Spectacle Hear Aids

[Coldicote]

My hearing is not as good as it might be. I've tried the usual kind of hearing aid that sits over the ear, but it make a shrill whistling noise whenever I attempt to use it, so I've cast it aside. I understand there are now spectacles with a hearing aid. As I occasionally wear specs this kind might be worth a try, but does it mean buying new specs or is the aid something that can be bought separately and attached? Glad of any information.

[Sqad]

Luckily, at the moment i do not need a hearing aid.

Spectacle+H.A combined were of poor quality up until about 20 years ago, but now are much better both spectacle and H.A
But before you go down that road, remember that they are expensive and the aid cannot be separated from the spectacles.

Clearly you are not happy with your present aid and i presume that you have been back to the Audiology Dept to sort out the whistling.

If this is the case, then you may well be better suited to an "in the canal" aid, but i do not think that they are available on the NHS.

I would suggest that you go to a reputable H.A dealer or indeed Spectsavers and see if you could get an ITC aid on trial.

[chrissa1]

I am a new hearing aid user and it does take time to get used to. With regards to the whistling, are you sure you have the part that goes into your ear, far enough in? If it is just sitting at the entrance to your ear, it will be picking up extraneous noises, hence the whistling.
I wear glasses all the time and only hear this whistling as I am pushing it in to my ear. When it is fully in, the whistling stops.

[SlackAlice]

I think you need to go back to your Audiology Dept and tell them about your problems with the 'whistling'. NHS do offer 'in the canal' aids but it obviously depends on the level of hearing loss. I have heard (bad pun!) they also offer 'digital' aids which are considered very good.

I did have an 'in the canal' analogue aid from the NHS which I never really got on with it because it multiplied all sounds equally and I couldn't pick out the spoken word very well. I now use an 'in the canal' digital aid from Specsavers which has been set up to pick out conversation and has three settings for work, normal and the wife (joke!)

If your only an occasional user of spectacles then I think it may well be a poor choice for you. You've also got to consider if you need to change your spectacles then hearing aids will have to be changed as well, which is increasing your costs.

I'd go to Audiology and see what they've got to say, they may well offer you 'in the canal' digital aids. There are a few High St stores that offer aids, but keep your wits about you, some are eyewateringly expensive.

[Coldicote]

Thank you for these caring answers. I need someone to take me when I go out anywhere, but must try to get this problem properly sorted.

[chrissa1]

Oh, I should have said that mine is digital and is an NHS aid. Definitely go back to the Audiology Dept. as SA has said.

[SlackAlice]

I should also add that my old NHS aid was some time ago and was analogue which the NHS no longer issue.

Don't forget you get 'free' batteries as well.

[anneasquith]

eric sykes had hearing ears attached to his glasses.