Hearing aids - going private?

[Pigsinspaaace]

I've lost one of my OTE NHS hearing aids whilst gardening - (second time hair-plus-wind has resulted in this happening in 12 years) anyway, I've been told they'll send out a replacement in two months time. I'm gutted as I can't hear without them - and listening is a key part of my job.

Coincidentally, I'd emailed audiology about two weeks prior asking if I could get a review as I'm struggling even with both aids in (last fitting was about two years ago). I can't hear those deeper bass-ier sounds and I'm constantly sticking my finger into my ear (alongside the tubing) to hear properly.

DH thinks I should try Specsavers and go private but it's incredibly expensive. And what if they're no better than NHS ones?

I don't know what to do. The thought of spending two months without support in one ear fills me with anxiety. WWYD?

Bump

Go and see a private audiologist to get some more information and a quote. Try Specsavers or Boots or an independent.

Definitely go for an assessment with a private provider. At least you'll then understand what choices you have. As for the expense, think of what good hearing is worth to you.

Thanks both. I've booked an appt with Specsavers.

I wouldn't my fil struggled for years with his private aids when I finally forced him to go to nhs they said private ones were not suitable for his hearing loss and fitted him with new ones. He's not looked back. But private ones cost him thousands.

I pay for mine privately - the range available is amazing and they are absolutely worth the money.

That's great to hear (pardon the pun). Had you NHS aids before that?

I've been wearing OTEs for over a decade but only NHS. There's no brand choice and I found my last OTE Oticons not very good and badly fitted. The tubes kept popping out.

I'm relieved to have found an old pair in the drawer with ear moulds. I never got on with them before (the moulds are hard plastic and hurt to wear) but I can't deny the sound is an improvement.

I went private and it's been a huge difference. I was able to trial them for 6 weeks first. Mine wasn't Specsavers or boots but an independent audiologist. My new ote heading aids have bluetooh built in which really helps with phone calls. The sound quality is better than the most recent NHS hearings I was issued. I have severe to profound loss in both ears.

I can sympathise. I can't hear TV properly anymore and audiology dept say I am not due for a review until Feb 2024. That will be three years since my last review and the NHS won't shift. Can I ask those who have gone private why the aids are better (other than bluetooth) because I am really tempted but worried about ongoing cost.

You might not wait as long as they have advised. MIL was told she would have a long wait and then she got an appointment in 2-3 weeks. I sometimes suspect they exaggerate the waiting times to encourage people to go private. Have you looked into Access to Work?

In my experience it's not just the aids, it's the service you get from the audiologist. I've had private (not very good) , NHS ( not very good) and finally private following a personal recommendation (completely changed my life). I have recently switched to Oticon Real 1s, I don't know whether these are available on the NHS but they have new technology which is a total game changer.

The initial cost was high but they come with a 5 year guarantee covering services and replacement batteries, on a daily basis this is comparable to things like gym membership or contact lenses and the difference they make to my life is way more than either of those.

Admittedly I have an unusual hearing loss so this may not apply to you. But you have nothing to lose by asking around for recommendations and going for a trial.

Yes I've gone down A2W route and have a Roger pen via the scheme - but I needed an additional bit of kit for it to speak to my NHS hearing aids - and the sound that finally makes it to my ears is crunchy and high so actually, not that helpful.

Thank you all - good to hear about your experiences.

Does anyone have closed ear moulds? Can you get a trial run with those privately? I suspect I now need these. Are they any softer these days? My hard plastic moulds are quite painful to wear and too bulky to use with a phone or headset

Im currently having issues with access to work who will not agree to fund the private aids. But the NHS hearing aids only use adaptors for Bluetooth enabled and often the sound is crackly. Access to work want a letter from NHS stating that I need the specific hearing aids Ive got and NHS stating they won't be able to provide a letter saying that. It's been a nightmare and feels like others who are not deaf or wear hearing aids to have any insight are making decisions based on NHS hearing aids should be "good enough" yet my life has massively improved with private quality hearing aids. I am less tired and I can hear so much more through work (90% based on teams calls so the Bluetooth direct makes a huge difference) my colleagues also commented on the sound quality they hear is so much better whereas with the adaptor is is crackly and distorted. The ear moulds I got from my private audiologist are definitely softer although i also have got NHS soft ones after stating I found the new materials too hard. And yes that is the issue with NHS hearing aids. Unless you have the adaptor which is poor quality, I then wore massive overear headphones which after a few hours is so uncomfortable and painful!

I got first nhs aids about 10years ago. They were useless, I went back a few times for adjustment but nothing improved them, so I gave up. About 5 years ago tried again and they issued a new pair. Just as bad, didn’t help hearing voices at all, just amplified background noise and caused headaches, went back a few times but they couldn’t improve them, so I gave up again.

A year ago, I went private. They gave me a pair on a trial basis, lots more functions, etc. I’ve worn them all day every day ever since. They’re perfect and I didn’t even need them to be adjusted - the private audiologist got it right first time. I had no hesitation in keeping them at the end of the trial period. Just been back for the free annual review including another hearing test, she did a couple of minor tweaks and they’re better than ever.

Yes, they’re expensive, but worth it, not only for the better quality aids but also far better service, no long waits, no cancelled appointments and continuity of care - same audiologist so no need to go through all the background again, she had good notes of previous conversations.

I'm so glad to read your experience @Penguinfeetteal - I found exactly the same issue with Access to Work. Thr Roger pen I jumped through hoops to get remains mostly unused because the sound is so crackly and distorted through the neck adaptor.

Appreciate hearing all your experiences, thank you for sharing. I have an appt booked for two weeks time.

Were you able to walk out that day with hearing aids to try?

How do you choose a private audiologist? My dad needs aids for mild hearing loss and so had an audiologist come to his home (a guy that got good reviews online) but he was very pushy and upset my father. He ended up signing for something very expensive that he didn't want (and then luckily cancelled them and went with the NHS). It's put me off trying to find someone in case they are just a salesman.

My mum has resisted hearing aids for years for vanity reasons. She met someone on a cruise who recommended specsavers and she loves them as you can’t see them. She said the service was excellent.

@sunandwaterfalls ask around locally, maybe post on NextDoor or a local Facebook page. You may have to go a bit outside your normal haunts to get a lot of replies. Round here NextDoor is good for having lots of elderly people with time on their hands to reply to that sort of thing, they are also more likely to be hearing aid wearers. I found mine from a chance conversation that DH had at his sailing club, I suspect he was moaning about my never hearing him but I didn't ask!

@MontyDonsBlueScarf thank you.