Hearing Aids NHS
Hearing Aids NHS – NHS or Private hearing aids?
Hearing Aids NHS. NHS hearing aids can have such a massive impact on a person’s life. If you have hearing loss in the UK then you will be able to access free hearing aids via the NHS. You will need to see your GP for them to check that there isn’t any treatable reason for your deafness – wax build-up or infection etc. Then age becomes more than just a number. If you are under 55 you will be referred to your local hospital audiology department. If you are over 55 you will be able to go to an AQP (Any Qualified Provider). Examples of AQP’s are: Scrivens, Specsavers and Audiological Science. It is undoubtedly fantastic that we can access NHS Hearing aids. However, there are benefits to the increased level of technology in the private hearing aids. If you are self-financing and considering private hearing aids, you can self-refer and just book an appointment. We’d love to help you. We can assist you with each step towards buying new or refurbished hearing aids, whilst benefitting from our ‘Won’t be beaten on price guarantee’.
Why not try our online hearing test?
Try our online hearing test? This is not a diagnostic tool but may help give you an idea of if you need to book an appointment. Or possibly it will set your mind at rest!?
We, in the UK, are not unique in helping people access and afford hearing aids. Lots of countries help people with the cost of hearing aids. Either through a voucher or reimbursement system. However, many countries have no public financial assistance. We receive so many questions regarding hearing aids NHS. Hope we can answer most of them here. However, if you do have any queries big or small, please do get in touch with us either:
By phone: 0330 230 3333
Email: info@affordable-hearing.co.uk
Or if you’d like a more detailed chat about please book a video call: HERE
Types of Hearing Aids
A diagnosis of hearing loss can be enough to adjust to by itself. There are so many different types of hearing aids available. Before we go into more detail on which hearing aids are provided by the NHS we thought it would be good to debunk what’s out there!
Behind the Ear (BTE)
Behind the Ear hearing aids make up the majority of hearing aids dispensed by the NHS.
The plastic hearing aid housing sits behind your ear.
The sound travels through a tube, either to a fitted ear mould or to an open fitting (a soft tip that fits inside your ear)
BTE hearing aids are the easiest to adjust to and suit all levels of hearing loss.
Receiver in the Ear (RITE)
RITE casing is generally slightly smaller than BTE.
Both RITE and BTE main components sit behind your ear. The main difference between RITE and BTE hearing aids is that with RITE the sound travels through a wire and is connected to a receiver (speaker) that sits inside your ear.
NHS aids a more likely to be BTE than RITE.
In the Ear (ITE)
In the Ear (ITE) hearing aids.
These fill the area at the top of your ear canal (the opening to your ear).
ITE hearing aids cannot be seen from behind in the way BTE and RITE can be. They are, however, visible from the side. The hearing aid completely blocks the ear canal and so the wearer will experience occlusion. Occlusion is when your voice sounds different, often described as ‘boomy’.
In the Canal (ITC)
In the Canal (ITC) hearing aids are very similar to ITE ones. They are just slightly smaller. Rather than filling the whole of the area at the top of the ear opening they sit slightly further in.
Their smaller size makes them fiddly and slightly more difficult to use. The smaller casing required to help them fit more snugly in the canal tends not to suit more severe hearing loss.
Concealed in Canal Hearing Aids
Traditional CIC hearing aids compared to newer IIC ones.
As technology has evolved (and shrunk) it is now possible to make hearing aids small enough to fit entirely within the ear canal so the are completely invisible.
Both of these styles are incredibly discrete. They are not available on the NHS. However, both will create occlusion for the wearer.
All styles comparison
An overview of the most common styles of hearing aids.
We thought this was a really useful image. Demonstrating the majority of the different styles that are available. The most commonly supplied NHS aids are BTE. Although some regions have access to RITE, bluetooth and rechargeable aids.
‘Custom’ refers to individually fitted from a personal mould. Generally 3D printed from an impression cast by your audiologist.
CROS AND BiCROS hearing aids. A system to help with unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss when there is a ‘good’ or a ‘better’ level of hearing on one side
CROS and BiCROS hearing aid systems are available on the NHS. They feature two devices. Generally BTE or RITE appliances. In the case of both set ups there is an ‘unaidable’ ear. Meaning one ear has little or no hearing. What looks like a hearing aid is placed on the ‘unaidable’ side. However, there is no receiver (speaker) on this side. It is purely a microphone to pick up sound from that side and a transmitter.
The transmitter sends the sound to the hearing aid on the other side. If there is also hearing loss, just not an ‘unaidable’ amount on the other side, then the sound will be sent to a hearing aid. This is the BiCROS system. If the other ear doesn’t also require a hearing aid then this will just be a receiver (CROS system) to pass the sound into the hearing ear.
Do you have a good side?
Many people notice for quite a long time, before they go and ask for help with their hearing, that they have a ‘good’ side. Do you always try to sit, stand, walk along with people on one particular side? If you think you may have uneven hearing loss and could benefit from a CROS or BiCROS system, please do get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to find the right set up to help you. We have quite a few CROS and BiCROS systems available in our New and Refurbished Hearing Aids sections. Why not CONTACT US and we’ll see how we can help you.
Bone Conduction Hearing Aids
Bone conduction hearing aids transmit the sound to the nerves through the skull bones behind the ear.
They consist of two parts. A device holding the microphone and then a band to secure the bone conductor. The conductor vibrates when there is sound. Bone conduction hearing aids are available on the NHS.
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (require surgery)
These are a type of bone conduction hearing aid. Vibrations through the bone caused by noise are used to transmit sound impulses to the brain. The key difference is that with bone anchored hearing aids you need to have an implant into the bone. This implant connects to a unit containing a microphone and signal processor.
Cochlear Implants
A cochlear implant is not strictly speaking a hearing aid. It is classed as a prosthetic.
However, we have included it as it restores the ability to hear some sounds and hopefully the ability to understand speech. The device has an external part as well as an internal part which needs to be surgically implanted. Although they are relatively complex to both fit and for a patient to adjust to they can be transformational. The first one was fitted in 1989 with more than 20,000 people now benefitting from them.
Body Worn Hearing Aids
Body worn hearing aids are very rarely used these days. The advances in hearing aid technology and accessories has meant that there are much better solutions now. School children are supplied with accessories such as partner mics by the NHS, to help them in school. They are, also, available to buy privately. We have a good selection of refurbished ones available. Please do get in touch if you’d like any information regarding any of our hearing aids and accessories.
Which Hearing Aids do NHS provide?
BTE Hearing Aids
The NHS mainly supply BTE hearing aids. NHS hearing aids tend to be a few years behind the technology of the private hearing aids. This means that our refurbished hearing aids offer very good value technology. NHS hearing aids improve all the time. It cannot be disputed that we are so lucky in the UK to be able to access them. Although demand and scarce resources mean that you often have to wait up to 6 months from your hearing test until you receive your NHS hearing aids. The waiting time for private hearing aids is generally between 1 and 2 weeks depending on if you decide on a custom moulded product.
In Canal Hearing Aids
Some NHS departments will offer an in canal hearing aid. However, it is really very rare. It is generally necessary to buy these privately.
Bluetooth Hearing Aids
More NHS bluetooth enabled hearing aids are becoming available. It’s a bit of a postcode lottery but the reach is spreading.
Rechargeable Hearing Aids
Similarly rechargeable hearing aids. More hearing departments are upgrading their NHS hearing aid stock to rechargeable models.
The rest….
The NHS doesn’t really supply body worn hearing aids any more. However, increasing numbers of people are reeciving Cochlear Implants. With over half of all children with profound hearing loss now benefitting from them. Both Bone Conducting and Bone Anchored Hearing Aids are supplied by the NHS.
Which Hearing Aids do NHS supply?
Over the years most of the major hearing aid manufacturers have supplied NHS hearing aids. Each Primary Care Trust (PCT) negotiates with the various companies. So where you live will have a large bearing on which hearing aids your local Hearing Department or AQP will be dispensing. In the past Starkey and Siemens have also made NHS hearing aids. However, more recently, you are most likely to receive an NHS hearing aid made by Phonak, GN Resound, Danalogic (same as Resound but dedicated to the NHS) or Oticon.
NHS Hearing Aids Pictures!
Until very recently your NHS hearing aid would likely have looked a lot like this! The older technology was both much bigger and less sophisticated. Which meant that the unit behind your ear was much larger. The tube carrying the sound was thicker and you would have had a full plastic mould in your ear. Depending on the severity of your hearing loss you may still need a power aid (larger casing) and an occluding custom mould.
In a world where so much seems to get bigger year on year, hearing aids have got much smaller. Huge technological advance have enabled the capability of hearing aids to increase in direct opposite to their physical size. The purchasing power of the NHS has meant that they have been able to take advantage of these progressions and pass the benefits on to all of us. Meaning NHS hearing aids are much more discrete.
This image of NHS hearing aids pictures shows some of the NHS hearing aids dispensed to Hearing Aids Direct Founder Zoe over the years. Unsurprisingly the largest was one of the very first hearing aids dispensed to her when she was 17 years old. The middle sized one came next! The third and smallest is one of the first hearing aids Zoe bought. A pair of Phonak B (Belong) 90’s. We normally have some available in our refurbished hearing aids section.
Bluetooth hearing aids NHS UK
Bluetooth hearing aids NHS UK. Hearing aids with built-in bluetooth technology have been one of the biggest game-changers in hearing aid technology of recent years. Bluetooth technology can now be used to stream directly from many devices to your hearing aids. There are also many accessories which also use the bluetooth technology that can be extremely helpful to hearing aid wearers. Partner mics can pick out specific people or presentations in the noisiest of environments and beam the sound direct to your hearing aids. Meaning you can hear loud and clear in the most difficult situations. Some areas offer bluetooth hearing aids NHS. However, not all. Most direct bluetooth streaming will require ‘smart’ devices. Smart phones and smart TV’s etc. Sometimes connecting via an accessory will be easier. Enabling you to experience the benefits without the stress of too many menus and options.
Hearing Implants and the NHS
The most common types of hearing implants are cochlear implants and bone conduction implants. Both of which we have outlined in ‘types of hearing aids’ earlier in this article.
There are two other types of hearing implants: Middle Ear Implants and Auditory Brainstem Implants. Both of these hearing solutions require surgery. In the case of brainstem implants it is a relatively complex operation and very difficult to carry out leading to mixed results.
All these forms of hearing implants are available through the NHS. They are very specialist procedures to treat very specific hearing problems. Hearing Implants are only used when a traditional hearing aid isn’t possible. This can be to do with a damaged or missing hearing nerve or allergy and infection issues.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s)
Assistive Listening Devices can also be referred to as Assistive Listening Systems and Assistive Listening Technologies. They are designed to help you hear in difficult listening environments. For example trying to discern speech in noisy settings such as in crowds. Some of the systems are specifically designed to be used with your telephone, television and music players. In the UK we understand how important it is to focus on early years education. Most hearing impaired children in the UK will have access to ALD’s to help them at school. ALD’s are not generally dispensed to adults with their NHS hearing aids. For this reason we aren’t going to go into too much detail as this article is all about NHS hearing aids UK! We’ll write one dedicated to ALD’s soon.
What are the key types of Assistive Listening Devices?
The 7 main ALD’s are: Hearing Loops, Telecoil and infrared; Audio over WiFi; Bluetooth; Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFi) Bluetooth connectivity; Google’s Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) and Auracast or Audio Sharing. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) have a great website. They have a good overview description of each of them HERE.
Benefits of Hearing Aids
There are so many benefits to hearing aids. Hearing Aids Direct Co-Founder Zoe began losing her hearing at 14 and has worn them since she was 17.
NHS hearing aids help you to stay connected. Many people with hearing loss struggle to use the telephone. Hearing aids with or without assistive listening devices can really improve this.
Hearing Aids don’t mend hearing. They solely amplify sound. Often the high frequency tones fail in the first instance. People first fitted with hearing aids remark that they can hear birdsong again.
Research has proved a strong link between uncorrected hearing loss and the development of dementia. Connection and listening ease from wearing hearing aids minimises this risk.
Developing strong relationships and social connection throughout our lives and particularly into older age is so important. Hearing aids help develop and nurture these important bonds.
Don’t we all just want to have fun sometimes? Hearing conversations at parties can be difficult at the bast of times but so much harder with hearing loss. Hearing aids will help you.
How to get Hearing Aids
There are two main ways to get hearing aids in the UK. NHS hearing aids or private hearing aids.
NHS Hearing aids:
- are available to everyone
- make an appointment with your GP
- rule out any structural/bacterial reasons (wax build-up or infection)
- under 55 years old – referral to local hospital hearing department
- over 55 years old you will be able to see ‘Any Qualified Provider’
- c. 6 weeks to 6 months from your initial GP visit
Private hearing aids:
- no need to see your GP
- make an appointment direct with an audiologist
- check your hearing with an audiogram
- choose and order your hearing aids
- have your ear impressions done if buying custom moulded hearing aids
- generally you will have your initial fitting in as little as a week
NHS Hearing Aids Free - Paying for hearing aids
Not only are NHS hearing aids available to everyone in the UK with hearing loss, they are also free! Although there is no charge for them, there may be a long wait. However, you will get one or two, as required. Many deaf people in the world don’t have access to hearing aids. The key difference between an NHS hearing aid and a private one is that NHS hearing aids are loaned to you. You will not own your hearing aid and you will need to return it when you no longer need it. There is no charge for this service. If your hearing aid breaks, it will be replaced, free of charge. If you lose your hearing aid you may be asked to contribute towards the cost of replacing it. This fee is normally in the region of £50-£75, depending on your postcode.
NHS Hearing Aids at Boots
We get asked about NHS hearing aids Boots so often. Boots hearing care aren’t an Any Qualified Provider. They are unable to dispense NHS hearing aids.
Which Phonak hearing aids do NHS use?
The manufacturer Phonak supply lots of the NHS hearing aids. They produce a specific range called Nathos. The Nathos hearing aids come in various styles. Power aids, micro aids, aids with tinnitus settings (an article on tinnitus is coming soon), CROS systems amongst others. Which Phonak hearing aids you are supplied with will depend on your audiogram and the pattern and severity of your hearing loss. Not all NHS hearing aids are made by Phonak. Resound (as Danalogic) and Oticon (Spirit and Engage etc) supply them as well.
Batteries, repairs and replacements
Batteries are becoming less important as the NHS roll out rechargeable hearing aids. However, if you do have traditional zinc air battery powered NHS hearing aids, your batteries will be supplied free of charge. Similarly if your hearing aid breaks then the NHS will also replace it free of charge. If you have private hearing aids then most modern hearing aids come with a 5 year manufacturer warranty. Hearing Aids Direct get most of our refurbished hearing aids repaired by the Hearing Aid Repair Shop (HARS). 50% of all HARS profits go toward The Mary Hare School for Deaf Children. A really wonderful, inclusive, inspiring centre of learning excellence.
Help and support if you wear hearing aids
There are lots of different forms of help and support available for deaf people these days. Thankfully the days of us having weird, wacky and downright cruel attempted ‘cures’ inflicted on us are long gone. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) have a great helpline and website. Increased inclusion means that deaf writers, actors and performers are being given the stage to help spread awareness. We’re also always here, available and happy to help you in any way we can.
You can contact the RNID by phone, email, BSL and Live Chat. You’ll find a big button for each option in their contact page: HERE.
An ambassador for RNID, alongside her busy acting career Samantha Baines has written books helping demystify deafness for all ages.
We are always happy to help you in anyway they can. You can find all the ways to get in touch with us: HERE. Looking forward to hearing from you!