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In reply to @Neville

Four hours drive sound like travel to the moon for a Brit. But seriously, if that audiologist is good, then it’s more than worth it! Think of the hours spent worrying, driving back and forth shorter distances multiple times … Also, that audiologist @Neville mentions will surely be able to do some services remotely. All modern hearing aids have some remote fitting functionality AFAIK.

Hi, have you checked if Audiological Science (AS) have taken over the NHS for hearing aids in your area?

I’m in Norwich and it’s been great. No referral needed as long as you’re registered to a doctor in the participating area just phone AS for an appointment. I first tried the free (NHS) version. But I wanted more features and rechargeable so the same audiologist provided Oticon Intent . After 3 months of testing I purchased them from AS.

Even if um-bongos practical skills are half as good as his advice on the forum, he’s worth four hours drive.

Thank you everybody for your really helpful input, it makes a huge difference to not feel so alone in it all.

I’m persevering with Specsavers for now, as I will be moving to working with a different branch - let’s see if they’re any better. They have ordered replacement with shorter wire and hopefully less of an unpredictable battery. They have also agreed to do at the Plymouth store.

But if this doesn’t all feel more trust-inspiring I feel more confident to cut my losses and either go to Boots or one of the independents you have kindly suggested. (Unfortunately 4hr drive is not possible for me, my car is kaput).

It’s funny the 100-days from HA fitting as the days are passing but I honestly don’t feel I’ve been set-up with the “fit” yet, as the wires are wrong and yet to find domes that work for me.

@Sallyinthesky

Domes didn’t work for me either, I had custom shells made. I was able to test 2 different sets of hearing aids for a month before making my mind up. I did loads of research and having worn NHS aids for 14 years I knew where my struggles were.

I went with Phonak Audéo Marvels which I still have 6 years on, but they do need replacing soon as they are long out of their 5 year guarantee.

My biggest regret was not going private sooner. I do have some NHS Phonak hearing aids as a backup but as they are tubed and not wired the sound clarity is no where near as good.

Good luck finding your audiologist, I know I got lucky when I found mine in Cornwall!

Hi Sally.

Have tried the NHS providers instead of Specsavers?

I got my first hearing aids around 13 years ago through Exeters RD&E audiology Chime after a referral from my GP, I was 47 then, just after Covid I had a reassessment & new hearing aids again from RD&E, my last assessment was March last year but Chime had lost the NHS contract so went to a new provider who has taken the NHS contract in this area, excellent service & new hearing aids fitted on the same day as the hearing test, I’ve never had a problem with the NHS hearing aids, it might be worth you exploring that option. Specsavers don’t seem to have a very good reputation.

Edited

Yes, that’s where I started, 4 years ago I started getting hearing assessments through the NHS as the hearing loss came on over just some months. It was during covid and things were slow.. I had to go through and have scans etc because I have crazy tinnitus they needed to rule-out anything serious there. December 2024 (yes, years later) I finally got my first NHS and they were awful. They were a rigid mould that hurt like hell and the left one popped out constantly. They were . I’d never been given any options or explained different types of aids or fittings, just found myself with these that were impossibly uncomfortable. I was told I’d be invited back for a review and tweaks a month later. That never happened. The community hospital that had a weekly visiting audiology team ceased-being, all retracted back to Derriford and I couldn’t make contact with them. My GP re-referred me. I was 14 months on the waiting list. On the 13th month (this January) I started pursuing private options because I had no appointment in sight, my hearing was deteriorating and my tinnitus incredibly challenging, limiting my capacity to work effectively with others. I also inherited just enough money from my Gran to go privately and I figured she would have loved me to be able to hear better again. But it’s a big outlay and quite possibly one of many considering I’m only 40yos. (So this Feb I finally did get a NHS ENT appointment. Their tests were thorough and they were able to tell me more about my hearing loss which was helpful. They couldn’t help with the tinnitus despite my GP having thought there may be some therapy out there. I showed them the NHS aids that have been in a drawer this last year and he affirmed “people don’t tend to get on well with the rigid moulds”, nor are they necessary- nor is BTE-type aid - for my hearing loss, its just common practice to go that way with NHS aids “because you’ll end up there in the end”. Although, he also said he saw no reason why my hearing loss will deteriorate any faster than the average persons, I’ve just got a different baseline now, since there appears to have been some (unexplained) damage to my auditory nerve.)

I guess this context explains my current exasperation. I really thought going private would be “the solution” after this long struggle, and that hasn’t been the case. I feel like I’ve just gone into another struggle. And I know of course that I’m not at all unique in having had to deal with such frustrations.

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