Spec me hearing aids

[Kronos]

As my good lady has come into a bit of PPI pay back, thirteen grand so far with several claims still ongoing I have finally persuaded to spend some, other than what she has given me which will be put to good use on an OLED TV.
For her it is new hearing aids, her current ones she has had for around 4 years and they are to be honest not fit for purpose now and where never particularly good anyway.
So am looking for suggestions preferably that she can control via an app.

 

[dcsarge]

Surely this is a case of going to a specialist clinic for a proper fitting and checking suitability of different types? The wrong ones can be an absolute nightmare, especially if the last ones were no good.

 

[Rroff]

Yeah you definitely want to go to a specialist clinic.

 

[deuse]

The most useful ones are inner cannel with Bluetooth.
I would research what kind of hearing you want before going to a specialist.


Never go to places like specsavers and make sure the extra programming needed is free.

Opn 1 made by Oticon. LiNX2 9 made by ReSound. Halo2 i2400 made by Starkey. Are worth looking at.

 

[Kronos]

As my good lady has come into a bit of PPI pay back, thirteen grand so far with several claims still ongoing I have finally persuaded to spend some, other than what she has given me which will be put to good use on an OLED TV.
For her it is new hearing aids, her current ones she has had for around 4 years and they are to be honest not fit for purpose now and where never particularly good anyway.
So am looking for suggestions preferably that she can control via an app.

Yeah you definitely want to go to a specialist clinic.

The most useful ones are inner cannel with Bluetooth.
I would research what kind of hearing you want before going to a specialist.


Never go to places like specsavers and make sure the extra programming needed is free.

Opn 1 made by Oticon. LiNX2 9 made by ReSound. Halo2 i2400 made by Starkey. Are worth looking at.

Obviously we need to see a specialist that's a given, but it is still useful to know what are the better brands. I would not spend 2 grand or so on anything else without researching available brands.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

OP, can't she go through audiology and get them on the NHS? She'll get a hearing test and the clinic will spec some hearing aids for her. The audiologist will also take ear impressions so that ear moulds can be prepared for her.

I've received new hearing aids in 2004, 2011 and 2017 as those were the 3 years when there was a marked decline in my hearing.

 

[qqg3]

OP, can't she go through audiology and get them on the NHS? She'll get a hearing test and the clinic will spec some hearing aids for her. The audiologist will also take ear impressions so that ear moulds can be prepared for her.

I've received new hearing aids in 2004, 2011 and 2017 as those were the 3 years when there was a marked decline in my hearing.

You can go via the NHS but you'll get very basic digital aids unless you're super lucky and there can be waiting times involved.

Look for local audiologists and avoid chains except Boots who have excellent hearing depts.

Suggestions by deuse above are on point. I tried the OPN's but didn't like that sound. Phonak are a very reputable brand with some great models although more limited if you're looking for bluetooth doodads (most require an intermediary device for Phonak). I have a pair of LinX2 from Resound and they are great as far as connectivity goes but I think Phonaks have better sound quality in a variety of acoustic situations, hence why I wear my Phonak V70s most.

An good audiologist will be able to determine what fitting is needed and the power required.

Regarding iPhone apps, the Resound app is really good with lots of customizations possible, the Phonak app super basic (on/off essentially) and I found Oticons' apps to be somewhere in between.

 

[Usher]

Regarding the NHS, unless your hearing loss is quite bad they will offer 'open fit' aids as these do not require an ear impression & can you can be tested & be fitted all in one session. Of course if people do not want the behind the ear type aids then you would have to go elsewhere.
I wear an open fit on both ears and can alter the volume instantly if need be. I also have a device at home that transmits the TV sound direct to my ears using the telecoil system

 

[Kronos]

Thanks all, after taking everything I have learned here and Facebook, I will be going with my partner for her next NHS appointment with an audiologist due shortly and can hopefully insure that she gets a better service than she did the last time when she was pretty much offered a take it or leave option on hearing aid choice. I see that NHS Lothian have a range of aids, small by private standards so feel that whereas she is less inclined to speak up for herself I on the other hand am not.

We spent nearly £2000 on hearing aids that to be honest were not particularly effective and are coming to the end of their working life which surprisingly is only around 3-5 years. Many people have said that for people with severe hearing loss private is not the way to go as they tend to have less qualified audiologists and are looking to push the expensive as opposed to the most suitable.

 

[Mrs Seabiscuit]

As P.E said going through your NHS audiology dept is best bet. It also depends on severity of deafness. I am right on the border of being deaf enough for a cochlear. I personally wouldn't trust private and quite frankly they wont come near me with a barge pole!
My latest few are phonak and they are completely brilliant in my opinion. Also you are supposed to have an upgrade every 3 or 4 years so to spend a couple of grand every few years is not an option for everyone.

 

[Kronos]

Also you are supposed to have an upgrade every 3 or 4 years so to spend a couple of grand every few years is not an option for everyone.

Cheers mate, not really an option for us though we do have the money now thanks to PPI but in 3-4 years I doubt it.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

You can go via the NHS but you'll get very basic digital aids unless you're super lucky and there can be waiting times involved.

Look for local audiologists and avoid chains except Boots who have excellent hearing depts.

I might have been lucky, in that in 2017, I booked a hearing test for the following week. 40 minutes later, I walked out with new hearing aids. I am moderate to severely deaf though.

As for chain audiologists, I didn't know they existed. I didn't know that Boots had audiologists either. For me, audiology is always in a hospital.

The same goes with eye tests. I never knew about Specsavers etc until recently. My eye tests are always done in a hospital.

 

[Kronos]

The good lady got a cancellation appointment with a NHS audiologist yesterday and came away with a pair of Unitron Yuu 300 hearing aids as her hearing has deteriorated a bit and the in canal type will not do the job.

Decided not to go private after info gleaned here and from the audiologist herself.

Thanks all for you help and suggestions.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

I was very lucky with my hearing and it was only at 25%.
The first guy who tested me had seen me gigging in many local rock bands and obviously that was going to be the problem.
It wasn't, mine were all to do with my Stape's not working and I had both of them operated on in December 2015 and I now have superb hearing.
I have two NHS hearing aids if you want them

 

[Kronos]

I have two NHS hearing aids if you want them

That is incredibly generous of you but the good lady suggests you put them where no hearing aid should go the ungrateful so and so.