Can a private audiology assessment help me get NHS hearing aids in Scotland?

[Ezra123]

Hi everyone, I’m confused about the process around audiology and hearings aids. I am in Scotland which may make a difference.

I’ve had tinnitus in both ears for a month , high pitched ringing. Same on both sides. I would not be at all surprised it it relates to noise induced hearing loss. Called GP - not helpful - 3 week wait for a non urgent appt and then 12 month wait for ent/audiology apparently. Called local specsavers - don’t offer free hearing tests apparently (I thought they did), sent me a link to do one at home myself. Home hearing screening said I have hearing loss.

I have private health insurance with WPA and didn’t think they could help me with this but decided it was worth a try - got a gp phone call same day and straight after the gp phone call I received a referral letter via email. This was yesterday pm. Insurers have opened claim this morning and I have an ENT appt with tinnitus specialist tomorrow! I realise how lucky I am to have this appointment… am amazed actually.

WPA said that ent will likely refer me to audiology (which would be covered), but hearing aids would not be covered. Fair enough.

my question is - if and when I see an audiologist will I be given some kind of
report? And if hearing aids are recommended can I still get these on the NHS? And would i therefore need to wait 12m to see the NHS audiologist (which would seem a waste of an appointment that someone else could have), or could I just take the report to my GP and request the recommended hearing aids? I cannot afford to spend ££££ on private hearing aids. I’ve a sinking feeling I’d still need to wait 12m to see NHS audiologist to show them the report and request the hearing aids but I could be wrong.

Any advice gratefully received. I am really really suffering with this tinnitus and keen to make the most of my insurance as far as I can.

I am also in Scotland and got a free hearing test at specsavers, very odd that you were told they didn’t do them. Some specsavers are directly linked to the nhs I believe but in my case, I had the test and due to the significance of the hearing loss and my age, they told me to make an appointment with my gp and gave me a copy of the results. GP was great and put in referral to audiology for another test and hearing aids. I also have private healthcare but was advised to keep on the path I was on as ultimately I would need to be referred back to the NHS for free aids. I would imagine in your case, going to the GP with the report should be enough to warrant the audiology referral for the hearing aids if they are needed.

I am not sure if I was lucky but I got an appointment within about 3 months and they posted my hearing aids to me in the following weeks to set up at home. If I was having issues with them, I could then contact audiology directly to make an appointment. They did say if I wanted an in person appointment to get the hearing aids, I would have to wait significantly longer.

I’d have thought the NHS audiology department will want to do their own hearing tests as they will issue and be responsible for the hearing aids.

Kind of bonkers if you’re armed with a recent hearing test report but the experience above is what happened to me ( albeit in Wales ) despite having a private hearing test report.

There are two tests Specsavers do, one that will say you have a loss or not, ( free ) and a diagnostic one for hearing aids - paid

The one that shows a loss can be used to show a gp to be referred to audiology ( NHS)

Thank you this is extremely helpful

Okay so I had my ENT appt today and he did a hearing assessment there and then in a separate room he had. It seemed very detailed. He was so helpful and thorough. I do have high frequency hearing loss. He is going to send me the report and hopefully the GP will refer me to NHS audiology on that basis. My tinnitus is driving me mad so I might not be able to wait for NHS hearing aids but I can’t afford private ones I don’t think, but we shall see. Thank you all.

I had a referral from the gp for tinitus two weeks ago and saw the audiologist yesterday. Same as you high end for eh spectrum

the referral “letter said it would be 12 months for appointment but the heart great is much much shorter wait time

Oh that’s very encouraging @redboxerclub , do you mind me asking what your treatment plan is? Are you having hearing aids? Thank you

Yes tha audiologist said a hearing aid for my affected left ear. She did a pressure test to check for inner ear or eustacian tube dysfunction which I though it was and camera too. All fine. Then a hearing test in a soundproof booth.

she showed me the hearing aids and they are really small but it takes some getting used to she said.

the next step is the audiologist report goes ti the ENT team and they decide if they need a scan or any further test and then I’m I go back to audiology for a hearing aid to be fitted and programmed. She said it is blue tooth and I can alter the input. not her words but I hope you catch my drift

If you have air pod pros they can do a sound test on an I phone