I've used a hearing aid for 25 years. For many years I was quite happy with the NHS one until about 7 years ago I succumbed to the adverts praising the effectiveness and discrete apprarance of a private one, forked out a grand and bought one. Last week it packed in, is well out of warranty so rather than driving out to the private hearing aid clinic, I dug out the old NHS one, more in hope than expectation. Blow me, it works perfectly and although it might be a bit more visible than the private one, is far more efficient at picking up slight noises.
I'm now convinced that buying private hearing aids is a mug's game.
Anyone else had a similar experience?

My mum did. She was paying a fortune, but she recently managed to get a consultation with the NHS.

I made an appointment for a modern one but was advised not to waste my money. My NHS one works perfectly and I get free batteries and checks if anything goes wrong

You can a test and the aids on NHS at Specsavers.

Filthy socialism.

Pardon?

Got mine from Specsavers, good service, always keen to give them the once over if there is a problem. Got the first one about 7/8 years ago, few years later upped to 1 each ear. Recently found increased hearing problems again, new pair brilliant, plus of course you get a years supply followed by yearly supplies ofbatteries through the post. Would highly recommend..

What does each aid cost at Specsavers and what do they charge for batteries? The NHS ones and batteries for life are totally free. My private one cost over £1000 7 years ago and its batteries are about a 50p each sold in packs of 60 batteries

I got mine from Specsavers on NHS.

I got mine through the doc and like Hort ended up with NHS for free. Thinking back I was only in the system for about 2/3 weeks before app with Specsavers.

We live and learn. I didn't know you could get NHS stuff anywhere other than at a hospital or other NHS-run places

Where do you get your prescriptions from???
Pharmacies are not run by NHS.

Well, I got a new NHS one yesterday at the local hospital audiology department. Free and free batteries for life. I've now ditched the private one a paid over a grand for 7 years ago as it's not a patch on the NHS one. Maybe a bit less visible but what is the point of trying to disguise a hearing aid? We don't try to disguise our specs when our sight decines so why treat hearing any differently?

My mum had a similar experience, having been ripped off with a private service for a few years. She's as impressed as you are. Free - at the point of need. Communists!

My Mum got hers from Specsavers and then lost one...........they cost £3K

Alan wrote: Fri Aug 22, 2025 4:34 pm Well, I got a new NHS one yesterday at the local hospital audiology department. Free and free batteries for life. I've now ditched the private one a paid over a grand for 7 years ago as it's not a patch on the NHS one. Maybe a bit less visible but what is the point of trying to disguise a hearing aid? We don't try to disguise our specs when our sight decines so why treat hearing any differently?

just googled, seems the NHS will give out new hearing aids every 3-4 years, which is similar to changing the tyres on your car, or changing your glasses, change out the hearing device keep the old one as a back up.

Not hearing aids, but I had to pay for my ears to be cleaned of all the build up wax out as they don't do it on the NHS anymore. 60 quid to have both lug holes rinsed.

Felt good, though.

a job well done.

what was involved in your procedure?

I get my ears cleared by a micro-suction device every three months. Costs £60 a time

Alan do they just suck it out or do they also pick at the wax then suck it out, how long does it take?

I have never had this done, I have not googled to check it out, so I'm curious on folks that perform tasks that involves an invasive procedure.

At £60 a pop seems expensive, if the ear sucker business was busy I could see its possible to do 4 an hour al day long.

To me it doesn't seem all that difficult, a low skilled task that almost anyone could be trained to do, just a magnifying something (otoscope, endoscope, a funnel, pick & suck tools, clean cloths & must wear a white smock) that can look/go inside inside the ear canal, a picking/suction device -are the folks that do this qualified or medical trained or along the lines of a 3 mth training to do it?

I'd be concerned it could cause damage to the ear canal or ear drum.

Less work, less effort than being a hairdresser, a massage therapy, folks that do manicure/pedicure. I envision 'being an ear sucker' as a business or passive income, get trained buy the equipment, set up the spare room in the house, charge £30 a suck, folks would be lined up like they would to buy £30 of petrol.

Better still after a few years experience open a place to train ear suckers, give them a DIY certificate.

Disclaimer: I was in Mumbai India in 1996 where they had street vendors that do it on the spot done by hand with a set of primative hand tools, a charge equivelent at the time of 25p a clean, still exisits today.

not2old wrote: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:13 pm a job well done.

what was involved in your procedure?

Same as Alan described. It didn't take long and it was a home visit. A Beautician did it. I asked her if she could do something with my face but she told me that would cost a lot more than 60 quid and would need a team of Panel Beaters

not2old wrote: Wed Oct 01, 2025 6:10 pm Alan do they just suck it out or do they also pick at the wax then suck it out, how long does it take?

They ask you to put oil in your ear for a couple of nights beforehand. This softens the wax and they then just use the device to suck it out. Usually takes around 30 minute to do both my ears and is totally painless

i got some from fb site "hear clear pro" they were total garbage came from europe somewere,one whistled an one dint work at all threw em in bin,now use free ones from hossy they work fine not bothered about them being seen

I use an old remedy I came across. Quarter teaspoon of salt into half cup of warm water. I use a small plastic syringe to dribble it into the ear, lie quietly for ten minutes, dry ear away you go. If you think that's cobblers, went along with the wife to have ears syringed. Nurse muttered and moaned about such a silly idea. Wife had wax, my ears were totally clear.
Believe, 'How' to use a bit of salt is on Google. Worth a look.