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What can you tell me
about tinnitus?
Tinnitus is noise that
originates within the ear rather than from the outside
environment. It can be caused by problems in the outer ear
such as excessive wax in the ear canal but usually
accompanies hearing loss due to general wear and tear on the
hearing system. It may affect one or both ears.
The sounds you
may hear if you have tinnitus have been described variously
as a "ringing" sound, a "buzzing" sound, a "humming noise,
"like running water", a "whistling" sound or like the "sound
from a seashell held close to the ear."
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Aren't hearing aids
available free on the NHS?
There are two
ways to obtain hearing aids in the UK, NHS and Private. The
NHS route is a referral from your local GP to the ENT
department at your local hospital, they will test your
hearing and supply a digital 'behind the ear' hearing aid
(maybe two). The process used to take two years or more in a
lot of cases, the waiting times are much better nowadays but
the waits can still be quite lengthy, your local NHS trust
will be able to give you approximate waiting times.
Private hearing
aids can be sourced far more quickly (usually 1-2 weeks) and
tend to be neater, quite often 'in the ear' models with a
far greater range of technology, the down side being the
cost. Private hearing aids tend to cost from a few hundred
pounds upward. Back
How old before I need hearing aids?
The largest percentage of hearing loss can be attributed to
the ageing process, but it is not uncommon for people in
their 40's and 50's to have hearing that has been damaged
due to exposure to excessive noise levels. Some have hearing
problems from early childhood.
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Will hearing aids restore my
hearing?
Hearing instruments benefit many people. However, no hearing
instrument can restore your hearing back to normal. The
benefits depend on the severity of your hearing loss and the
level of technology, the ultimate aim to restore your
hearing as close as possible to natural levels of volume and
clarity. Back
How much do
hearing aids cost?
Prices vary depending on size and type of hearing aid and
level of technology. You can buy cheap amplifiers from
newspaper advertisements for less than £20 and some
companies advertise very basic technology from around £1-200
or so. For the better quality digital hearing aids prices
start at £495 upwards, although most people tend to
pay more.
Here's a link to our price guide, what you should
expect to pay and what level of technology you will get for your money.
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Do I need to wear two
hearing aids?
If you have a hearing loss in
one ear only, the best advice is to wear one hearing aid, if
you have a hearing loss in both ears (most people) the best
you can do is to wear a hearing aid in each ear, it makes
sense! People often get along with wearing a single hearing
aid even when they have a loss in both ears, much like if
you have poor eyesight in both your eyes but wear a monocle.
A monocle is an improvement but spectacles get you seeing
better and the analogy can be transferred to hearing,
particularly for the best improvements to hearing speech in
background noise. Back
What about ongoing cost of
private hearing aids?
The main ongoing cost is batteries with a typical cost of
30p to 40p per cell depending on where you buy them from.
Here's a link to a good place to buy quality batteries at a
good price.
Hearing Aid Batteries. Each
battery is usually spent in 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the
size of the battery and the level of hearing loss. The other
main cost of private hearing aid ownership is repairs out of
warranty.
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Does it take long to get used
to hearing aids?
This will vary from person to person, every case is
different. It takes some time to adjust to listening and to
hearing everything louder and clearer. Your ear has to get
used to the feel of the shell in the ear. With practice,
perseverence and motivation listening can become an
enjoyable experience again. Back
How long do hearing
aids last?
A typical lifespan of a
hearing aid might be 5-6 years, people often use them for
longer than this and sometimes they are upgraded earlier to
take advantage of improving technology. It's amazing how
quickly things move on in the research and development of
hearing aid technology. Back
Will I become dependent on
hearing aids?
A hearing aid will help you communicate better and enjoy
life more. Many people wonder how they ever managed without
it. There is no need to be concerned about becoming
dependent. Back
How much does a
hearing test cost?
In the main hearing tests tend
to be free of charge. The NHS does not charge for the
hearing test and most private hearing aid suppliers do not
charge either, some do so it is best to ask beforehand.
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