New / recent hearing aid

wearers:

I have NHS aids and I want something smaller / neater A fairly common scenario these days. Be aware that different Health Trusts / Commissioner bodies have differing types of hearing aid and that things are changing all the time. Sometimes it pays to complain a little. Don’t think that just because your friend (who lives in another area, or who got his / her hearing aids at a different time) has smaller hearing aids, that you will be able to walk in to your NHS audiology department and ask for the same (but you CAN request you are given a hearing appointment at a hospital that is NOT in your immediate area).  Most people wanting smaller (or easier to handle) hearing aids will end up going private. However, most hearing aid wearers have had 1 or 2 negative experiences before they get a satisfactory outcome. SPECSAVERS offer low cost in-the-ear aids, as do a few independents. If you heard really well with your NHS aids, maybe this will be adequate for you? I have NHS aids and I need something easier to handle Again, assuming you heard very well with your NHS aids, go for the PHONAK DALIA ITC or CIC, available in standard and high-power strengths. its inexpensive and you’ll love the feel, look and weight of it compared to your NHS aids. There are reliability issues with in-the- ear aids so make sure you enquire about ongoing after care with your chosen provider. I have Danalogic iFit aids and I doubt there is anything better This hearing aid was designed to be sold by mail-order, hence the name (iFit, ‘I fit it myself’), so on one level, you have responded very well to an inexpensive hearing aid. That means you are likely to get on well with any hearing aid.  If you want a smaller option, try the PHONAK DALIA. If you want to see a difference that technology alone can make, why not try the RESOUND LiNX2 9 (made by the same Company that owns the Danalogic brand) on a FREE TRIAL? My hearing loss is severe The great news is that in the last 2 years it has become relatively straight-forward to manage a severe hearing loss with virtually any hearing aid configuration ~ that’s because the feedback control (prevention of whistling by the computer chip in the hearing aid) has become so good on some models. Try the UNITRON KISS 2, PHONAK V Series SIEMENS INSIO Binax Series Budget: PHONAK DALIA POWER CIC My hearing loss is profound You need to be extremely cautious when looking at private hearing aids. Your expectation level will often outstrip the potential benefits. Assuming you have fairly new NHS aids already, then the main benefits of ‘going private’ should be ~ the availability of service and fine tuning visits, the increased frequency of mould and tubing replacements and one-to-one advice about assistive devices in the home, at church, etc. However, it is fair enough to seek a technological improvement, but I’d say ONLY if your provider is willing to give you a lengthy FREE TRIAL. High Power aids we recommend: OTICON Dynamo 10 (1st choice) OTICON Dynamo 6 PHONAK BOLERO V Siemens NITRO (any version)