FAQs from new hearing aid users

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Of the 11 million people who suffer with some form of hearing loss in the UK around just 2 million use hearing aids.

That is 9 million people who are not making use of the hearing solutions available. Perhaps this is in part because wearing a hearing aid for the first time can cause some anxiety, but the improvements to your hearing will make the effort worthwhile.

There are several types of hearing aids to choose from, and your personal situation will dictate which one will suit you best. As a first-time user, you are bound to have a few questions. Here are some of the more common ones.

1. How do hearing aids work?

While hearing aids are available in a wide range of models, the basic performance is the same with just about all of them. Sound is received into a microphone which then transmits the sound to an amplifier. Through a speaker, you will then be able to hear more clearly.

If you book a hearing test and are advised that you need a hearing aid, you will be given information on how best to clean it. As with all aids, keeping it free of debris will help to maintain the highest levels of performance in the months and years to come. As always, feel free to ask us for guidance if you’re not sure.

There are several types of hearing aid available nowadays, and your advisor will be able to help you to make the right choice. Among the more common models are BTE (Behind the Ear), ITE (In the Ear), RITE (Receiver in the Ear) and ITC (In the Canal). Your type of hearing loss will have an influence on which model is most appropriate.

With so many types of hearing aid on the market, it comes as no surprise to discover a wide range of prices. A few hundred pounds will get you an excellent model that will bring a dramatic improvement to your hearing levels, while the top of the range models can cost in excess of £1,500. As always, your advisor can provide further information.

Once our hearing aids have been fitted, we provide all the aftercare you are ever likely to need. If you have any issues at all with the hearing aid, come back and see us and we will put things right. We offer a range of aftercare services which includes extended warranties, wax removal, hearing aid optimisation and impartial advice.

Modern hearing aids are as state of the art as it gets, and they are built to last for a number of years. In general, the life expectancy of a hearing aid is likely to be somewhere between three and seven years. There are variations depending on the type and on how well it has been looked after.

*Statistics sourced from registered charity Hearing link.