Hearing Aids

[trixilator]

One of my all-singing, all-dancing very expensive hearing aids purchased from Aged UK 3 years ago, has ceased to function. Apparently Aged no longer market hearing aids and have passed
this to Amplifon. I've tried them - they say they cant fix it on site and will need to "send it away" for repair at a cost of £100! but "rather than go to that expense, why don't I come in for
assessment to purchase a new one" These cost £495 each.....
I would be hard pressed to afford either of these options. I talked to another supplier who gave
me similar - except they charge £250 to "send away for repair."
Any suggestions please. Thanks

[retrocop]

Go NHS. Both mine do the job well and free batteries and service.

[anotheoldgit]

Strange but they are only free in certain areas.

[SparklyKid]

Mine was free and totally brilliant. Better than my friend who paid £1000 and has now gone back to NHS.

[woofgang]

AOG according to this, hearing aids are frfee on the NHS anywhere within the NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/hearing-aids/#

[jennyjoan]

Over the years I have bought many expensive hearing aids like thousands. I am now using NHS and it has been the best ever.

[jennyjoan]

^^^ thousands of pounds

[Baldric]

Really JJ, you've spent thousands of Pounds on hearing aids?

[SparklyKid]

When mine was replaced recently I bought one from Argos for £35. It was really good, suitable for left and right, just a bit bulkier than the NHS ones.

[jennyjoan]

I have indeed Baldric way before the NHS ones came out (behind the ear) when I was young I had to wear the box with the wire coming up to my ears. Before that again the batteries were separate from the hearing aids and my mother made me a battery pouch which I wore like a shoulder bag.

[jennyjoan]

There is a massive difference to a hearing aid and amplifier aid. If you get by with the amplifier then you are not deaf.

[andres]

My NHS batteries are free from the local Health Centre but I have to get the date I receive them entered in my booklet. So many people with private hearing aids were just going in and getting them for free.

[trixilator]

…..should have mentioned, Had NHS for several years until I lost one!
Received short shrift from Audiologist for my carelessness who clearly
wasn't willing to re-assess me - so I "went private"

[maggiebee]

Wear an NHS hearing aid and have done for years. Get a recall every two years to have my hearing re-checked. Free repair service and batteries too. Brilliant service.

[Mamyalynne]

Seems like it's time to go back to the NHS Trixi, a charge can be made for a lost aid, but given the lapse of a few years I'm sure they'll help you again.

[retrocop]

//…..should have mentioned, Had NHS for several years until I lost one!
Received short shrift from Audiologist for my carelessness who clearly
wasn't willing to re-assess me - so I "went private"//

You were lucky not to be charged £100 by the NHS audiologist. I had to sign that if damage through carelessness or loss occurred whilst the hearing aids were in my possession I would pay that sum for each hearing aid. They are not given free for life. They are actually on loan and should be returned to NHS when no longer required by next of kin etc. :-(

[TonyV]

I would go to your local NHS hearing clinic, mine was free at the time. Local GP's nurse said my hearing was fine, but I did not like the age of equipment she was using so went to local hospital and walked away with free hearing aid and batteries.

[retrocop]

I note that when I first went private about 25 years ago the hearing aid was about a grand. It was an Opticon. Now I have bit the bullet and returned to the NHS I find their make is also Opticon. Good kit.

[-SharonA-]

When volunteering for AOHL we always recommended they went to the NHS. Oticon as retro says is one of their best hearing aids. Do not buy as they can be very expensive.
https://www.oticon.co.uk/hearing-aid-users

[jennyjoan]

I am just looking at my aid - mine is oticon too - I also have a bought one in its box -and the oticon is much superior - love it.

Trixi - go back to the NHS - I always found them fabulous service. You may have got somebody in bad mood that day.

I only have to ring for tubing and batteries - I get them very quickly by post. Also the tubing is now cut into a point so that it is easy to pull through the aid and cut off.