I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.

Are either of these likely to be any use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3508326444...84.m1436.l2648

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009602479...84.m1436.l2649


There is an enormous price range for hearing aids. The more expensive
ones are moulded to your ear and can be programmed to match a persons
hearing defects.

Is there something much better than the above which would be worth trying?


--
Michael Chare

On 10/10/2013 18:38, Michael Chare wrote:
I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.

Are either of these likely to be any use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3508326444...84.m1436.l2648


or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009602479...84.m1436.l2649



There is an enormous price range for hearing aids. The more expensive
ones are moulded to your ear and can be programmed to match a persons
hearing defects.

Is there something much better than the above which would be worth trying?



DOn't bother with Ebay.

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

Under the Modernisation of Hearing Aid Services (MHAS) programme, they
will test the relative's hearing on an audiometer, select a hearing aid,
program it up with her specific hearing loss, use a universal mould
fitting and she will go home the same day with a new pair of hearing aids.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

How do I know all this? I was born profoundly deaf and am now 42 years
old.... I have seen how much audiology has changed over the years.

On 10/10/2013 18:38, Michael Chare wrote:
I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.

Are either of these likely to be any use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3508326444...84.m1436.l2648


or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009602479...84.m1436.l2649



There is an enormous price range for hearing aids. The more expensive
ones are moulded to your ear and can be programmed to match a persons
hearing defects.

Is there something much better than the above which would be worth trying?

A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.


--
Peter Crosland

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

The latter is very important, every ear is different even on the same
person...

--
Cheers
Dave.

Michael Chare wrote:

I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.

I wouldn't buy anything for a trial. There are commercial hearing centres
which will carry out a basic hearing test and program sample hearing aids
(possibly more than one model) for your relative to try. There's no
obligation to buy, so if she likes the result the next step is to go to her
GP and arrange an NHS test. If needed, they will supply very discrete,
modern, programmable hearing aids (and free batteries).

Some commercial suppliers occasionally run public demonstrations, usually in
hotels. They advertise in local papers, so it might also be worth keeping
an eye out for that.

Dave Liquorice wrote:

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.

That's why I mentioned the commercial testers. Quite apart from the
reluctance to admit that there is a problem, many elderly folk have an
extreme dislike for "bothering the doctor unnecessarily": an anonymous visit
to a hearing aid demonstration might be an easier sell.

On Thursday, October 10, 2013 6:38:19 PM UTC+1, Michael Chare wrote:
I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.
Are either of these likely to be any use:

A bad experience with an Ebay one might put her off getting proper professional help.

Owain

On 10/10/2013 19:25, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.


The problem is mobility. My relative is in a nursing home. Logically I
ought to be able to persuade her GP to make the necessary referral, but
am I likely to be able to get an Audiology specialist to make a visit?
Can they take whatever equipment they need with them?


--
Michael Chare

In article , Peter
Crosland wrote:
On 10/10/2013 18:38, Michael Chare wrote:
I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing
aid.

Are either of these likely to be any use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3508326444...84.m1436.l2648


or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009602479...84.m1436.l2649



There is an enormous price range for hearing aids. The more expensive
ones are moulded to your ear and can be programmed to match a persons
hearing defects.

Is there something much better than the above which would be worth
trying?

A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.

a bit better than they were some 10 years ago whe I was told (with a 60dB
knotch at 4.5kHz in both ears) "there is nothing the NHS can do for you.
Just cup your hand behind your ear."

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:25:10 +0100, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that they
*may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and referral
would be a good thing to do.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

The latter is very important, every ear is different even on the same
person...

The biggest hurdle will be getting her to wear the bloody thing once she
has got it.

All the people I have knows who got hearing aids (quite a few paid big
money) rarely if ever use(d) them.

Usually they are quite happy not hearing stuff because loss of hearing has
been a gradual process which they have adapted to.

Putting the hearing aid in, adjusting it so it doesn't whistle but they
can still hear, remembering to change batteries....after a while they get
fed up or just forget.

The driver for getting a hearing aid is usually a relative who is
frustrated by the difficulty in communication and/or the volume of the TV.

The person of limited hearing is usually quite laid back about the whole
thing.

Best of luck.

Dave R

On 10/10/2013 20:29, David.WE.Roberts wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:25:10 +0100, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that they
*may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and referral
would be a good thing to do.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

The latter is very important, every ear is different even on the same
person...

The biggest hurdle will be getting her to wear the bloody thing once she
has got it.

All the people I have knows who got hearing aids (quite a few paid big
money) rarely if ever use(d) them.

Usually they are quite happy not hearing stuff because loss of hearing has
been a gradual process which they have adapted to.

Putting the hearing aid in, adjusting it so it doesn't whistle but they
can still hear, remembering to change batteries....after a while they get
fed up or just forget.

The driver for getting a hearing aid is usually a relative who is
frustrated by the difficulty in communication and/or the volume of the TV.

The person of limited hearing is usually quite laid back about the whole
thing.

Best of luck.

Dave R

Agreed! The deaf mother simply turns up the volume on the television.
The not-deaf son cannot stand it that loud.

--
Rod

"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...

On 10/10/2013 19:25, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.


The problem is mobility. My relative is in a nursing home. Logically I
ought to be able to persuade her GP to make the necessary referral, but am
I likely to be able to get an Audiology specialist to make a visit? Can
they take whatever equipment they need with them?


Don't know where you live:
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Home+Vis...hs+Audiologist

NHS supplied hearing aid vastly improved my hearing. Plus side of NHS
hearing aid is continual free supply of batteries.

In article , David.WE.Roberts
wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:25:10 +0100, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that they
*may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and referral
would be a good thing to do.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

The latter is very important, every ear is different even on the same
person...

The biggest hurdle will be getting her to wear the bloody thing once she
has got it.

All the people I have knows who got hearing aids (quite a few paid big
money) rarely if ever use(d) them.

In which case they haven't been properly prescribed. I'm without one in my
left esr - because its away being repaired - and the effect is very
disorienating.

Usually they are quite happy not hearing stuff because loss of hearing
has been a gradual process which they have adapted to.

Putting the hearing aid in, adjusting it so it doesn't whistle but they
can still hear, remembering to change batteries....after a while they get
fed up or just forget.

Modern aids don't have user controls.

The driver for getting a hearing aid is usually a relative who is
frustrated by the difficulty in communication and/or the volume of the TV.

The person of limited hearing is usually quite laid back about the whole
thing.

I wasn't, just frustrated. I had this watch with a builtin alarm. I could
only hear it with my hearing aid in. No use in the morning, since i| don't
wear the aids in bed.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

"charles" wrote:

Modern aids don't have user controls.

I know what you mean, but it's not strictly true. Models that can be be
programmed with several different response profiles (to accommodate
different situations and varying noise levels) have a small button to switch
between the various modes.

In article , Bert Coules
wrote:
"charles" wrote:

Modern aids don't have user controls.

I know what you mean, but it's not strictly true. Models that can be be
programmed with several different response profiles (to accommodate
different situations and varying noise levels) have a small button to
switch between the various modes.

but the better ones are adaptive and decide for themselves when to switch
modes.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

On 10/10/2013 19:20, Peter Crosland wrote:
A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.

Yes, but getting one seems to take time, at least in some areas. A
couple of years ago an elderly relative of mine found it took about 6
months from GP referral to actually getting a test at the local
hospital, and then another month or so before the hearing aid was ready.

But just the other day I got a flyer from Messrs Specsavers saying that
they were now approved to do hearing tests and to prescribe hearing aids
on the NHS. I don't know how this works, but presumably you just get
your GP to refer you to the nearest branch. I assume their service
would be much faster. I've tried their eye-testing and
specs-prescribing service and can't say that I'm particularly
enthusiastic about them, but as a way of avoid a wait of many months it
seems worth giving it a go.

As others have said, the second hurdle is getting the elderly person to
actually wear the darned thing. That may take a few months, too.


--
Clive Page

"Richard" wrote in message
...
"Michael Chare" wrote in message
o.uk...

On 10/10/2013 19:25, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.


The problem is mobility. My relative is in a nursing home. Logically I
ought to be able to persuade her GP to make the necessary referral, but am
I likely to be able to get an Audiology specialist to make a visit? Can
they take whatever equipment they need with them?


Don't know where you live:
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=Home+Vis...hs+Audiologist

NHS supplied hearing aid vastly improved my hearing. Plus side of NHS
hearing aid is continual free supply of batteries.

And spare parts, like the little plastic tubes. And they get repaired for
free. A relative of mine had an NHS pair, they're moulded exactly to their
ears and set up individually on a computer to exactly match their needs.
Plus the NHS ones work with those loop systems. You won't get any of that
buying them off Ebay, any "one size fits all" thing is doomed to fail. These
look like nothing more than cheap headphone rubber ear adaptors, I wear
those when I listen to music and they can get sore pretty quickly.

On 10/10/2013 19:26, Bert Coules wrote:
Michael Chare wrote:

I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.

I wouldn't buy anything for a trial. There are commercial hearing
centres which will carry out a basic hearing test and program sample
hearing aids (possibly more than one model) for your relative to try.
There's no obligation to buy, so if she likes the result the next step
is to go to her GP and arrange an NHS test. If needed, they will supply
very discrete, modern, programmable hearing aids (and free batteries).

Some commercial suppliers occasionally run public demonstrations,
usually in hotels. They advertise in local papers, so it might also be
worth keeping an eye out for that.


To avoid the NHS try the local High St e.g.
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/book-an-appointment?gclid=CJnYieqKjboCFVDItAod9lYAYA

http://www.bootshearingcare.com/hearing-tests/?gclid=CJ_58KCKjboCFQTHtAodTiMA7g

On 10/10/2013 20:10, Michael Chare wrote:
On 10/10/2013 19:25, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.


The problem is mobility. My relative is in a nursing home. Logically I
ought to be able to persuade her GP to make the necessary referral, but
am I likely to be able to get an Audiology specialist to make a visit?
Can they take whatever equipment they need with them?

Phone them and ask. Usually the hospital should arrange transport if
needed. It really should not be that difficult.


--
Peter Crosland

"charles" wrote:

But the better ones are adaptive and decide for themselves when to switch
modes.

A fair point, though I wouldn't necessarily categorise that as "better",
though I see that it could be for some users. I prefer to retain control
over such things myself.

On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 20:57:47 +0100
Clive Page wrote:

On 10/10/2013 19:20, Peter Crosland wrote:
A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.

Yes, but getting one seems to take time, at least in some areas. A
couple of years ago an elderly relative of mine found it took about 6
months from GP referral to actually getting a test at the local
hospital, and then another month or so before the hearing aid was
ready.

But just the other day I got a flyer from Messrs Specsavers saying
that they were now approved to do hearing tests and to prescribe
hearing aids on the NHS. I don't know how this works, but presumably
you just get your GP to refer you to the nearest branch. I assume
their service would be much faster. I've tried their eye-testing
and specs-prescribing service and can't say that I'm particularly
enthusiastic about them, but as a way of avoid a wait of many months
it seems worth giving it a go.

As others have said, the second hurdle is getting the elderly person
to actually wear the darned thing. That may take a few months, too.



A year ago, during a visit to Specsavers for eye test and glasses, I
saw that they also did hearing test, so I booked one, for about two
weeks later. They didn't say anything then about prescribing NHS aids,
but the service was quick.

--
Davey.

On 10/10/2013 20:57, Clive Page wrote:
On 10/10/2013 19:20, Peter Crosland wrote:
A lot of shysters around. Get her referred by her GP to the local
audiology service. The NHS ones are quite good these days.

Yes, but getting one seems to take time, at least in some areas. A
couple of years ago an elderly relative of mine found it took about 6
months from GP referral to actually getting a test at the local
hospital, and then another month or so before the hearing aid was ready.

But just the other day I got a flyer from Messrs Specsavers saying that
they were now approved to do hearing tests and to prescribe hearing aids
on the NHS. I don't know how this works, but presumably you just get
your GP to refer you to the nearest branch. I assume their service
would be much faster. I've tried their eye-testing and
specs-prescribing service and can't say that I'm particularly
enthusiastic about them, but as a way of avoid a wait of many months it
seems worth giving it a go.

As others have said, the second hurdle is getting the elderly person to
actually wear the darned thing. That may take a few months, too.


7 years back my old chap waited months before an appointment to get
moulds made. Then we waited, and waited, then he died. A really fast
service at the time, !"£$ers.

On 10/10/2013 23:38, bm wrote:


7 years back my old chap waited months before an appointment to get
moulds made. Then we waited, and waited, then he died. A really fast
service at the time, !"£$ers.


Thanks for all the advice. I may well end up with this situation!


--
Michael Chare

On 10/10/2013 18:46, Stephen wrote:
On 10/10/2013 18:38, Michael Chare wrote:
I would like to persuade an elderly female relative to try a hearing aid.
Are either of these likely to be any use:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3508326444...84.m1436.l2648

or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3009602479...84.m1436.l2649

There is an enormous price range for hearing aids. The more expensive
ones are moulded to your ear and can be programmed to match a persons
hearing defects.

Is there something much better than the above which would be worth
trying?

DOn't bother with Ebay.

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

+1

They will also check for obvious physical causes like ear wax.

My father would be totally deaf now without the latest generation of NHS
digital hearing aids. He was firing position on anti aircraft guns
during WWII as he was the only one whose ears didn't bleed. He can still
lip read from the period where he was effectively deaf.

Under the Modernisation of Hearing Aid Services (MHAS) programme, they
will test the relative's hearing on an audiometer, select a hearing aid,
program it up with her specific hearing loss, use a universal mould
fitting and she will go home the same day with a new pair of hearing aids.

It varies with region. There is typically a three week delay between
being tested, taking a mould and getting the full kit back here.

It will be free and it will be adjusted to accommodate her specific
hearing loss.

How do I know all this? I was born profoundly deaf and am now 42 years
old.... I have seen how much audiology has changed over the years.

The latest NHS aids are remarkably good and come with free batteries.
(at least they do for pensioners)

You can go private and get something physically smaller more elegant and
even less visible but its functionality is very similar. The only thing
my mum hasn't got used to yet is using the phone with it.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

In message , Bert
Coules writes
Dave Liquorice wrote:

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.

That's why I mentioned the commercial testers. Quite apart from the
reluctance to admit that there is a problem, many elderly folk have an
extreme dislike for "bothering the doctor unnecessarily": an anonymous
visit to a hearing aid demonstration might be an easier sell.


Take 'em to Specsavers.
--
bert

In message , Michael
Chare writes
On 10/10/2013 19:25, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:46:37 +0100, Stephen wrote:

DOn't bother with Ebay.

+1

Get your relative down to the GP and ask for a referral to Audiology
and/or ENT.

The biggest hurdle will be getting elderly relative to admit that
they *may* have a problem and that *perhaps* a visit to the GP and
referral would be a good thing to do.


The problem is mobility. My relative is in a nursing home. Logically I
ought to be able to persuade her GP to make the necessary referral, but
am I likely to be able to get an Audiology specialist to make a visit?
Can they take whatever equipment they need with them?


The nursing home should be able to advise/help you on this. Yours is not
a unique situation.
--
bert