Hearing aids question

[JustSayNoNoNo]

Once you have had standard issue NHS behind-the-ear digital hearing aids for several years, how often do you have (or are supposed to have) the following:

any of the parts changed, including the wee plastic tube;
a hearing retest;
a check that the hearing aid is still working.

Do you need to arrange these things yourself, or do you get sent appointment letters?

PIL both have 2 aids each. They told us once they are supposed to back 'every 3 months' but now deny telling us that. They have plenty of batteries. Their hearing aids don't seem to be working effectively, but PILs won't go to the clinic.

The plastic tubing should be changed every six months, the quality of the aid will deteriorate greatly if this is not done.

The plastic tube will need replacing depending on how often the aids are worn-every 3-6 months for a full time user, more often if the are a smoker. You can feel it going from soft and flexible to rock hard and possible pulling away from the earmould.

It is recommended you have a hearing check every 3 years. The aids are programmed to hearing thresholds so if these change your aids need reprogrammed. In our trust you are not called back routinely, you call to get put on the waiting list. Elsewhere may be different.

A regular hearing aid user will know if the aid isn't working correctly and shoulda make an appointment to eg it seen to. (Rather than calling someone in to check a perfectly working aid. )

HTH

When ds had hearing aids we retubed them every six months with tubing provided by the NHS. We were also provided with little packs of batteries.

As far as frequency of hearing tests I think that depends on the age of the user and the conditon causing the deafness. Children have hearing tests far more often than adults.

Hearing aids are not a pancera and do not stop someone from being deaf. A lot of older people do not like hearing aids even if they are deaf.

I forgot, ear moulds need replacing every couple of years. For a child it is far more often as they outgrow them.

There should be a hearing aid/audiology dept at the local hospital. They usually have a repair clinic that is just drop in - you don't have to make an appointment for new moulds to be fitted, pipes to be replaced, new batteries or any repairs basically. Both my local hospitals you go in, get a number and wait for it to be called.

It's better to get pipes changed every 6 months as they go hard and can snap. You can change them yourself if you ask them for some spares but it can be tricky.

Hearing check probably depends on type and severity of hearing loss? I need to have mine checked every 5 years apparently. Maybe it depends on age as I used to have it checked every year when I was little.

I don't bother going to clinic unless my moulds get too small and I need new ones - you know when this happens as your hearing aids constantly whistle and it's very annoying, you can't live with it or the pipe breaks. I don't go often at all.

Very helpful replies, and so fast too!

It's my elderly PILs, who have both worn aids for many years. Neither has been to the clinic for 2 years plus. Time to be firm with them I think!!

I'm surprised that nothing has broken in those 2 years! They must be pretty careful with them. [careless emoticon]

I remember whilst studying at a deafblind communication course, a statistic about the very high % of hearing aids that spend nearly all their life in that junk drawer everyone seems to have! especially with older age related hearing loss users, so it's private ly why they've survived so long without repairs, assuming they are still working at present!

agree most hospitals have a drop in - I go when I have a problem or run out of batteries and tubes. Mine supply lots of tubes and batteries, so i only go every 18 months or so, my mon goes more often as she is not confident of doing these things herself.
TBH, she would wear them less if I did not need to and my DF did not get any because it would not look professional (just the support I needed at 18 and looking for work)

I get batteries from my local GP's surgery or clinic. They'll only give two packets maximum though because the longer they're stored they don't last as long.