Hearing Aids [UK]

Subject: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 02:08 AM

Hello,
As some of you know, my hearing is shagged, [now just about completeley deaf in left ear etc]
fed up of not hearing stuff.

how do i go about getting a hearing aid, are they free [i don't curently claim any state benefits]

if not free, how much is it?
and is it worth it, ie waht are they like?

if i claim dole for 1 week, then stop dole claim, can i get free hearing aid, ?
who knows about this stuff? ie who can i ask for good advice?

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 02:34 AM

See your doctor jOhn, he will give the right advice.

eric

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 02:38 AM

cheers eric.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 05:31 AM

Hi John. Hearing aids(and batteries) are free on the NHS here in the UK, and you don't have to be on benefits to get one.

But Eric is right - ask your GP to refer you to an audiologist for testing and take it from there.

There have been some really good discussions about hearing aids on Mudcat in the past, which could be helpful but the first thing to do is to find out what the problem is.

Best wishes,
Matthew

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 06:58 AM

Basically you get your GP to refer you to an Audiology Clinic at an NHS hospital, and you get an appointment for a hearing test, and a hearing aid is supplied, which is free.

Here is a link to a page on the RNID website - All about hearing aids

But there is one complication, and it's the one I came up against earlier this year. There are different types of hearing aids, and the more modern ones use digital technology, which makes them much much better for some types of hearing loss.

But these cost a bit more to the NHS, so until recently they weren't included in the range supplied. There is now a "rolling programme" of allowing NHS clinics to prescribe the digital hearing aids, and in most places they are now available.

However after I had had my hearing tested, and some hearing loss identified, I checked up on the net and found that the audiology clinic I had gone to was the only one in Essex where they still don't supply digital hearing aids, and won't be until next year. But if I'd gone ahead with accepting a non-digital hearing aid, it wouldn't be possible for me to upgrade for some years.

So since my hearing isn't that bad yet, I wrote back cancelling the arrangements, and said I'd wait till next year.

Here is a link to the MHAS (Modernising Hearings Aid Service) website, which explains about these things, and tells you which audiology clinics still don't supply digital aids.

It looks to me as though, living in Hull, you should have no problem. At least not with hearing aids.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 11:02 AM

John

I have suffered from high frequency deafness for many years. Unfortunately NHS hearing aids don't help as all they do is amplify all frequencies.

About 18 months ago I invested in some digital aids that just fill in the missing parts. They aren't currently availble on the NHS but there is talk of them coming in. Mine cost me about £3000 for the pair from Boots.

Go to your doctor who will refer you to an NHS audiologist who in turn will be able to tell you what the problem is - that is all free and you may be lucky and find that an NHS hearing aid is good enough for the problem that you have.If not, get saving those pennies!

Roger

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 12:57 PM

My Dad has lost his high frequencies, he's 84. He can't afford a digital hearing aid so won't wear anything else cos it's no better for him. He's been a classical music lover all his life and now life is miserable for him. The NHS won't help him because he's not a single mum, not young and isn't a priority case. It's so unfair. He's probably only got a couple of years left, why does it have to be in a depressed state because he can't hear anymore? There must be thousands of second 'ear' hearing aids, can they be recycled?

Sal

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 12:58 PM

Sir Roger's information there is out of date. Things have moved in in the last 18 months, and digital hearing aids are now available, as the links in that last post of mine explained. Of course it might be that going private might get you something better, if you've the cash. But not necessarily.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Bassic
Date: 13 Nov 04 - 04:29 PM

John....I will talk to Rock Chick for you. She is up to date on most things hearing and will be able to point you in the right direction I am sure. But most of the above seems on the mark. G

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: GUEST,lady aelfleda
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:09 AM

Don't know if you're a working man Sir J but I got mine (digital) through work. There's govt. money to help employers buy any type of aids for staff. Had, of course to have a report from audiologist but otherwise got 3 grands worthof digital hearing aids for nowt.
I understand that digital ones will be available on the NHS from 2005 (probably after April)
Good luck - they're brill if you canget them

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Michael
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 04:13 PM

Hi John,My daughter is in the process of getting a digital hearing aid from Audiology at Hull Royal Infirmary.She was refered by her GP.
Mike

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 04:03 PM

Read my second link, lady aelfleda - the NHS already supplies digital hearing aids.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:37 PM

Not in all areas! As a previous contributor said they are "rolling them out". The latest prediction in our area is 2007!!
It also takes several months to get the initial hearing test, from the date of GP referral, and then another 12-15 months to actually get the (analogue not digital) aid in yer ear here.
Another example of NHS post-coding lottery.
TB (GP BTW)

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:45 PM

As that link I gave showed, Tattie. And Sir jOhn is in an area where they apparently have done the rolling out.

Not as quick as we'd like it, true enough. Roll on a Government that's willing to put up taxes to a level that takes care of that, and a public willing to vote for that.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 08:03 PM

Thanks eberybody,
also thanks for the helpful Pm's,
many thanks.john

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:21 PM

I read the links and went back to my filing cabinet: all of England and Wales and N. Ireland should have digital aids on the NHS by April 2005, but Scotland (first with the poll tax!) doesn't get them until 2007 as I said.

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:15 AM

I've got an NHS analogue aid, for my high-freq loss.I don't wear it so much now, as the loss isn't too bad. I had a lot of trouble with my ears getting bunged up (I won't go into the gruesonme details, but it took a whole load of treatment to clear it up) which stopped me hearing almost everything for some time. If you get an aid, John, watch out for any itching or discharge, and get back to your GP pronto.

The analogue aids are tunable, but not as much as the digital ones. Thedigital aids also have a directional option, to pick up what's in front of you and ignore everything else. I'm told this is excellent for listening to music. If you tell your GP you're a musician or singer (assuming you are!), or better still, the specialist s/he sends you to, they might take a bit more trouble for you.

Steve

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:22 AM

An addendum to what everyone else has said. NHS digital aids don't include in-the-ear versions, which some private firms offer (eg Boots Songbird) as tests have shown them to be less effective. Behind-the-ear ones can be a problem if you also wear specs.
I didn't tell my consultant I was a musician or a singer as I didn't want to be prosecuted for false pretenses!
RtS

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 11:15 AM

If your hearings a bit duff in both ears, which ear do you reckon is the better one to use for the hearing aid? I mean, are people right-eared or left-eared or anything like that?

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 11:29 AM

My audiologist reckons that you have an aid in each ear. Mind you, both of mine are shot, although the left is the worst.

With the ones I have, there is a choice of three switchable settings (that is three options can be set up from a wider choice) so I went for a meetings setting that cuts out out the rearwards facing mic, a music setting and one for picking up hearing loops.

I tried "in the ear" specifically the "songbird" but found that they occluded my hearing and everything sounded as if my head was in a bucket. So, I finished up with "behind the ear" but with open ear moulds so that I can pick up natural sound as well.

R

Subject: RE: Hearing Aids [UK]
From: rock chick
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:08 PM

Hi jOhn

As far as hearing aids and getting one, all i can say is if you work then you can go through Access to Work, it is a government funding put in place to help support people in their employment, the employers pay a contribution and AtW consider funding the rest, although if you required a digital aid you may be ask to contribute, BUT it is volantry. If you don't work then it is down to your audiologist dept at your hospital, they may do Digital hearing aids, but there could be a long wait, and there again you may not be suitable for one.

However if you do work, then you would need to contact your local Jobcentre plus office and tell them you wish to apply for AtW, they normally will do it over the telephone, then they will arrange for someone to visit you and carry out a assessment of your needs. That's what I do for a living, plus other bit concerning the Deaf and Hearing impaired.

Hope that is helful