Loss of hearing

Many opticians in Scotland offer free hearing tests. Not sure about England.

Spec savers/Boots/referral from your doctor to the Audiology department at your local,hospital?
Have them checked for wax first though!

I went to the doctor about my hearing. He arranged a referral for a free hearing test at Specsavers.

Defo the gp. They can arrange a NHS hearing test.I have two hearing aids now after taking this test. Thank you NHS.

Can you get free hearing aids from the opticians ,or do you haveto get referred by the GP ? It is like pulling hens teeth trying to get an appointment

In my area Specsavers are agents for the NHS.

I went to GP who referred to Specsavers - appointment came in about 10 days. Walked in, hearing tested, hearing aids programmed for my hearing loss, put in my ears - I walked out wearing them and I have worn them every day for last 2 years. Quick, efficient, free - and so are batteries.

A problem that truly caused ructions here at home before my stubborn husband realised he REALLY did have a hearing problem.
As MawBroom has mentioned, first line of attack is getting your ears cleared of wax...............in his case he had a referral to audiology clinic through his G.P.
Totally painless and straightforward and not too long to wait.
On being checked over, he had considerable loss of hearing,all due to working in an noisy Industrial atmosphere.
He was fitted up with a hearing aid and it is quite unbelievable the difference this has made to his............and our............lives.
He avoided answering the `phone for instance prior to this,he was short and snappy because he just could not hear properly.
Peace,perfect peace followed,he returned to his normal self and all was well.
Fitting the hearing aid is the first job of the morning and removing of same the last!

However there is a little anecdote to this happy ending.
My husband has had his replacement batteries and a replacement tube renewed at the audio office in our local Hospital when required....... and with my many visits there its never been a problem.
Last week he was met with a closed door.
On telephoning at the appropriate time .......no reply on the three occasions.
Lucky on the fourth when a very young voice informed him the Audiology department was now closed down,and had moved to another Hospital.................this being some 60 miles further up the coast if you please!!
So one stranded and rather irate husband as you can imagine.
We eventually managed to get in touch with this new department and a promise was made to send the required items by post..............and yes same duly arrived.
But of course this means he could well be without a usable Hearing aid for days on end,totally unpractical.
Whilst of course the bigger question has to be..........what about out entire county`s hard of hearing folk whom wear a hearing aid???.............but now the needful battery change etc is not handily available locally.
It really is something the Big NHS Chiefs seem to have avoided........and simply skirted around the issue,using the method that best works for them.

Perhaps then therefore anyone now requiring this service may be better served by visiting their nearest Boots or specs savers I suppose.

A word of warning-If you choose to go to Specsavers check first to see if they are NHS agents as in my area they are not and I have to pay the full price whilst siblings in Bristol and Plymouth get them free

I wear a Hearing Aid and cant fault Boots Hearing since I got it. Excellent regular checkups, very easy and efficient ordering of new batteries etc. Been with them for 6 years and no complaints or problems atall.

But it will have cost you money Madgran when it need not have done. I am at a loss as to why people pay for something that is free on the NHS.

The NHS has a wide range of aids for different needs -my friend has a very complicated pair free from the NHS. Mine are very simple because I have simple needs, but NHS provides for all sort of needs.

Most people do not even notice that I wear them - they are small and effective.

Where Specsavers are not agents, then the GP will refer you to local audiology clinic - more local than 60 miles we hope!

I should really have hearing aids, but still putting it off.
I've seen an advert in the Yours magazine for something called the Super Mini Ear, for £16.95. Has anyone tried one?
Cheaper from Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Mini-Ear-listening-device/dp/B00FVX3L9I?tag=gransnetforum-21

Fennel you get what you pay for !!!! I shall say no more on that subject

My original ones were fitted years ago after an audiogram with at a community hospital audiology clinic. My new ones were fitted at Specsavers following re referral from my GP. Technology has certainly moved on and my new ones are absolutely amazing and Bluetooth enabled which is a god send listening to TV etc etc. My iPhone also connects via Bluetooth with telephone calls - the sound goes straight into my hearing aids, of great help when in railway stations or the great noisy outdoors.

Fennel no personal experience but out of curiosity I read the reviews on your link ... seems it best to be avoided. Scores 2 out of 5!

I have worn hearing aids for several years. Always through the Audiology Department of my local NHS Trust. I need them in both ears, and cannot fault the care that the NHS takes with these. Unless I tell people no-one even knows I am wearing these, just a small box sits behind each ear. Plastic tube going into ear. These tubes do need replacing about every six - nine months and this is done by the NHS at the Audiology department. No appointment, just go along and take a numbered ticket and wait my turn. All the batteries are also supplied without charge, and I can get these at a local clinic and always ensure I have a goodly few in stock at home and in my handbag.
I have never understood those who pay out so much money for hearing aids. If they really need them, then the NHS will supply and service them. There have been a couple of occasions when one has got lost (this last winter, one must have got pulled out when I was all wound up in scarves, etc, during the cold spell), this was replaced without further charge. Wonderful service.

I agree Franbern.

I am very cross with Specsavers, my mother had been ‘given’ two different pairs of NHS hearing aids two years apart, but at a recent visit to the audiology department at the hospital the Consultant she saw said her hearing was fine and she didn’t need hearing aids. She hadn’t worn either pair of aids! What a waste of valuable NHS resources.

* Granyknot* - I've read the reviews now, not good. I might do better with an ear trumpet.

Excellent advice Grans, many thanks. I think I'll go with the NHS at the local hospital. But see gp first in case it's wax! ty

Fennel I've had perfectly good service from Specsavers. And all free. One of mine stopped working recently and, as my car was being fixed, I got DS to give me a lift in to get it looked at. The chap said it would need mending but I could collect it in a couple of days. When I explained that I was temporarily without transport he just gave me a new one.

We have a Specsavers near here, maybe the gp will refer me to them. She did tell me once she got her specs there
I'm also relieved that they are so small, I've never even seen a hearing aid and somehow thought they'd be big and ugly.