Specsavers private v free NHS Bluetooth hearing aid comparison

I am covered by Edinburgh audiology. Bluetooth aids were offered to me in 2022. It has proved exceptionally useful for Duolingo (so I don’t annoy my wife as much) and also for the link from rear bike radar/light with the audible warning of traffic detection to the hearing aid.

I can thorougly recommend Costco Edinburgh, around £1350 for a pair of premium aids. All come with a 3 year warranty, and 3 month full refund return policy. Plus free replacement of receivers, domes and wax filters for the life of the aids.

OK that is informative! I asked my hubs about this device, and just found out he’d bought the Garmin Varia radar camera tail light kit a few years ago - I never even knew about it cuz we are skittish about riding bikes where we live - not enough bike paths, just the wild open traffic-infested roads. This Garmin Varia along with our sideview mirrors worn could make things safe … but then I still worry about the craaaazy drivers on cell phones barreling at us unaware. Even so, great safety device for open highways and less-traveled roads.

It’s illegal to use a cell phone in the UK whilst driving, heavy fines are imposed, almost akin to drink driving.

You haven’t mentioned the model you’ve been given.
Most likely the Marvel platform from Phonak- Nathos Nova?
You can do more research on here once you know what your dealing with.
I don’t think you’ll find major differences unless you go for expensive (compared to NHS) models.

The benefits of the device include, very reliable audible warning via bluetooth and visual on a mounted phone. All clear sound when no cars remain behind. Particularly beneficial on country roads where cars can be unexpected.

My current device is Phonak Nova M and the device Specsavers are recommending is the Advance Super model

Very interesting thank you.

So the aids you have are the Marvel platform from Phonak, you can do some research on here to see how they perform. That issue has now been superceded three times but was considered a very good hearing aid.
As far as Specsavers is concerned you can’t know what you’re getting until you see them connected to their software, they are likely to be locked.

Hi Bluejay, for me, if you mount the phone where it is easily visible its use is far more than letting others know where you are. Eg, the display in conjunction with the rear radar/light, navigation with Komoot etc. Of course, in the uk, watching the road surface is much more important than watching the screen😎

What’s your experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology like?

While there is a gap in the level of technology offered by the NHS vs private sector dispensers, the gap in levels of service can be even greater.

My experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology was for a two week wait for an appointment to be standard, even for rearranged appointments arising from issues at their end. They’d tell you to go home and call them to make another appointment. The department itself was perhaps the least deaf aware environment I’ve ever experience:a waiting area with pillars blocking view and laid out with your back to where staff would call out names; and staff who would speak to hearing chaperones rather than the deaf patient directly. They’d just treat the symptoms rather than dealing with the cause properly. Ear mould impressions that had to be re-taken multiple times.

Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland4

Review report and recommendations from the Independent Review of Audiology Services in NHS Scotland. The Review was announced by the Scottish Government in January 2022 in the context of failings in the standards of care provided in the NHS Lothian...

Contrast with local independent audiologists (not the high street chains like Specsavers) who offer next-day, if not same-day, appointments, access to hearing aids across the whole of the market and who understand what customer service is. They’re often willing to deal with NHS hearing aids.