What Causes Hearing Loss In Older Age
Most people who experience hearing loss as they get older do so because of wear and tear to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear.
There are also other factors that can cause hearing loss, such as:
- regular exposure to loud noise
- a history of middle ear disease
- a family history of hearing loss.
Some people have a condition called tinnitus, which causes you to have persistent noises such as ringing or buzzing. This can also be linked to hearing loss.
Are Nhs Hearing Aids Good
To summarise, obtaining NHS hearing aids requires some degree of patience. The quality of care and the performance of the hearing aids have grown significantly better in the last few years. Generally, the NHS will only provide behind the ear hearing aids unless the problem requires a different solution. In ear or Invisible Hearing aids are not provided and you will need to buy these privately.
As we said, we are big fans of the NHS and the work it does to help people with hearing problems. Hearing Direct was established to provide an additional alternative to the private provision of hearing aids with more affordable prices. We give people a wider range of hearing aids to chose from than the NHS and in a more affordable and convenient way than many private hearing aid providers. We offer affordable digital hearing aids which can be delivered to your door the very next day if required no waiting, no fuss, and no appointments.
A New Age For Technology
NHS Digital Hearing Aids
The NHS offers digital hearing aids which can be fine-tuned to your exact hearing loss. They have different program settings so that you can focus the microphones all around you or in front of you, making it easier to listen to people speaking when there is background noise. They also have a t setting allowing you to use loop systems or Bluetooth sound streamers.
The range of technology on offer from private hearing aids can be overwhelming. They have a larger number of channels for sound processing and may have sound compression programs which alter the frequency of sound to bring it within your hearing range.
More microphones offer more choice of where to focus your listening whilst others can give a surround sound effect. Other programmes include speech recognition to enhance conversations, telephone listening programs and features which assess your listening environment and fine-tune the hearing aids to give you better clarity.
Wireless technology allows two hearing aids to work together so they are always in the same settings and you can use a remote control to change your program. Some hearing aids are compatible with Apple devices and you can stream sound from your iPhone, iPod or iPad directly to your hearing aids – and now Android users can benefit from additional streaming features and more.
Does it all come down to cost?
Private Hearing Aids Cost
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How Can A Hearing Aid Help Me
Hearing aids work by making sounds louder and clearer. They will not restore your hearing to normal, or cure your hearing loss, but they can make life much easier.
They pick up sound and make it louder with an amplifier. They are fitted with devices, which can distinguish between foreground noise, such as conversation, and background noise, such as traffic.
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How Good Are Private Hearing Aids What Are The Benefits Of Private Hearing Aids
So, is going private with your hearing aids really better than the NHS? Private hearing aid dispensers can offer the full range of hearing aids from Behind the Ear and Receiver in Canal styles which have a small case behind the ear, to styles that fit inside the ear canal and are nearly impossible to see. Other styles include full and half-shells which fit in the outer ear.
These all offer great sound quality although not all the Invisible in Canal styles are suitable for more severe hearing losses. You will also be able to choose from a wider range of colours so that you can show off your hearing aid as an accessory or blend it with your hair and skin tone.
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How Long Does It Take To Get A Hearing Aid Through The Nhs Vs Private
While any NHS appointment comes with some wait times, once you have the consultation, you might be able to collect your hearing aid almost immediately, depending on the kind you were prescribed. However, the lead-up to the acquisition of your hearing aid can take around six weeks after your GP refers you.
Source: NHS England
If you were given a BTE hearing aid, you may be able to walk out with it. But if an RITE hearing aid was more suitable for you, then youll need to wait a bit. A silicone mould of your ear canal will need to be made and sent off in order to customize the receiver that will be going into your ear.
The timings in these scenarios are the same in private settings, too, so you wont have any more or less of a wait in either scenario.
Types Of Hearing Aids
A variety of hearing aids are available.
Body worn hearing aids are made up of a small box connected to earphones.
The box can be clipped to your clothes or put inside a pocket.
This type of hearing aid may be best if you have severe hearing loss and need a powerful hearing aid, or if you find the controls on smaller hearing aids tricky to use.
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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.
Zerena 9 Hearing Aid Aids
The Zerena 9 is the top level of technology in the new Zerena range. It is packed with the very top Bernafon technology and can be expected to deliver high-quality hearing in even the most complex sound environments. The Zerena 9 was the hearing aid range that I trialled from Bernafon. I had an excellent experience with them and I was blown away by the SoundClip-A. Here is what you need to know about the very top level of hearing aid technology from Bernafon.
We would expect the Zerena 9 range to be sold at prices from £1700.00 to £2200.00 in the UK depending on the Practice and location. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from 2400.00 to 3000.00 in Ireland. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from $2400.00 to $3200.00 in the USA.
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Zerena 9 Minirite Hearing Aid
The minRITE is a small receiver in the ear hearing aid that is suitable for hearing losses from the mild to severe. It can use four different speakers which means it is suitable for most hearing losses. As with the rest of the range, it has twin radios, one which is a Bluetooth radio and the other which is a proprietary Bernafon radio.
The Bluetooth radio makes these hearing aids Made For iPhone, the proprietary radio is used for communication between the hearing aids which ensures settings and features are co-ordinated and act in a more effective manner. The hearing aid works on a 312 battery and it comes with a programme button.
from £1700.00 to £2200.00 in the UK depending on the Practice and location. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from 2400.00 to 3000.00 in Ireland. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from $2400.00 to $3200.00 in the USA.
Zerena 7 Minirite Rechargeable Hearing Aid
The minRITE rechargeable hearing aid is exactly the same as the miniRITE with the exception of rechargeability. It uses a ZPower silver Zinc rechargeable system which delivers a full day of use on an overnight charge. The ZPower system is such that if you forget to charge your hearing aids or if something happens, you can switch to normal hearing aid batteries without any issues.
From £1400.00 to £1800.00 in the UK depending on the Practice and location. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from 1800.00 to 2400.00 in Ireland. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from $1900.00 to $2500.00 in the USA.
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Zerena 7 Minirite T Hearing Aid
The minRITE T is again small receiver in the ear hearing aid that is suitable for hearing losses from the mild to severe. It can also use four different speakers which means it is suitable for most hearing losses. This hearing aid has three radios, one which is a Bluetooth radio, the proprietary Bernafon radio and a Tele-coil. The Bluetooth radio makes these hearing aids Made For iPhone, the proprietary radio is used for communication between the hearing aids which ensures settings and features are co-ordinated and act in a more effective manner and the Tele-coil receives broadcasts from a loop system . The hearing aid works on a 312 battery and it comes with a multi-functional button that also acts as a volume control.
From £1400.00 to £1800.00 in the UK depending on the Practice and location. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from 1800.00 to 2400.00 in Ireland. We would expect the range to be sold at prices from $1900.00 to $2500.00 in the USA.
Does A Digital Hearing Aid Cut Out All Background Noise
No, digital hearing aids focus mainly on speech frequencies, which means good quality of speech. Because they are focusing on these frequencies they dont amplify the lower frequency background noise as much.
Background noise cannot be eliminated entirely, even people who have normal hearing will struggle in some noisy situations.
All of our current hearing aids have directional microphones and noise reduction which can effectively minimise distracting noise while emphasising the desired speech.
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Review Titled Uninterested In Patient Care
out of 5
Rated 1 stars out of 5
My 89 year old mother has severe hearing problems. Specsavers charged her £2000 for hearing aids that dont fit her. Despite several returns to the store nothing has been done. Today they said – the 3 month trial period is now done. There is nothing we can do and nothing we are going to do. We will visit another audiologist and get some proper treatment. Specsavers should be ashamed of taking money from old ladies and not providing the help she really needs. I have always used Specsavers for glasses but never again.
Visited October 2021
SPECSAVERS has not yet replied.
Receiver In The Ear Hearing Aids
Receiver in the ear hearing aids are similar to BTE hearing aids.
The main difference is that with RITE hearing aids, the part of the hearing aid that sits behind the ear is smaller and is connected by a thin wire to a speaker placed inside the opening of the ear.
RITE hearing aids are less visible than BTE hearing aids and are suitable for most people with hearing loss, but they can be more fiddly to use than BTE hearing aids.
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Private Hearing Healthcare Is A Personal One
The recent Which Report tells us that independent audiologists were rated 86%, by their patients, for the service they were provided, and the hearing aids purchased. In our opinion, patients from independent practices tend to feel less like a number and more valued and cared for. They are offered honest and unbiased advice that is bespoke to them and their hearing healthcare.
We understand that there are a few factors that may influence your decision on whether to get hearing aids privately or through the NHS – everyone is different and what may be suitable for one person may not be right for another.
Types Of Private Hearing Aids
How to Chose the Right Hearing Aids for You
Several factors make up what is the correct decision on hearing aid style for you, including hearing loss, ear canal shape and, of course, your personal preference. The selection process can be tailored to suit a range of different budgets.
All our hearing aids are available in a range of technology levels, from standard to premium. We can advise you on which level is required for your specific hearing needs.
As an independent practice we are not tied to a contract with certain hearing aid manufacturers. We supply hearing aids from several manufacturers, with a variety of styles and technology levels. This means that you can choose from a wider range of hearing aids we will advise you to choose the right one to suit you, not the best aid for business! Our staff are here to support you towards the right hearing aid choice for you, even if that means recommending NHS and not private aids.
Types of Hearing Aids
IIC is more than just a tiny hearing aid. It is the perfect combination of maximum hearing performance and minimum size. It is custom crafted to fit entirely in your ear canal, using computer-aided design and the latest generation of advanced materials. Wearing comfort is great while consistently delivering outstanding sound quality, with minimum visibility.
Completely-in-the-canal Hearing Aid
Receiver In The Ear Hearing Aid
Behind The Ear Hearing Aid
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How Do I Prepare For The Appointment
Please read the information leaflet. Share the information it contains with your partner and family so that they can be of help and support. There may be information they need to know, especially if they are taking care of you following this examination. The tests performed can be affected and in some cases prevented by wax and ear infections it is important that you ensure your ears are clear of wax. Your doctor will be able to offer you advice if you are uncertain. If you have an ear infection, it is wise to contact the Audiology Department in order to rearrange your appointment.
The Cost Of Nhs Hearing Care Compared To The Hearing Care Partnership
The factor that most people consider when deciding which hearing care provider to opt for is the cost of the treatment. NHS hearing care is completely free including follow-up appointments and aftercare, however the number of services and solutions are limited.
At The Hearing Care Partnership, your Full Hearing Assessment is FREE, which includes a comprehensive evaluation of your hearing and speech and an in-depth discussion regarding your specific and personal hearing and lifestyle requirements.
We also provide FREE follow-up appointments and unlimited aftercare, allowing you to rest in the knowledge that youll be looked after every step of the way. Alongside our advanced diagnostic hearing assessment, we provide FREE Tinnitus Consultations and home visit appointments at no extra cost. At The Hearing Care Partnership you will always be offered the highest quality individual patient care across all of our services.
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Can I Go Private But Be Paid For By The Nhs
The Any Qualified Provider scheme means that some local NHS hearing services in England can be delivered through other organisations – such as private companies or charities – rather than you attending an NHS hospital, provided they meet NHS quality requirements, prices and contracts.
This depends on your local area, as not all offer the scheme. Its only available to you if you have suspected age-related hearing loss with no other complications, and in many areas you’ll also need to be aged 55 or older .
Youll still be an NHS patient, so youll get a free service and hearing aids – and the audiologist wont be able to sell you anything extra.
If youre not sure whether AQP applies in your area, speak to your GP and ask whether you have a choice over who provides your NHS audiology service.
Companies such as Specsavers and Scrivens offer AQP services in some areas of England , and you can check if this includes your area on the companies’ websites.
Find out more about the differences between NHS and private hearing aids
Are Earbuds A Viable Alternative To Hearing Aids
Technology has come a long way in recent years. Computers once filled entire rooms, but we now have an exponential amount of computing power available to us on devices that fit in our pockets. It seems like we keep finding new ways to improve the devices that make our lives easier.
Hearing aid technology is no exception. The non-prescription earbud was recently developed as an alternative to the hearing aid.
Lets examine the differences between earbuds and hearing aids and how they compare.
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