Can teachers get a free hearing aid ?

[Hopthegoodgod]

Need to get a hearing aid as hearing has really deteriated. Does anyone know if as a state school teacher I am entitled to any kind of free hearing aid? Anyone any experience of this?

Why would teachers be any different to others? They don't get free prescriptions, or glasses, so why hearing aids?

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/hearing-aids-and-implants/#:~:text=Hearing%20aids%20on%20the%20NHS,follow%2Dup%20appointments%20or%20aftercare

you can get a hearing aid on the NHS- it’s just limited with what options are available.

They are on a loan basis and technically don’t belong to you

@POTC if you suffered with hearing loss you would know that, yes teachers can because ALL hearing aids are free on the NHS.

Go to your GP and ask to be referred.
I first got aids 5 years ago and last week I got an upgrade to some clever ones with Bluetooth and lots of other features.
All maintenance and repairs are free, absolutely no need to pay £1000s privately. Try NHS first.

NHS do much more extensive testing than eg specsavers for hearing aids and they are free.

No, not as a teacher.

If a hearing test shows that you have a clinically significant hearing loss, you will be able to have a hearing aid/aids through the NHS, which costs nothing.

Make sure you've had any wax removed prior to the appointment - that's usually done privately now - or they won't be able to perform the test.

I went to gp and spoke to only receptionist- she filled in a form for me and a few days later I attended an appointment with a private company funded through the NHS. About a week later I returned to get my hearing aid from the same audiologist and that was that. It’s very small, discreet, and I can control it through my phone. No gps were seen in the whole process.

You need a referral to an audiologist and possibly ent but gp won’t do that if you have any wax which will need to be removed privately. No teachers get no priority. It is area dependant but I waited aix weeks for audiology then nine months for hearing aids. In some areas the NHS service is contracted out to Specsavers or Boots which may prove quicker.