What Are The Best Hearing Aids?

[56cheffy 10]

Looking to replace my existing Unitron hearing aids.
I've had them 4 years and  they are now out of warranty.
They need repairing/servicing  and Unitron want £200 per aid! I can get my car serviced cheaper.
The battery life is at best 3 days.
Looking for recommendations as to where to go for a hearing test and then for what type to purchase.

Hoping that someone can point me in the right direction as they are costly pieces of technology.

[Anna B 1,417]

A relative paid £4,000 for hers from a private supplier.

I got mine free from the NHS (although I had to wait a while for an appointmnent.)

They were exactly the same, (ie. excellent.)

 

She took hers back, and went to the NHS instead. 

We're both very happy with the result.

 

Just don't get those really tiny ones you see advertised in the paper. 

They are impossible to get out of the ear, and might require a trip to A&E.

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Anna B

[Jim Hardie 536]

35 minutes ago, Anna B said:

Just don't get those really tiny ones you see advertised in the paper. 

They are impossible to get out of the ear, and might require a trip to A&E.

 

I took someone to A&E a few years ago for exactly that. It was a Friday night and there was lots of fun, when we came out it was getting light. The actual job took two minutes.

[Anna B 1,417]

2 hours ago, Jim Hardie said:

I took someone to A&E a few years ago for exactly that. It was a Friday night and there was lots of fun, when we came out it was getting light. The actual job took two minutes.

Yes, I can well believe it...

Edited July 20, 2023 by Anna B

[deej 15]

If you go to your gp they refer you to Hallamshire hospital, there is a wait but worth it. 

[Padders 2,890]

7 minutes ago, deej said:

If you go to your gp they refer you to Hallamshire hospital, there is a wait but worth it. 

Can anyone get a free hearing aid on the NHS.

My daughters keep telling me get one, mind you they talk in whispers.

[hackey lad 3,995]

Just now, Padders said:

Can anyone get a free hearing aid on the NHS.

My daughters keep telling me get one, mind you they talk in whispers.

Don't listen to em .

[Padders 2,890]

1 minute ago, hackey lad said:

Don't listen to em .

I have to do as I'm told.  ☹️

[hackey lad 3,995]

5 minutes ago, Padders said:

I have to do as I'm told.  ☹️

Come on Padders , put your foot down with a firm hand 

[Padders 2,890]

4 minutes ago, hackey lad said:

Come on Padders , put your foot down with a firm hand 

I daren't Hackey, I just act daft.

[hackey lad 3,995]

21 minutes ago, Padders said:

I daren't Hackey, I just act daft.

Works well enough for me  😀

[Anna B 1,417]

3 hours ago, Padders said:

Can anyone get a free hearing aid on the NHS.

My daughters keep telling me get one, mind you they talk in whispers.

Yes I think anyone can get them if they need them. The doctor will refer you and the hospital/ clinic, and they will do all the necessary tests to find out. 

 

I didn't think I needed them either, even though I was having trouble hearing what people were saying on TV, even with the sound up, but I thought it was because they were all mumbling. I was having to use the subtitles to see what people were saying.

 

Then during Lockdown when people were wearing masks I couldn't tell what they were saying, and realised how much I was relying on lip reading,  I think I went for a test at Boots at some stage, (probably because Doctors were out of bounds at the time) and they confirmed I had problems with certain pitches. (They also tried to sell me very expensive hearing aids, but I declined, and decided to wait.)

 

However with the NHS hearing aids everything's as clear as a bell.  I didn't realise just how poor my hearing was at certain pitches until I got them. They're easy to use, very comfortable and discrete, you can barely see them. They really make a world of difference.

They're great.

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Anna B