live. The ones you get on the internet are not tuned to a person’s specific hearing loss- it’s not just a matter of turning everything up. An individual, for instance, may have problems in hearing higher frequency sounds and properly tuned hearing aids will enhance those frequencies and leave the others at a lower volume. In my experience ( elderly relatives and a career with close contact with audiology services,) private hearing aids are a right rip off. My DF had private aids and they seem to spend more time being repaired than in his ears, they were rechargeable and the chargers kept going wrong and the batteries failing too. He now has a pair of Phonak blue tooth aids from the NHS and he can hear so much better with them and they were free!

My experience of the NHS is pretty good, a little wait to get the hearing test (often outsourced to Specsavers, worth checking in your area), then actual hearing aids about 4 weeks later, free batteries and follow-up tune up.

it is a bit uncomfortable having something in your ear canal until you are used to them, it worth persevering for the social impact and the reduction in dementia risk

Yes, of course the NHS has hearing services and offers hearing aids. I’m wearing a pair now! I requested an appointment with my GP who ran basic tests and then referred me to audiology at my local hospital. I didn’t have a long wait and the free aids I was supplied with have been lifesavers. I know experiences regarding speed and service can differ from area to area, but it’s definitely worth giving it a go.

You can get individually tuned hearing aids online if you pay a bit extra. I have Ceretone Beacon which were around £550. Each ear is tuned separately and there is an app with change of settings for restaurant, outdoors in nature etc. They are life changing. I was borderline mild loss but have auditory processing disorder. You may need something a bit more for severe hearing loss.

My DH went to Specsavers, an NHS appointment, and walked out the same day wearing hearing aids. No charge. Excellent hearing aids controlled by a phone app.

I have hearing aids via Specsavers that were free on the NHS. I have an app on my phone so I can adjust them and prioritise speech in restaurants etc.

NHS ones are just as good a private ones but, there is a waiting list so the sooner you get on it, the better.

My MIL bought privately at great expense for years then finally 'admitted defeat' and got NHS ones, she couldn't tell the difference.

My mum says the rechargable ones she got from Amazon are better than her NHS ones. They really help...when she wears them 🙄

My DM has NHS ones - virtually invisible and weightless, comfortable, free batteries, individually tuned to her specific frequency needs.

As other PP have said the NHS do hearing aids that are specifically tuned to your particular hearing loss. I have a set and didn't find that it was an extraordinarily long wait or difficult process. The only thing I would advise is to ask to have the hearing aids that are moulded for his ears rather than the off-the-shelf inserts that are automatically given. I got those first of all, but didn't wear them regularly because my ears itched (which was due to them moving around in my ears). I wear my moulded ones every day and sometimes forget I'm wearing them. Also, depending on how old and computer-adept your DH is, you might want to consider getting a piece of kit that complements the NHS Oticon hearing aids that's called ConnectClip. It's basically a bluetooth transmitter that allows you to stream your phone or computer audio directly into your hearing aids. It also can act like an amplifying microphone that broadcasts to your hearing aids.

I’m sure this is a good suggestion but check the brand of hearing aids first. Not all health authorities offer the Oticon brand. My area, for example provides Phonak aids.

Of course they supply hearing aids still
And yes comfy. Lots of people wear them. Might take some getting used to at the start as he won't have worn them before so they won't be immediately comfortable if you see what I mean.
And yes they work!!
I don't really understand why you wouldn't get a referral through the GP as a starting point anyway as it costs nothing to get them on the NHS and your post says one of the obstacles was money.
It sounds like they'll be a lot better than the ones he's got now

My husband recently got NHS ones which work really well. And curiously I was talking with my hairdresser recently about them and he said he has 2 clients - friends who have recently got them. One paid thousands and the other got them on the NHS. The NHS ones work far better.

The newest model of Apple’s AirPods have a hearing aid function and you can do a hearing aid test to set them up. I have recently done this for my 83yo father while he waits for an NHS hearing aid. They were about £300.

I needed to buy a cheap iPhone and set him up with a separate Apple account, administered by me (otherwise he gets all the notifications/calls etc. from my device). I also bought him a string which attaches to both so that he doesn’t lose them if they fall out of his ears. It’s quite handy them being white rather than flesh coloured, as they’re easy to see if they do fall out.

They’re not perfect, and the battery needs to be recharged every 4-5 hours but they’re an affordable fix until he can get the NHS hearing aid. It’s made a noticeable difference to his mental health and cognitive function to be able to hear others and join in.

Be careful; there are lots of dodgy companies happy to take your money for rubbish products with no customer service or clear returns policy. We learned this to our cost, so definitely research using AI to check reviews etc.

My dad is very deaf and has tinnitus. He has NHS hearing aids but they don’t seem to work that well. What has helped is using Live Transcribe on his mobile.

My SpecSavers ones are great a bit expensive but that was my choice, they also link directly to my phone (bluetooth) so I can just answer and put the phone down and it's all clear as a bell. I'm not deaf deaf just losing some of the high end so the aids make everything much clearer and I'm not the one saying can you turn the volume up a bit all the time. Mine just go on the back of your ear with a dangly bit that goes just inside the ear, easy to put on. You can get a free test at SpecSavers.

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-test

and prices

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/hearing-aid-range?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk-always-on-performance-audio&utm_content=brand&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1293573&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20500936734&gbraid=0AAAAADFZBqcboeUoegUZge0Re4XyJXghv&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6p_P_pqqlgMV3o5QBh0SlDP1EAAYASAAEgJUdvD_BwE

I bought some rechargeable ones in the newspaper,push into your ears. really uncomfortable. sometimes fell out. COVID turned me deaf. audiology appointment at local hospital,then consultant. Then another audiology appointment and hearing aids.phonac. They aren't bad,you cannot feel them....my center matches them to your hair colour. The do itch at first,they told me they would, foreign body in your ear. They aren't perfect.. My late father paid thousands for his, didn't like them. My cousin had some private purchases,then NHS...which he said are better. Letter from the GP to Specsavers.

It's a myth that NHS ones are inferior.

I have excellent hearing aids from the NHS. They are comfortable, barely noticeable, adjustable to different environments and have Bluetooth so my phone goes into them. Maintenance is free.

I first got a free test at Boots which confirmed my hearing loss. I resisted their efforts to sell me private hearing aids and took the information to the GP who referred me to audiology.
My original intention was to try NHS ones first and then buy "better ones" , however mine are so good I don't feel the need.

Some areas sub contract to Specsavers but you still need a referral.

The moulds don't suit everyone.
I have those tiny tubes and domes. After a lifetime of itchy ears I also got betnovate scalp lotion prescribed for my ears. Two drops once a month and no more itching.

My Dad has NHS hearing aids through Specsavers and they do work.

He doesn't complain of discomfort either, so I assume they are comfortable.

Book appointment fot Spec savers they can do an audio assessment

Easy to fit & wear hearing aids

It is extremely frustrating to keep shouting at people who w/dont get their ears checked

Ive seen people start to cross roads when they cannot hear vehicles approaching

TV at full volume

End up writing signs in big black letters

SPECSAVERS !