Hearing Aid - ?

[simongt]

Went for an intro freebie audiology test at my optometrist yesterday. I've had tinnitus in my left ear since my crash in 2018. Nothing too serious, just a dull, high pitched constant whistle which I'm now used to and can ignore most of the time. I showed the audiologist the results of the hearing test done as part of the insurance claim in 2020 and after he'd done his test, there wasn't much deterioration with my left ear readings.
However, he was quite insistent that I should have a hearing aid for my affected ear; about £1700 + each , as it would much improve my balanced hearing.
But what is interesting is that I had a similar freebie from another well known firm about two months ago and the audiologist there never even mentioned the idea of needing a hearing aid.
So who do I believe I wonder - ?

 

[Psamathe]

If you do go ahead with hearing aids privately be careful about what brand you go for. My experience was lots with my Mum's hearing aids - she was private and had Phonak ones. I issues we had big problems with were that they didn't comply with most hearing aid standards. To get better hearing using the phone you had to buy Phonak telephones (and forget using mobile phones even though they support hearing aids, they don't support proprietary ones). Inductive loops things at bank counters ... no help.

In the end we got her some NHS ones but by then she'd got so used to getting the Phonak ones in and out (and being in her 90's) the switch was too much. Would have been better if we'd have got the NHS ones far earlier.

I'd be very wary of a company insisting you really need something to solve something that isn't a problem for you. To many companies out there trying to separate you t your money. Sounds like you have had a 2nd opinion and that is"no need". Also it's not £1700 rather it's 1700 now plus annual checkups and recalibration (with Mum that meant non-invasive special devices round neck, test equipment ... with a bill at the end).

These private companies exist to make a profit and tying you in to their range of products helps them in that aim.

Maybe if your need isn't urgent see if you can get on the NHS route. May be long waits but if not urgent. Maybe try another test making it clear to the tester (before testing) you wont be buying and hearing aids but want their assessment

Ian

 

[dicko]

I have NHS free hearing aids fitted by Specsavers last year they are just fine, free batteries too. May I suggest you see your doctor for a free hearing test and go from there?

 

[postman]

Go Nhs,and go the Hospital route,not your local health centre,who like ours has it's own ENT dept.The Hospital has far better quality aids.Mine have bluetooth the health centre says theirs have,but you need a high quality phone which i do not have.Yet the Hospital pair work wonderfully.Don't even think about going private.Nhs give batteries and repair work and new tubes on a regular basis.

 

[fossyant]

Disability aids = $$$$$$ - applies to everything. Shocking TBH.

PS had tinnitus all my life - I manage OK until I'm in a busy and noisy environment, then I really struggle to hear people in conversation. I was at a meal with just the four of us a few months ago at a local restaurant, and said to my family, due to the noise, I couldn't hear anything clearly so couldn't participate in conversation. The background noise was incredible though.

 

[FrankCrank]

Another vote for the NHS/Specsavers route. My mum had hers done a couple of years back.
Only problem is getting her to use them - she insists she can hear enough without them.

 

[CXRAndy]

Old Joke

Pardon?

 

[Drago]

Mrs D has NHS hearing aids. Not quite cutting edge, although not far off. The team in the audiology department are brilliant, they can't do enough for you, so they get a box of busipcuits every crimbo.

Get a proper NHS hearing test arranged if you're in any doubt.

 

[oldwheels]

I use NHS ones which I got from Oban Hospital. Good service as when I thought it was failing a bit they replaced it with no bother. Free batteries as well.
Satisfied customer.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

My hearing has been a problem for years

apparently my actual hearing is fine - tests say it is pretty good for my age

but I do have trouble with lots of noise and trying to hear people
if is especially bad if people get drunk as my wife gets involved in a conversation and forgets that I can probably hear everything and understand naff all

I don;t think it is actual hearing - probably more "head problems" of some kind

People say that I am "good with kids" partly because I am happy to play with the kids at family things
it is mostly because the kids play outside and I can hear out there!!!

so - back to the point - in some cases a hearing problem is not your ears

but I do wonder if a hearing aid - a good one - would help me!

 

[All uphill]

My hearing has been a problem for years

apparently my actual hearing is fine - tests say it is pretty good for my age

but I do have trouble with lots of noise and trying to hear people
if is especially bad if people get drunk as my wife gets involved in a conversation and forgets that I can probably hear everything and understand naff all

I don;t think it is actual hearing - probably more "head problems" of some kind

People say that I am "good with kids" partly because I am happy to play with the kids at family things
it is mostly because the kids play outside and I can hear out there!!!

so - back to the point - in some cases a hearing problem is not your ears

but I do wonder if a hearing aid - a good one - would help me!

I don't know if this is relevant to you.

An audiologist told me that people with moderate deafness, like me, live in a noisy world, not a quiet one as you might assume.

This is because losing certain sounds removes the information from what you are hearing; a conversation just becomes loud noises.

Good NHS hearing aids restore the missing sounds, and information, turning the loud noises back into conversation.

The sounds that aids have restored to me are the hard edges - "ay" is restored to "take" or " break" for example.

 

[Tenkaykev]

This is really interesting to me, it feels a bit like taking that next step in life's journey if you see what I mean. I recently purchased a pair of Apple airpod pro's which have a hearing aid function, though the hearing test function has not been enabled for the UK yet. I was going to have a play around with those first and see if they make a difference in a noisy environment which is where I usually struggle.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Just a question -
if I get a hearing aid will I be able to hear my wife better?

and do I have to tell her??

(asking for a friend - clearly!)

 

[Psamathe]

I think it is probably a difficult balance, particularly depending on urgency and access to NHS. Over the last few years there have been quite a few studies and reports that getting hearing aids when needed sooner rather than later can help delay dementia and cognative decline

A few links (but search engines give plenty of results)

Hearing aids slow cognitive decline in people at high risk
Studies have found an association between hearing loss and the development of dementia in older adults. Research also suggests that using hearing aids to treat hearing loss may help slow the development of cognitive problems.
...
(from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih...-aids-slow-cognitive-decline-people-high-risk)

Studies have shown that people who use hearing aids to manage their hearing loss are less likely to develop dementia. Hearing aid use was also associated with fewer memory problems and thinking problems independent of dementia. Tracking hearing aid use over a long period showed that it was associated with less decline in memory skills.
...
(from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about...tia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/hearing-loss)

Ian

 

[All uphill]

Being told I needed hearing aids was a bit of a downer for me.

Using them was a pleasant surprise- like being 20 years younger!

It's nice having the option of taking them out sometimes @ebikeerwidnes