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Ear, nose and throat
Audiology and Hearing therapy
How to look after your hearing aid
Dealing with ear wax
Hearing aid advice for carers
Hearing aid repairs
How to make the most of your hearing
I'd like to try a private hearing aid. How do I go about doing this?
Lost or damaged hearing aids and earmoulds
Using a telephone with a hearing aid
What to do if your hearing aid is not working

A to Z of UHSFT

 
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I'd like to try a private hearing aid. How do I go about doing this?

You can have an NHS aid as well as a private aid if you wish, but the NHS will not finance, service or provide batteries for the private aid. There is a commercial hearing aid service at the Royal South Hants Hospital, or look in the Yellow Pages for other addresses.

Bear the following points in mind if you are thinking of buying a private hearing aid:

  • Hearing aid dispensers are regulated by law. They must be properly qualified, follow a code of practice and be registered with the Hearing Aid Council. Only go to a registered hearing aid dispenser.  
  • Shop around. There is a big range of prices. Find out the cost of batteries, repairs and servicing – this can be quite a big ongoing cost.
  • Never be pushed into buying a hearing aid you don't really want.
  • Make sure the dispenser guarantees you a refund if you decide within a certain period (usually 30 days) that you do not want to keep the hearing aid. Find out exactly what percentage of your money will be refunded. This can vary a lot between dispensers. Don't be embarrassed about returning the hearing aid within the trial period if you decide that you don't like it.
  • Even after the trial period, if the hearing aid doesn't seem quite right, take it back to the dispenser to be looked at – it may need a repair or an adjustment.