Obtaining a Hearing Aid

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A pair of hearing aids will cost anything from a couple of hundred to a few thousand pounds, depending on the specifications and the level of sophistication.

NHS Audiology departments provide them free to NHS patients on a long-term loan basis. They remain the property of the NHS, who will repair or replace them should they be damaged or lost. Any NHS patient who needs one is entitled to a hearing aid even if they choose to acquire one privately.

Unfortunately, elderly patients in some parts of the country, have to wait up to three years for a hearing aid through the NHS, according to a survey conducted for the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. Frustrated by the delays, many are opting to go private, rather than face continued years of isolation.

Across the country, people are now waiting an average of 47 weeks for a hearing aid. But, in some cases, patients have been warned they face a wait of up to six years!

Getting a Hearing Aid privately can be costly but should offer greater choice. Check that your private dispenser is registered with the Hearing Aid Council, which governs the sale of hearing aids.