Can I Get Financial Help With Hearing Aid Costs
If you decide that NHS Hearing Aids are not for you then buying Hearing aids privately can sometimes be an expensive investment. Some models can be as much as a secondhand family car. Not at Hearing Direct. Our founding principal was to provide affordable hearing aids direct to the customer. There are various other ways to make it more affordable:
Can I pay by installments?
It is crucial to know which type of hearing aid is the most appropriate for your individual condition. Once you know your options, it is wise to shop around as prices can vary considerably even for the same model. Some high street hearing aid retailers have special monthly installment packages. You will usually have to pay part of the sum at the time of purchase and the rest will be split over a specific number of months. Such packages may seem convenient and affordable but you need to be aware of the interest rate as very few offer interest free options. In many cases, the final total cost for a hearing aid could be a lot more than the initial price. Paying a small sum every month may seem more affordable in the short term but can be very expensive in the end. It is also important to take the lifetime of the hearing aid into account when thinking about repayments.
Will my Health Insurance cover the costs?
Buying Online for Home Delivery
Do you know if you are eligible to reclaim VAT?
Our Ongoing Aftercare Service
In addition to the full hearing assessment and fitting of hearing aids, our NHS Adult Hearing Service also includes comprehensive aftercare. Our staff and Hearing Aid Audiologists will be on hand to support you while you adjust and learn how to use your hearing aids.
With care and good daily cleaning, you shouldnt have any problems with your hearing aids. However, if you need any help, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our aftercare services include:
- Contacting you by telephone shortly after your hearing aids have been fitted to see how you are getting on. An appointment with your Hearing Aid Audiologist will be arranged where necessary
- Aftercare as and when you need it
- Repairs and maintenance at your local branch
- Postal service for repairs, if you cant get to your local branch
- A review every year
Nhs Hearing Aids Review
Want more information about NHS vs Private hearing healthcare?
This page is designed to just give you a taste of information surrounding NHS hearing aids and private hearing aids and healthcare – there is so much more!; Click on the following link to read our article that talks about this topic in more in-depth detail and our honest NHS hearing aids review.
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Batteries Repairs And Replacements
If you have an NHS hearing aid, you can get free batteries and repairs from the NHS;hearing aid;service who fitted your hearing aids.
Ask your audiologist about how to obtain batteries and request servicing and repairs.
You may need to come in for an appointment, or you may be able to send off for a battery or repair in the post.
Your local hearing aid service can also replace hearing aids that have been lost or damaged, although there may be a charge for this.
If you have a private hearing aid, contact your hearing aid provider if you need it repaired or replaced.
You may have to pay for this service if it’s not already included in your payment plan.
In The Ear Hearing Aids
In the ear hearing aids;fill the area just outside the opening of your ear.
They cannot be seen from behind, unlike BTE or RITE hearing aids, but they;are visible from the side.
ITE hearing aids are;suitable for most people with hearing loss, although they can be trickier to use than BTE or RITE hearing aids.
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Hearing Aid Costs From Private Audiologists
The cost of buying your hearing aid from a private audiologist can vary depending on which make and model of hearing aid you choose. In essence, hearing aid prices can be divided into three bands, which reflect the levels of performance and technology of those hearing aids.
Hearing aids can be viewed as either; entry-level which has the cheapest hearing aid prices, mid-level or premium which has the highest hearing aid costs attached. Your specific needs will determine which level of hearing aid you require and then the specific cost of that aid.
It is also worth remembering that part of the cost of your private hearing aid is for the dedicated services of a qualified audiologist that comes with your hearing aids; right from your very first contact through to the years of aftercare that they provide to ensure that your hearing aid is doing exactly what it should be from day one to day who knows!
Also by choosing an independent audiologist rather than one of the big chains we will also endeavour to always make hearing aid recommendations based on which will be the right aid for you, not which will cost you the most or which is on a list of sales targets.
In some cases, you may find that an entry-level hearing aid is perfectly sufficient for your needs, whereas some people may find that their whole quality of life is improved by a premium hearing aid that is packed full of the very latest technological advances and features.
Hearing Aid Ranges Available
How To Get A Hearing Aid On Thenhs
An appointment will have been madefor you with the hearing specialist who will take an impression of yourear for the ear mould. This means that the ear mould will fit exactlyto the shape of your ear. It will take a few weeks to make the ear mould.
Once this is ready you then returnfor the fitting. The specialist will adjust the hearing aid to suityour type of hearing loss and will explain how to use it. He/she willalso show you how to care for it.
You will have a follow up appointmentafter three months to check on your progress.
There are types of digital hearingaids which are NOT available on the NHS and these include:
- In the canal hearing aids
- Completely in the ear canalhearing aids
- In the ear hearing aids
- Over the ear hearing aids
- Receiver in the canal hearingaids
If youd prefer, you can choose tobuy a hearing aid from a private clinic or dispenser. If you do thenmake sure that they are registered with the Hearing Aid Council. YourGP will have details of local clinics as will the RNID website.
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How Do I Get An Nhs Hearing Aid
The first step is to go to your GP, who will check your ears and rule out any temporary causes of hearing loss, such as wax or infection, before referring you to a specialist.;
This will generally either be an ear, nose and throat doctor;or an audiologist.
Clinics are usually run by audiology staff at your GP surgery, local hospital or health centres.
The audiologist or one of their team will assess your hearing to find the cause of your hearing loss.;
If youre having difficulty persuading your GP to refer you, you can ask for a second opinion with another GP.
Hearing Aid Batteries Resource
Welcome to our main hearing aid battery page, here with have all our main resource links to the battery information you will need. From where to buy your hearing aid batteries online, finding free batteries at your local gp or hospital and even articles about new battery technology and how you can get the most out of yours to make them last longer.
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Benefits Of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids will not make your hearing perfect, but they make sounds louder and clearer, reducing;the impact hearing loss has on your life.
Hearing aids;can:
- help you hear everyday sounds such as the doorbell and phone
- improve your ability to hear speech
- make you feel more confident when talking to people and make it easier for you to follow conversations in different environments
- help you to enjoy listening to music and the TV, at a volume that’s comfortable for those around you
But hearing aids only help if you still have some hearing left, so do not put off getting help;if your hearing is getting worse.
Help With Hearing Aids
It can take some time, and plenty of patience, to get to grips with your new device but over time you will be able to learn how to use it.;Youll have follow-up appointments after theyre fitted to check how things are going, however you should get in touch with;your audiologist at any point if youre having problems.
Some self-care tips for your hearing aid, suggested by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders , include:
- Keeping it away from heat and moisture.
- Cleaning your device as instructed by your audiologist. Earwax and ear drainage can damage your device.
- Avoid using hairspray and other hair care products whilst you have your hearing aid in.
- Always turn your hearing aid off when youre not using it.
- Replace dead batteries immediately.
There are several hearing loss organisations out there, who can provide help and support with your new hearing aid.
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Waiting Times For Nhs Hearing Aids Vs Private Hearing Aids From The Hearing Care Partnership
Whilst the NHS are reducing their waiting times, you may still wait up to 12 weeks for your NHS hearing aids to be fitted. Once they have been fitted, they must be checked to ensure theyre well adjusted, which may take several months and the sooner you have your hearing aids fitted, the sooner you can start living life to the full.
If you do require hearing aids following your Full Hearing Assessment at The Hearing Care Partnership, your Audiologist can usually fit them within two weeks, or depending on the style, sometimes even the same day. This is followed up within 24 hours and again within a week to find out how you are getting on with your new hearing aids. As part of your hearing aid purchase, we offer aftercare at any time. We recommend that your ears and hearing aids are checked every six months to keep your hearing healthy and your hearing aids fine-tuned. We also check your ears for wax during this time, which will be removed free of charge if they become congested. This prevents wax build up from affecting your hearing and the performance of your hearing aids. We also offer regular cleaning, monitoring and adjustments to ensure that you are getting the clearest and most natural sound.
Help And Support If You Wear Hearing Aids
Adjusting to hearing aids can be difficult at first. It may take a few weeks or months to get used to them.
You’ll have follow-up appointments after they’re fitted to check how things are going, but get in touch with;your audiologist at any point if you’re having problems.
Several hearing loss organisations can also provide help and support if you’re adapting to hearing loss or life with a hearing aid.
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My Experience With The Phonak S+ M
My hearing loss is severe, but I had been just about managing with my old hearing aids. So I was reluctant to accept the call from the NHS for a new hearing test. However, I went along for it. The first visit was no different from previous hearing tests, but the second visit was. The new hearing aids were waiting, ready programmed according to the hearing test, but there was a new additional test or programme refinement. This consisted of some sort of gadget being placed over my shoulders and various sounds being played into my ears. This time I did not have to say anything about them. Everything was software controlled. Once this was over, I was presented with the hearing aids and spare batteries, and listed for a follow up in what I think was ten weeks.
I begged to keep my old hearing aids in case I couldn’t get on with the new ones and this was reluctantly agreed, provided that I returned them on my follow-up visit as they had to be recyled.
Yet, I have never used my old hearing aids again! Wearing my new ones, I walked out of the hospital into a busy street and heard sounds that I had could hardly remember ever hearing before!
I am happy with the additional channels and although I note from the internet that private and expensive hearing aids have more, I can’t see that they would help me particularly.
The Benefit Of Wearing Two Hearing Aids
Hearing aids worn in both ears can offer additional benefits;when the degree of impairment is equivalent in both ears.;When two hearing aids are worn:
- sound can be more natural and clear
- a lower volume setting may be used
- listening in noise may be less difficult
- it may be easier to localise sounds
- gives a sense of hearing balance.
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Nhs Hearing Aid Technology Compared To The Hearing Care Partnership Hearing Aid Technology
The NHS does have a good range of hearing aids, and although they do provide basic hearing amplification, there are significant limitations in the technology and styles on offer. This can compromise on clarity, speech understanding and consequently your psychological health if youre still left struggling to follow conversations.
It is an exciting time for hearing aid technology and design, offering many brilliant options and more accessibility than ever before. And as an independent hearing care provider, at THCP we thoroughly research and carefully select who we partner with.
Your hearing aid will come from an extensive range of market-leading hearing devices, all of which use technology to open your world of sound, naturally and automatically. Our wide range of hearing aid styles and fittings allow our professional Hearing Aid Dispensers to work with you, to choose what best suits you and your lifestyle, including Invisible In The Canal Hearing Aids, In The Ear Hearing Aids, and many more.
Our hearing aids automatically adjust, keeping all sounds comfortable and audible, and allow for a huge reduction in listening and mental effort. This means you can wear them all day without having to adjust them. If you like to have more control over your hearing aids, they can be set up with the flexibility to allow you to adjust the volume and settings in different situations.
Hearing Aids A Closer Look
As we all know, hearing loss is a common part of the ageing process and it may be that you require a hearing aid at some point in your life. Hearing aids can help you to hear sounds much clearer and louder, without giving you your full hearing back.
Todays post takes a closer look at some of the hearing aid options that are available. For an overall guide to hearing loss, including the causes and other forms of treatment, please have a read of our in-depth guide.
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Where To Buy Hearing Aid Batteries
If you have a private hearing aid the company you bought your hearing aid from will probably have a deal on regarding purchasing batteries. However all the services below will have hearing aid batteries you can purchase for your hearing aid. Just use the location search tool to find the closest and most convenient for you.
You can head to the services page which will have hearing aid stores where you can walk in and purchase new hearing aid batteries for your hearing aid.
Nhs Hearing Aid Batteries
Humans still havent figured out how to integrate microscopic nuclear power reactors into hearing aids, which unfortunately means they cant run indefinitely theyre going to need some batteries.
But if youre using a couple of batteries every week for the rest of your life, you can see how this cost may add up over time. Since the hearing aid was covered by the NHS, could the batteries be covered too?
This was a lot of build-up for a simple answer yes, batteries for your NHS hearing aid are indeed free. Youll be able to collect them from your GP most commonly in sizes 13, 675, and 312.
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Adjusting To New Hearing Aids
It can take up to three months to get used to new hearing aids. What you experience will depend on your hearing loss, your lifestyle needs;and how much you wear your hearing aids.;
Your brain will begin to register sounds that it has not heard well for some time. So you might feel tired by listening or overwhelmed by new noises. But,;as you carry on using your new hearing aids, your brain learns to recognise the new sounds and they become more acceptable. Its important to keep going;and, if you feel you need it, to ask for support from your audiologist;as its part of their role to provide;ths.;
You should talk about what to expect with your audiologist;when hearing aids for you are first discussed. Theyll be able give you advice on the best techniques;for getting used to your hearing aids.;
How To Make An Appointment
Consultation Appointments
You do not need a referral to be seen by us just simply get in touch using the details below. We see a wide range of clients, from those who have never had a hearing test before, to those who have worn hearing aids for many years. We tailor the process towards you. If you book an assessment with us there is no obligation to purchase and no charge for the appointment. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member along with you.
At the appointment you will be seen by an Audiologist who will discuss the problems you are having with your hearing. Your Audiologist will ask you about how your hearing difficulties affect your day-to-day activities and lifestyle. They may also ask about your general health and any ear related problems which you may have, such as tinnitus or problems with your balance.
The Audiologist will examine your ears and will measure your hearing using a technique known as Pure Tone Audiometry. They may also complete other testing as appropriate, for example a test called tympanometry to see how well the middle part of your ear is functioning.
The Audiologist will explain your hearing test results and the options available to you. Together, we can form an Individual Management Plan based around your individual goals and how they may be achieved. If the Audiologist finds any indication that you should have medical investigations into your hearing they will write to your GP or a specialist doctor to let them know.
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Additional Text For Local Press Release Only
Action on Hearing Loss is urging local people to attend Staffordshire County Council on Thursday 8 October at 10am at Council Chamber, County Buildings, Stafford, ST16 2LH in its public gallery, to witness Action on Hearing Loss chief executive Paul Breckell hand in over a 5000-strong petition against the cuts, before addressing the councillors himself. To help fight against the cuts, the public can get involved themselves by contacting their local MP and Councillors.
For more information on how to help Action on Hearing Loss, please visit Hands off our hearing aids.
Paying For Hearing Aids
If you do not mind paying for treatment, you can choose to;go to;a private hearing aid provider directly.
This may mean you can pick from a wider range of hearing aids, including the smaller, less visible models.
Not all hearing aids are suitable for everyone, but the hearing specialist will tell you which hearing aids are suitable within your budget.
If you choose to pay for private;treatment:
- make sure you research typical;costs of hearing aids and any aftercare ;you can pay anything from £500 to £3,500 or more for a single hearing aid
- shop around to see what types of hearing aid are available from different providers
- consider the cost of batteries and if you can change them easily
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Open Fit Hearing Aids
Open fit hearing aids consist of a hearing aid that sits behind your ear and a soft plastic dome and thin tube that goes in your ear canal. This hearing aid is best suited to patients that have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. The benefit of this hearing aid is that it is very discrete and does not require an ear mould to be made.
Where To Get Free Hearing Aid Batteries
If you have a hearing aid supplied and fitted by the NHS you can walk in to most hospitals or surgeries in the UK and pick up hearing aid batteries for free.
You should have a record book/battery card which tells you which batteries you need, you are required to bring this when obtaining batteries from a battery collection point. This does not mean it has to be you that needs to pick them up, a family member or friend can pick them up on your behalf if they have the record book. Our map at your hearing helper will be able to direct you to a local location where you can obtain your batteries. Your audiology department or service provider may also do a postal service for batteries, this is worth checking with them.
We have added a map a the bottom which shows you where you can get your free hearing aid batteries in the UK.
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How Can Assistive Devices Help My Hearing
Special equipment can be installed in your home to amplify sound and help you hear well. These can be helpful if you dont want to use a hearing aid. Examples include:
- a loop system connected to your TV or radio to make sound louder
- a telephone amplifier
- adjustments to alarms or doorbells to make them louder, flash or vibrate.
You might be eligible for this equipment on free loan through your local social services department. Your eligibility will depend on your hearing loss and you will be assessed by sensory support staff.
Equipment can also be purchased privately. Some equipment will have a money-back guarantee so you can return it if its not helpful. You can buy a range of products from the Action on Hearing Loss online shop.
Cons Of Nhs Hearing Aids
- You may not get much choice in the type of hearing aid you end up with – its likely to be a behind-the-ear model with earmould, or open-fit. Some areas issue receiver-in-the-ear/canal hearing aids too. For more information, see our guide to hearing aid types.
- There may be a charge if you lose a hearing aid – check with the audiologist.
- While in some areas you’ll be seen quite quickly, the wait between your GP referral and treatment may be shorter if you go privately.
- Your local hospital may offer a drop-in clinic for aftercare/repair, but you’ll usually have to wait to be seen. ;
If you’re planning to buy hearing aids privately, make sure you know what you’re getting in the price. We compare what each company really offers in its hearing aid prices, and what you can expect to pay for the latest models.
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