Support please

Seems your between a rock and a hard place. I’ve experienced Specsavers and they were not happy when I returned aids on more than one occasion. Within the return period, due to similar problems that you are having

Are your Specsavers in Plymouth? If so, there are other branches in the city which probably are part of the same franchise, so they will have the same owners, different audiologist. I can only suggest you ask to be seen by someone else or failing that, return your aids. Is Boots an option?

Thanks both, actually it’s really supportive to hear the acknowledgement of the difficultness Yes, definitely feeling like a rock and a hard place. I don’t really want to go back to square 1 with another provider - and yet I’m also increasingly exasperated with Specsavers and concerned about getting tied to them if they aren’t going to serve me well.

I’m not at Specs Plymouth, but I will be relocating there in a month so could try that suggestion (I’d been given the impression the initial setup with a HA needed to be in the same branch, but this setup is taking months and meanwhile I’m moving house!).

There is also a Boots in Plymouth - where I have had a test. People on this forum seemed to warn against them? I thought they were pricey and felt unsure about being tied to the Phonak brand, but I did find them to be more professional and thorough.

There are also some Hidden Hearing places around, again linked to one brand, I’ve no idea what sort of service they provide? Of course there are online providers but which are legit and trustworthy?

In a nutshell finding it very overwhelming and confusing.

@Sallyinthesky said:

I don’t really want to go back to square 1 with another provider

Really, it sounds like you need thorough testing from someone who is competent and better at making you feel comfortable with the process. This should give you confidence to proceed. I’d bail out of that “relationship” and find another location, even if it were farther away. I drive 2 hours round trip to see my clinic. I have a new audiologist, and after one session I’m completely at ease with him. I had my previous audiologist at that clinic for over 4 years. She’s moved closer to her home and her old client base. I’m that “one patient” that is damned picky, fairly knowledgeable, and has unique hardware from any other patient at the clinic, yet I the relationship I have with them is great and I was really sad to see that my audiologist assigned had changed until I knew she’d moved on and it wasn’t from something about me. Keep at it until you find a keeper!

WH

I know there’s a fantastic independent audiologist in Wales if you’re up for a 4 hours drive.

I went to Specsavers at the end of last year and it was blunder after blunder on their part. Apparently, for them to do REM, the audiologist needs to request the machine. So I asked for REM and was assured that this would happen, I even made sure to follow up with an email prior to my appointment. Nope, NO REM machine.

It was not the only issue either as I was due to be fitted with a different pair of custom earmolds. Apparently, they had no receivers in store.

I wasted many journeys trying to get a proper fitting but after this experience, I asked them to refund my money. I was clear to them that I had no issues with the HAs as such. I had tweaked them but felt that I needed further expert input to get the most out of them. Their audiologists/hearing aid techs are useless.

Yeah @BarryH, I must admit I feel spoiled at Boots Hearing Care, nothing has ever been too much trouble for my Lady Audiologist, I can say without fear or favour, she does a fantastic job of work on my hearing aids, and she is a warm caring person, which is half the battle… I would not put too much emphasis on REM though, it is not the be all, and end all of hearing care that many would lead you to believe! The Audiologist skill is paramount, there isn’t any other substitute, I used to do DIY with my aids, but I have never felt the need to, for at least 3 years now… I am fortunate enough to have, many Roger listening devices, but in all truth, I rarely use them nowadays, even though I have a bilateral severe/profound loss, I hear fairly well, I can sign in BSL, if I need to, I am also an excellent lip reader… I am lucky to have a set of Phonak Naida Lumity 90’s, I got 30% knocked off the asking price of these in November 2024, for doing a comparison review with the Phonak Naida Paradise 90’s, I still have these as well… I have tried some of the High Street Chains, like Specsavers, and Amplifon, for me, IMO they were poor in comparison to Boots, very much money orientated, they left me feeling they were shysters, with no interest in my needs or indeed me as a person… My aids, have never been adjusted since first fit in November 2024, which speaks volumes of my Audiologist, which I may add, is a first for me, in 30 odd years of using hearing aids, no REM was done, and she nailed it first time of asking, I have had REM done before at NHS Audiology in Inverness, it was fine, but I wouldn’t say it was a massive improvement… Costco may be an option for this OP @Sallyinthesky if there is one in her vicinity? They do REM, they also charge a lot less! Cheers Kev

Yes, a warm and caring audiologist is where it starts. As people here are mentioning high street options, I should add a positive experience in Boots, Exeter (years ago!) where the young professional suggested I would do well enough with an updated NHS provision. And yes, that was great: another young lady audio asked about lifestyle, appreciated the importance of music in my life and work, developed for me a setting that lets bass get through and does not mess up live musical texture. But nothing lasts… she now specialises in helping children, and the entire NHS community-interest clinic (Chime) has been hived off to a semi-commercial model. How long before we see the equivalent of Devon’s no-NHS dentists disgrace?

Hi Sally - I have tried multiple suppliers, and to be honest, for me in Reading, Boots Hearingcare have been the best as their after sales service has been way better than other suppliers. They will probably push Phonak who have a share in the business, but do offer other manufacturers. To be fair, Phonak are a longstanding reliable manufacturer of HA’s - so you can’t go too far wrong with them as long as they suite your hearing loss. My Boots Audiologist ALWAYS reprograms my HA’s as I try different domes (open / closed / power, etc. Boots can also offer REM (at least they do in Reading !). Hope this helps and good luck. Once you’ve got them correctly programmed and you are used to them, I’m sure you will see the benefit they offer to your life.

I have just recently gone back to NHS aids as I cannot justify the cost for going private any longer. The only NHS Audiologists near me is unfortunately - yeah you guessed right, Specsavers. The first time I had NHS from the same brach the service from the Audio was pretty good though it was just the tone test. I didn’t know any better back then and only heard about R.E.M. from this forum. The private consultation also only did the tone test but again - I didn’t know there was R.E.M.

After my return to Specsavers I went in again for the fitting. The ‘Audio’ said he had pre-programmed them to save time and they were horrendous to use. I eventually made an appointment to discuss the poor experience I was having with these aids and this time it was a different audio. After I told her about the horrendous clicking type noises when near a running tap or near someone with a bag of crisps, the awfull feedback when any closer to a wall than 2 feet and the fact my wife sat across the room could hear what I was streaming better than I could she said what I expected, the reason was the pre-programming. She made some adjustments and to be fair, they are much better. At least now I can wear them without them making me feel ill so I’ll give them a decent trial and see how I get on with them.

My experience with Specsavers for both HA’s and glasses is that not all the staff are poor but getting an appointment with one of the very few people who are good at what they do is a roll of the dice. If you get the chance, maybe try Boots. I now use them for my glasses and the whole experience at Boots compared with Specsavers is night & day. If I could go private I would be incllined to try out Boots. I can pretty well guarantee it will be a whole lot better tha Specsavers.

Try “Pocket Hearing” online. Very good

Variety of Signia hearing aids. Email your audiogram and they will program to suit. Half the price compared to high street providers. The audiologist is very professional and helpful.

Had similar issue at Specsavers years ago so doesnt look like they have changed! I returned mine for full refund during trial period. Went back to NHS and have had brilliant service from them ever since. Based in Taunton England

Make sure you are with somebody you trust. Once your purchase is final, you will be locked in to the provider. You won’t be able to go to another audiologist to help you with hearing aids you bought elsewhere – or you have to pay a hefty fee for them to take you on board. Like about 1000 GBP or so. Just the onboarding fee. So make sure you buy from the provider you want to stay with.