Hearing Aids

confused@BR

Having passed my seventieth birthday and suffering 'age related hearing loss' I am contemplating the purchase of a pair of behind-the-ear aids. The NHS has provided me with, what they assure me, a pair that are the best they do but I find increasing difficulty in following conversations, watching TV, hearing car radios, telephones, etc. It is tedious and affects my mood/sociability/enjoyment of life.

Companies are eager to furnish me with 'state of the art' appliances but want circa £3,000 for the pleasure. What should I do?

BTW there is a cycling element to this matter as the company I am most likely to choose (if I choose) is called Phonak who sponsored a fine team many years ago including the 'celebrated' Floyd Landis. Also they claim that the latest aids are capable of being worn whilst riding, not a pleasant experience with the current set.

Has the technology moved on in the five years I've had the present pair and is the improvement worth £3,000?

capt_slog

My mum is quite deaf too, she's 93 now.

She had a pair of the NHS ones i think, they sort of hook around behind the ear, with the gubbings at the back of the ear. The problem with them was that she picked up a lot of the sounds that were going on behind her, conversations and the like, which weren't a lot of use when she wanted to hear us talking to her.

She didn't think a lot of them evidently, because about a year ago she went to Specsavers and bought a £2000 pair (I hope it was for the pair). She can't hear much with them either a lot of the time.

These are a custom(?) moulded design which fit entirely in the front of the ear, nothing at the back.

Sadly, my mum has a habit of sorting these things out herself instead of consulting her more technically minded offspring. It's likely we could have found a better deal, or a better product for the price.

Frank Wilson

Capt Slog wrote:

My mum is quite deaf too, she's 93 now.

She had a pair of the NHS ones i think, they sort of hook around behind the ear, with the gubbings at the back of the ear. The problem with them was that she picked up a lot of the sounds that were going on behind her, conversations and the like, which weren't a lot of use when she wanted to hear us talking to her.

She didn't think a lot of them evidently, because about a year ago she went to Specsavers and bought a £2000 pair (I hope it was for the pair). She can't hear much with them either a lot of the time.

These are a custom(?) moulded design which fit entirely in the front of the ear, nothing at the back.

Sadly, my mum has a habit of sorting these things out herself instead of consulting her more technically minded offspring. It's likely we could have found a better deal, or a better product for the price.

Trust me that is not just your mum, my 96 year old mother is exactly the same, too impatient for their own good, must have it immediately

k-dog

Shouldn't have gone to Specsavers!

No, seriously, she shouldn't. They're in it to sell you something - doesn't really matter what.

The NHS is limited in the ones they can do and depending on the sort of hearing loss they either work or don't.

You really want to see a local specialist who has access to all the different brands and can recommend the right type for you. They're not cheap though.

capt_slog

The OP has the advantage of being able to use the internet, sadly not an option for my mum. I'm sure he'll be able to sort something out.

confused@BR

Thanks for that. The NHS appear to have given up 'round our way; the budget seems too tight for the demand and I have been fobbed off each time that I "asked for more" than my current provision.

Still, once we achieve Brexit there will be plenty of money to spend on the NHS. We can plant a money-tree forest and build a magic wand factory to sort everything else.

confused@BR

Something of an update. As usual having a friend with the same problem but a little further along the process is a great heip. Thanks Barry. Have purchased a pair of 'behind the ear' aids and they were fitted on Monday(24th).

So far huge improvement, can hear the television at normal settings and Mrs S G at her 'normal' setting as well. Tried it out in 'social' environs and again it performed fine. It seems I have to wait for my brain to adjust as at present light switches are alarmingly clicky.

FYI all my life I have been averse to loud noises and environments, which has not saved me from hearing loss. It is a b****r and spending over £3,000 makes it no easier but technology can soften the aggravation. Good Luck.