Hearing aids

[Nemo]

A nurse at a local surgery has told a relative that the NHS does not do hearing aids and that she would have to go private - complete nonsense of course but why would the nurse say that? Two possible explanations:

1. Nurse is ignorant of how the system works - unlikely but possible as she is the one who takes bloods.

2. Cost to the surgery. Apparently the NHS in her postcode sends people to Specksavers so does the cost come off the surgery's budget?

Anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

[servodude]

A nurse at a local surgery has told a relative that the NHS does not do hearing aids and that she would have to go private - complete nonsense of course but why would the nurse say that? Two possible explanations:

1. Nurse is ignorant of how the system works - unlikely but possible as she is the one who takes bloods.

2. Cost to the surgery. Apparently the NHS in her postcode sends people to Specksavers so does the cost come off the surgery's budget?

Anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

A third option is that the hearing aid selections available via the NHS are not comprehensive and the patient's needs might not be properly served by the options they have.

So while they obviously do "do hearing aids" they might not be suitable for everyone.

Anyone should be able to be referred to an NHS audiologist though (without any cost to the GP practice short of a bit of paperwork - perhaps this is the problem?!) and it will be after that evaluation that an assesment of treatment will be made with the differences in available devices and outcomes explained.

-sd

[Lootman]

A nurse at a local surgery has told a relative that the NHS does not do hearing aids and that she would have to go private - complete nonsense of course but why would the nurse say that? Two possible explanations:

1. Nurse is ignorant of how the system works - unlikely but possible as she is the one who takes bloods.

2. Cost to the surgery. Apparently the NHS in her postcode sends people to Specksavers so does the cost come off the surgery's budget?

Anyone shed any light on this?

A third option is that the hearing aid selections available via the NHS are not comprehensive and the patient's needs might not be properly served by the options they have.

So while they obviously do "do hearing aids" they might not be suitable for everyone.

Anyone should be able to be referred to an NHS audiologist though (without any cost to the GP practice short of a bit of paperwork - perhaps this is the problem?!) and it will be after that evaluation that an assesment of treatment will be made with the differences in available devices and outcomes explained.

Same thing with a foot problem I had last year. NHS doc said I could wait months for a "free" appointment with a specialist OR get sorted tomorrow privately. Cost me £40 to go pruvate as I recall.

The NHS is doomed.

[servodude]

A nurse at a local surgery has told a relative that the NHS does not do hearing aids and that she would have to go private - complete nonsense of course but why would the nurse say that? Two possible explanations:

1. Nurse is ignorant of how the system works - unlikely but possible as she is the one who takes bloods.

2. Cost to the surgery. Apparently the NHS in her postcode sends people to Specksavers so does the cost come off the surgery's budget?

Anyone shed any light on this?

A third option is that the hearing aid selections available via the NHS are not comprehensive and the patient's needs might not be properly served by the options they have.

So while they obviously do "do hearing aids" they might not be suitable for everyone.

Anyone should be able to be referred to an NHS audiologist though (without any cost to the GP practice short of a bit of paperwork - perhaps this is the problem?!) and it will be after that evaluation that an assesment of treatment will be made with the differences in available devices and outcomes explained.

Same thing with a foot problem I had last year. NHS doc said I could wait months for a "free" appointment with a specialist OR get sorted tomorrow privately. Cost me £40 to go pruvate as I recall.

The NHS is doomed.

I can see why you might think that but Specsavers have been very hit and miss in their audiology - I would find it difficult to recommend them.

[Lootman]

A third option is that the hearing aid selections available via the NHS are not comprehensive and the patient's needs might not be properly served by the options they have.

So while they obviously do "do hearing aids" they might not be suitable for everyone.

Anyone should be able to be referred to an NHS audiologist though (without any cost to the GP practice short of a bit of paperwork - perhaps this is the problem?!) and it will be after that evaluation that an assesment of treatment will be made with the differences in available devices and outcomes explained.

Same thing with a foot problem I had last year. NHS doc said I could wait months for a "free" appointment with a specialist OR get sorted tomorrow privately. Cost me £40 to go pruvate as I recall.

The NHS is doomed.

I can see why you might think that but Specsavers have been very hit and miss in their audiology - I would find it difficult to recommend them.

For vision I use a private ophthalmologist. I would not be seen dead in Specsavers.

[Nemo]

I can see why you might think that but Specsavers have been very hit and miss in their audiology - I would find it difficult to recommend them.

Me too, but the relative is retired and can't afford to go private.

I think that the surgery (which is also mine) is struggling financially and has been cutting back on services over the past few years. I just wondered if this was a cost saving thing.

[scrumpyjack]

The Specsavers I go to has been excellent for audiology. Any business is only as good as the people who see you.

I went NHS before and that was fine. The aids were much larger but OK.

Just had new ones from Specsavers which are really excellent. One thing I like is that they hook up to my phone and I can just tap my ear to answer a call and then talk whilst my phone is still in the golf bag (they have built in microphones). (But they cost £1,900 for the pair - they are rechargeable which is nice).

[pje16]

Same thing with a foot problem I had last year. NHS doc said I could wait months for a "free" appointment with a specialist OR get sorted tomorrow privately. Cost me £40 to go pruvate as I recall.

The NHS is doomed.

I have a few issues at the moment
I could have gone private in January for 1 appointment at £400
but I now have 5 hospital appointments in a 20-day period this month including 3 this Thursday
The NHS works just fine in my case, hardly doomed

[servodude]

The Specsavers I go to has been excellent for audiology. Any business is only as good as the people who see you.

I went NHS before and that was fine. The aids were much larger but OK.

Just had new ones from Specsavers which are really excellent. One thing I like is that they hook up to my phone and I can just tap my ear to answer a call and then talk whilst my phone is still in the golf bag (they have built in microphones). (But they cost £1,900 for the pair - they are rechargeable which is nice).

Certainly the folk make most of the difference.

But I've tried Specsavers a few times in both the UK and Australia and their audiology is heavily skewed simply towards sell hearing aids - such is the business model.
I've had varying degrees of competency in the testing itself and been offered a few different products. Only one of them pointed out that I wouldn't really benefit from hearing aids at present (I'd lose more than I gained).

None of them pointed out I should have an MRI - which was the first thing I had done following my original (post onset) hearing test at the Edinburgh Royal.

You might get a good one but I'd always recommend having your hearing checked by someone who isn't on commission also

[Dod101]

The Specsavers I go to has been excellent for audiology. Any business is only as good as the people who see you.

I went NHS before and that was fine. The aids were much larger but OK.

Just had new ones from Specsavers which are really excellent. One thing I like is that they hook up to my phone and I can just tap my ear to answer a call and then talk whilst my phone is still in the golf bag (they have built in microphones). (But they cost £1,900 for the pair - they are rechargeable which is nice).

I was going to ask about the cost. Compared to what I pay, that is giving them away.

Dod

[scrumpyjack]

The Specsavers I go to has been excellent for audiology. Any business is only as good as the people who see you.

I went NHS before and that was fine. The aids were much larger but OK.

Just had new ones from Specsavers which are really excellent. One thing I like is that they hook up to my phone and I can just tap my ear to answer a call and then talk whilst my phone is still in the golf bag (they have built in microphones). (But they cost £1,900 for the pair - they are rechargeable which is nice).

I was going to ask about the cost. Compared to what I pay, that is giving them away.

Dod

I'm surprised. They are the most expensive ones Specsavers do, they're Phonak ones.
Also for 4 years everything is included, damage repairs, batteries if you have them, visits to the audiologist etc.
I asked what happens if I get towards the 4 years and the batteries don't hold their charge so well. She said, just bring them in before the 4 years are up and we'll give you replacement aids.

[Dod101]

The Specsavers I go to has been excellent for audiology. Any business is only as good as the people who see you.

I went NHS before and that was fine. The aids were much larger but OK.

Just had new ones from Specsavers which are really excellent. One thing I like is that they hook up to my phone and I can just tap my ear to answer a call and then talk whilst my phone is still in the golf bag (they have built in microphones). (But they cost £1,900 for the pair - they are rechargeable which is nice).

I was going to ask about the cost. Compared to what I pay, that is giving them away.

Dod

I'm surprised. They are the most expensive ones Specsavers do, they're Phonak ones.
Also for 4 years everything is included, damage repairs, batteries if you have them, visits to the audiologist etc.
I asked what happens if I get towards the 4 years and the batteries don't hold their charge so well. She said, just bring them in before the 4 years are up and we'll give you replacement aids.

Many thanks for all that. I have Phonak ones that are just out of warranty and I have been looking at whether I should replace them. I have (well had) exactly the same conditions re maintenance etc. A chat with Specsavers seems to be on the cards. At the very least it will provide me with some bargaining power.

Dod

[MrFoolish]

I'd like to know the component costs for those hearing aids. I suspect the markup must be phenomenal.

It's like glasses frames which cost a lot but are just a bit of bent metal or plastic.

[servodude]

I'd like to know the component costs for those hearing aids. I suspect the markup must be phenomenal.

It's like glasses frames which cost a lot but are just a bit of bent metal or plastic.

I'm sure there's nothing stopping you from buying the bits and putting one together yourself

[GrahamPlatt]

There’s a great piece here detailing how to use Apple Airpods as (very effective) hearing aids.

https://toot.cat/@garry/110005074038777944

£250 or so instead of the £1000s the hearing aid shops do you for.

[AsleepInYorkshire]

A nurse at a local surgery has told a relative that the NHS does not do hearing aids and that she would have to go private - complete nonsense of course but why would the nurse say that? Two possible explanations:

1. Nurse is ignorant of how the system works - unlikely but possible as she is the one who takes bloods.

2. Cost to the surgery. Apparently the NHS in her postcode sends people to Specsavers so does the cost come off the surgery's budget?

Anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

I've got NHS hearing aids. I can call in at the local hospital for free batteries and other parts as needed. I don't bother as I get them of the internet and they're not expensive.

I've had no issues with them although I am overdue for a check-up. But given that my hearing remains fine with them in I don't see the point in making an appointment for nothing.

The NHS tests were more thorough than the private and there was no coercion to buy expensive hearing aids. Whilst my hearing aids don't tune into my phone (which isn't an expensive Apple i-Phone) they are discreet and work very well.

AiY(D)

[Dod101]

I'd like to know the component costs for those hearing aids. I suspect the markup must be phenomenal.

It's like glasses frames which cost a lot but are just a bit of bent metal or plastic.

My phonak hearing aids are rather more than a bit of bent metal. They have a tiny receiver in them and can do all sorts of magic stuff in sorting out sound. I would not deny the mark up will be significant but you could well say that about some magic pharma pill. It is what goes on behind the scenes to get to to that point that you are paying for.

Dod

[GrahamPlatt]

[

The NHS tests were more thorough than the private and there was no coercion to buy expensive hearing aids. Whilst my hearing aids don't tune into my phone (which isn't an expensive Apple i-Phone) they are discreet and work very well.

AiY(D)

An iPhone _and_ the Airpods wouldn’t be as much as scrumpyjack quotes above. But I agree, NHS is best.

[MrFoolish]

I'd like to know the component costs for those hearing aids. I suspect the markup must be phenomenal.

It's like glasses frames which cost a lot but are just a bit of bent metal or plastic.

My phonak hearing aids are rather more than a bit of bent metal. They have a tiny receiver in them and can do all sorts of magic stuff in sorting out sound. I would not deny the mark up will be significant but you could well say that about some magic pharma pill. It is what goes on behind the scenes to get to to that point that you are paying for.

Dod

Yep I'm certainly not denying their functional value to you. It just annoys me when people have to pay way above normal consumer prices because they have some medical need.

Granted these things contain a microphone and a DSP for personalisation, but they are not hugely more complicated than decent Bluetooth headphones. They are probably on a par with noise cancelling headphones in terms of the underlying tech. Though admittedly some time is put into customising them for you.

Going back to glasses frames, I remember watching a documentary which suggested there's some sharp anti-competitive practices which keeps the prices high, and I wonder if the same applies to hearing aids.

Just my humble opinion.

[Dod101]

My phonak hearing aids are rather more than a bit of bent metal. They have a tiny receiver in them and can do all sorts of magic stuff in sorting out sound. I would not deny the mark up will be significant but you could well say that about some magic pharma pill. It is what goes on behind the scenes to get to to that point that you are paying for.

Dod

Yep I'm certainly not denying their functional value to you. It just annoys me when people have to pay way above normal consumer prices because they have some medical need.

Granted these things contain a microphone and a DSP for personalisation, but they are not hugely more complicated than decent Bluetooth headphones. They are probably on a par with noise cancelling headphones in terms of the underlying tech. Though admittedly some time is put into customising them for you.

Going back to glasses frames, I remember watching a documentary which suggested there's some sharp anti-competitive practices which keeps the prices high, and I wonder if the same applies to hearing aids.

Just my humble opinion.

You could well be right. As far as glasses are concerned I have worn them all my life although since I had my cataracts removed and artificial lenses I have not had my prescription changed and that must be 12/15 years ago. Wish they could the same for my hearing.

Dod