You were lucky Roger, I work with the deaf and hard of hearing, quite a few of these people I know have gone privately for digital aids and have ended up with very bad fittings etc, don't get me wrong there are a lot of companies out there who are very good. If you are lucky enough to live in the area where the NHS are doing the digital aids you may be able to get one, having said that once a NHS hospital has been chosen to do the digital aids it takes time to install the equipment and to train the staff, so it could be a year before they start issuing them, then of course you have the waiting list.

IF you find your hearing loss is effecting your work you are able to claim help through 'Access to Work' you have to contact your DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) at the Job centre Plus office local to you, they will in turn go through the paper work involved, you will then get assessed by an assessment office (like myself) to visit you at your place of work and to establish what equipment would be helpful, if any, this could also include the possibility of a digital aid, a report is written by the assessment officer, it is then down to Access to Work pays a proportion of the cost of support together with your employers, they may ask for a contribution from yourself for digital aids, however this can still be cheaper then funding it all yourself. You can find all this information the Job Centre Plus web site, www.jobcentreplus.com under Access to Work.

This is only the basic information have a read of the web site for the full blown version, it could save you a great deal of money, and improve your situation greatly.


rc