NHS Hearing Aids

havanachow

Hi all,
My hearing has got steadily worse over the last few years and it is time to admit that I think I need an hearing aid.
Can you tell me how I go about it please ?
I have looked online and most optcians do free hearing tests, but they do not supply hearing aids.
My Hubby (who also needs an hearing test) enquired at our GP surgery today and the receptionist said "we do not deal with that, you have to go to an Opticians." 

So, if we go to an Opticians and have our ears tested, can you tell me what happens after that please ?

Many thanks,
Von 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @havanachow

How are you today?

I did a little bit of research and found that being referred through your GP is what is stated on the NHS website. They do say that dependent on the type, you may need to pay and go private. 

havanachow

Hi, 
Thank you for your reply. 
Yes, that is what we thought, but when my My Husband asked the receptionist at the doctors about a nhs hearing test and hearing aid  she told him they didn't do them and that he would have to get it done at the opticians. We wondered what happens afterwards 🤔. Does the optician get in touch with the doctors to get an nhs hearing aid 🤔.
There doesn't seem to be any instructions on nhs hearing aids, it all seems to be about buying them.
So confused 

Hannah_Alumni

Hi @havanachow

I think maybe a call to the GP surgery, just to speak to someone possibly more senior to double check the information. It says the GP is to refer you to the hearing specialist, I think you'll need to just establish whether they have one linked to the GP Surgery or whether they mean you find somewhere and get the report from them. 

Because the website says;

Hearing aids are available on the NHS.

Your GP can refer you to an NHS hearing aid provider if they think you might need a hearing aid.

The benefits of getting a hearing aid on the NHS include:

• hearing aids are provided for free as a long-term loan
• batteries and repairs are free (there may be a charge if you lose or break your hearing aid and it needs to be replaced)
• you do not have to pay for any follow-up appointments or aftercare

But while several modern hearing aids are available on the NHS, these are usually the BTE or, very occasionally, the RITE type. You may need to pay for private treatment if you want one of the other types.

The waiting time for getting a hearing aid on the NHS can sometimes be longer than the wait for private treatment.

There are two types, Behind The Ear (BTE) and Receiver In The Ear (RITE) that are the usual ones available. 

I do know that Boots provide free hearing tests which you can book online. 

janer1967

Try calling somewhere that does the hearing tests 

It might work like nhs glasses where the optician get an allowance towards the cost if the patient is eligible for financial support 

This is only a suggestion I could be very wrong but they will be able to explain the process 

durhamjaide2001

Have you got vision impairment because if you go to the same department I'm sure they would be able to help you further. 

barney44

You need to see the g.p and explain that your hearing has deteriorated to such a extent that you are finding it difficult to manage, and is having a real impact on your day to day living,  following conversations, hearing the t.v, using the telephone etc. Hopefully the Dr. will refer you to a audiologist at the hospital who will try to find the reason for your hearing loss,and if he feels hearing aids would help you they would then be supplied. For what it is worth, I wear 2 hearing aids and paid a lot money for private ones but would never do it again, the  n.h.s aids work equally as well in my opinion.  

Cplife

@havanachow hi I went to my GP and she sent me to have my ears syringe first and then referred me to the hospital because I wasn’t old enough for hearing problems although I’ve had it most of my life I would definitely speak to your gp 
hope this helps 

it was the best thing I ever did. 

havanachow

Thanks for your help everyone who replied. I think I will try to get an appointment with a Gp. I was a bit worried (I suffer with Anxiety) about wasting their time if that wasn't the way to go, but now I feel more confident about going.
Thank you again, for all of your input, I have taken it all onboard.
Take care all. 

Cartini

havanachow said:

Thanks for your help everyone who replied. I think I will try to get an appointment with a Gp. I was a bit worried (I suffer with Anxiety) about wasting their time if that wasn't the way to go, but now I feel more confident about going.
Thank you again, for all of your input, I have taken it all onboard.
Take care all. 

Hi,

A bit late in the conversation.......

I received hearing aids last December; I have noise damage in both ears (ex RN, damage caused by small arms fire and manning radio circuits) but it`s worse in my left ear.  I also have bilateral tinnitus, my left ear being the worst (again).

For my left ear, the aids have made very little, if any, difference at all.  For my right ear I`m now hearing squeaks and creaks when I walk round that I`ve never heard before.

One problem I have is watching films; sometimes voices (especially male) can be quite low, but my aids sort that out.

The only drawback I have is that my ear, where it touches the ear piece, can get really, really itchy.  But it`s a small price for clearer hearing.

I hope yours provide what you are looking for.

Andy

vikingqueen

Sorry to go off topic but @Cartini without being rude or insensitive when you said your hearing was damaged it made me smile. My father (who made it through WW1 unscathed) had to go for a medical and the 'young' doctor asked him "did you hear any loud noises during the war that might have contributed to your hearing loss" 
   I hit the floor laughing and my father very seriously said " hmm there might have been 1 or 2 but it's hard to remember which one did the damage"
 The youth of today can't comprehend some things 🥴 

Cartini

vikingqueen said:

Sorry to go off topic but @Cartini without being rude or insensitive when you said your hearing was damaged it made me smile. My father (who made it through WW1 unscathed) had to go for a medical and the 'young' doctor asked him "did you hear any loud noises during the war that might have contributed to your hearing loss" 
   I hit the floor laughing and my father very seriously said " hmm there might have been 1 or 2 but it's hard to remember which one did the damage"
 The youth of today can't comprehend some things 🥴 

You weren`t rude or insensitive to me, I thought that was quite funny So true about the youth of today.

Steve_in_The_City

The NHS hearing aids are quite good. They supply behind the ear aids, and batteries are free. Squeaking is caused by earwax, keep your aids clean, or because they are not balanced, so get them looked in to. All opticians do free hearing tests, but then they want to flog you expensive aids. So get a referral from your doctor. 

sookiegirl

Another NHS hearing aid user here. My hearing test was done via the doctor’s recommendation to Audiology at the local hospital. So speak to your doctors. 

sookiegirl

vikingqueen said:

Sorry to go off topic but @Cartini without being rude or insensitive when you said your hearing was damaged it made me smile. My father (who made it through WW1 unscathed) had to go for a medical and the 'young' doctor asked him "did you hear any loud noises during the war that might have contributed to your hearing loss" 
   I hit the floor laughing and my father very seriously said " hmm there might have been 1 or 2 but it's hard to remember which one did the damage"
 The youth of today can't comprehend some things 🥴 

That made me chuckle 🤣