How To Choose A Hearing Aid: Major Factors to Consider

Key Takeaways

The National Health Service (NHS) offers free hearing aids, making them accessible to anyone in the UK with moderate to severe hearing loss that significantly affects daily life.

The process involves testing, fitting, and follow-up appointments to ensure the hearing aids work properly.

While the NHS hearing aids are free and now include digital versions as standard, options are limited to mostly BTE models and lost devices incur charges.

Nano Hearing Aids offer FDA-registered, affordable options starting at $297 per pair. They require no audiologist consultation and are rechargeable for long-term savings.

The High Cost of Hearing Aids

Hearing loss can affect anyone and creates challenges in communication and daily life. While most cases, like sensorineural hearing loss, are permanent and cannot be fully cured, hearing aids provide essential support. They improve listening and help prevent further hearing deterioration, making life more manageable for those affected.

Many people avoid using hearing aids due to their high cost, which can worsen hearing problems over time. For example, basic models can range between £345 to £695 per unit, while premium options can range from £1,595 to £1,695 per unit, depending on features and technology levels.

That’s why finding affordable or free options is essential. In the UK, the NHS provides free hearing aids to those in need. In fact, it allocates over £1 billion annually for hearing loss services.

Nano Hearing Aids are FDA-registered, Class I devices. These OTC hearing aids are designed for individuals over 18 years of age with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment. Nano won the Top ENT Solution Provider 2023, has 24/7 customer care, and has an affordable price compared to others.

How Can You Obtain NHS Hearing Aids

Fulfill the Criteria of NHS Hearing Aids

To qualify for NHS hearing aids, you must first meet specific eligibility criteria that focus on the severity of hearing loss and its impact on daily life.

Severity of Hearing Loss: You must have a hearing loss that meets certain thresholds established by the NHS. This typically includes moderate to severe hearing loss that significantly affects communication abilities and daily activities.

Impact on Daily Life: The assessment considers how hearing loss impacts your ability to engage in social interactions, communicate effectively, and perform daily tasks. If your hearing loss significantly affects these aspects, you're more likely to qualify for NHS hearing aids.

Ability to Benefit from Hearing Aids: Audiologists evaluate whether you’re likely to benefit from using hearing aids. This includes assessing your ability to adapt to and use the devices effectively.

Referral Requirement: You must be referred to an NHS audiologist by a GP or another healthcare professional. This referral process initiates a comprehensive hearing assessment.

Residency and Registration: You must be a UK resident and registered with a GP to access NHS services, including hearing aids.

Talking to the GP

The most common way of getting NHS Hearing Aids is by making an appointment with your doctor or GP. The audiologist will make you go through a screening process to understand if you are facing any hearing concerns or not. Some doctors might offer you diagnostic hearing evaluations within their practice. You can also take an online hearing test to determine your level of hearing before visiting your GP. You can show the audiogram results to the doctor.

Referral

After you visit your doctor, they will determine if your hearing loss problem is solvable or not. For example, if you are not suffering from a permanent or sensorineural hearing loss, they can help you recover. Also, if your problem has been caused temporarily by earwax blockage in the ears, they will help you recover from that.

On the other hand, if you need hearing aids to deal with your hearing loss problems, they might not offer a diagnostic service. In that case, they will refer you to the audiology department of a local hospital for going through a diagnostic hearing evaluation.

Appointments

The entire process of making appointments falls under the governmental targets and almost all NHS-associated hospitals should meet these targets. In England, the maximum waiting time between referral by your doctor and receiving your hearing aids is 18 weeks - patients used to wait for two years to get an appointment!

The results of hearing tests take the shape of an audiogram. The degree of hearing loss is measured in decibels. If the hearing tests indicate that a person is suffering from a permanent form of hearing loss and need hearing aids, they will be recommended a hearing aid - which is usually a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) type - from the available range of NHS. You will be offered In-the-Ear or ITE hearing aids in very rare circumstances.

NHS hearing aids may not suit everyone, but many audiology departments now offer immediate-fit solutions. After testing your ear canal, you’ll return in about two weeks for a fitting appointment.

An audiologist administers a hearing test to determine the severity or degree of hearing loss a person is experiencing. Beeps are sent at different volumes and pitches to the patient's ears through headphones for conducting the tests.

Hearing Aid Fitting

In this fitting appointment, the hearing aids are fitted from an audiological and physical perspective. The hearing aid dispenser or the audiologist will program your hearing aid to your hearing test results. They'll show you how you'll need to put, remove, and maintain your hearing aids. They will also take you through the different features of hearing aids.

The NHS will only loan you the hearing aids - they won't become your property. The hearing aids will remain the property of the trust or the hospital that issues them to you. So, while you can use them for free, you must return them when no longer needed or when you switch to another service provider.

After getting your NHS hearing aids, you need to make a follow-up appointment to regulate how you're getting on with the hearing aids. Also, if you need any adjustments or not, it will be after two weeks or so.

Final Appointment

The audiologist will make adjustments for you during the follow-up appointment if you need any. You can also make any inquiries you have about using your hearing aids. The process officially ends at the end of this final appointment. If you need any ensuing appointments or other help, they will fall outside the governmental targets that were mentioned earlier.

So, it can be a bit difficult to get instant help for any further problems that you might have. This is primarily because of timing and funding issues.

Are NHS Hearing Aids Up to the Mark?

As stated earlier, the NHS primarily provides BTE hearing aids due to their reliability and ease of adjustment. If the hearing problem of a person requires a different solution, in-the-ear (ITE) and invisible hearing aids might be provided - but this only on rare occasions.

The quality of NHS hearing aids and the service level have improved a lot throughout the last few years. You can go for NHS Hearing Aids with zero doubt in mind. They will be able to provide good-quality hearing aids without any cost.

Advantages of NHS Hearing Aids

Free of cost.

Free follow-up care, including replacement batteries and repairs.

Many hospitals and trusts that provide NHS Hearing Aids also offer drop-in clinics to aftercare, either at a center close to you or on-site.

Digital hearing aids that will accurately match your hearing aids are now provided as standard on the NHS.

Disadvantages of NHS Hearing Aids

Not much choice in terms of choosing hearing aid types.

You’ll be charged if you lose your hearing aids.

You might have to wait for quite some time to get an appointment. This is ultimately the opposite of private care.

Final Words

Good-quality hearing aids can be costly if you get them privately. So many people are in dire need of hearing aids but aren't able to use them because of the high cost.

Consequently, their usual life keeps getting hampered, and they find it challenging to communicate with other people and get on with their lives. NHS Hearing Aids can empower them to use hearing aids and start living their lives conveniently - that too without any cost.

Nano OTC hearing aids offer a similar range of options. Our devices are FDA-registered and can be purchased from our online store quickly, without the need for a hearing test or audiologist’s consultation, all at affordable prices.

While currently only available for purchase within the US, we’re committed to supporting international customers in making the best decisions about their hearing aids.

For example, our entry-level model - the First Ear Plus CIC (pictured above) and the First Ear Plus BTE only starts at $297 per pair. All our devices are chargeable which will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you qualify for a free NHS hearing aid?

You'll need a GP recommendation to have a hearing test through the NHS. If your hearing test indicates that you would benefit from a hearing aid, you are eligible for a free hearing aid.

What type of hearing aids do the NHS give out?

The NHS usually gives out BTE hearing aids.

Will the NHS replace lost hearing aid?

The NHS hearing aid service that fitted your hearing aids can provide you with free batteries and repairs. Hearing aids that have been damaged or lost can be replaced by your local hearing aid service.

What is Nano Hearing Aid?

Nano Hearing Aids manufactures and sells FDA-registered Class 1 OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Unlike the NHS, Nano devices come in various types like RIC, ITE, BTE, and CIC.

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How to Get NHS Hearing Aids: Complete Step By Step Guide