Here are some of the
questions people ask us about hearing loss.
If we haven't answered your questions here, ask the
Amplifon hearing aid audiologist at your local branch,
phone our
Contact Centre team or email us.
How do I choose the
right company to buy a hearing aid from?
How much do hearing
aids cost?
Do you offer any support
once I've purchased my hearing aids from you?
How long
does it take to get my hearing aid?
Do hearing
aids just amplify all sounds?
What's the
difference between analogue and digital hearing aids?
Why
do most people wear two hearing aids?
Will
hearing aids restore my natural hearing?
What
will I experience when I first wear hearing aids?
Should I wear my
hearing aids at night?
Can hearing
aids make my hearing worse?
Why are hearing aids that look the same different in price?
Which are the
best hearing aids to buy?
Should
I consider buying hearing aids by mail order or via the
internet?
Are the
in-the-ear aids advertised really as small as they appear?
Is it true that anyone is allowed to dispense hearing aids
commercially?
How can
I tell if someone is authorised by the Health Professions Council
to dispense hearing aids?
Is
there any advantage in buying hearing aids from a large national
company or should I go for a local independent supplier?
I've
tried hearing aids before and they didn't work. Why was
that?
Can I try on some
hearing aids and see whether they help?
Are NHS aids the
same as private ones?
If I
wear a hearing aid everyone will know I have a hearing problem,
won't they?
What styles
of private hearing aids are available?
Are private
hearing aids expensive?
How long does a
hearing aid last?
How
can I protect my hearing aids against damage or loss?
Do all hearing
aids need batteries, and are they expensive?
How do I choose the right company to buy a
hearing aid from?
The key to choosing the right company is to ensure
that:
- The hearing aid audiologist is
registered with the Health
Professions Council (HPC). The HPC regulates private hearing
aid audiologists' training and conduct, and handles complaints.
All Amplifon hearing aid audiologists are fully qualified and
registered with the HPC
- A free hearing test and free lifetime
Aftercare are included. At Amplifon we offer a comprehensive free
lifetime Aftercare programme to ensure you continue to receive the
maximum benefit from your hearing and your hearing aids.
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How much do
hearing aids cost?
We offer a wide range of hearing aids from the worlds leading
manufacturers at prices to suit everyone's budget. The cost of a
hearing aid depends mainly on the type of hearing loss you have and
the variety of different situations that your hearing aid will need
to cope with. The more varied the situations and lifestyles, the
more sophisticated the hearing aid's technology needs to be. At
your hearing assessment we will advise you on the various options
available to you and the most appropriate level of technology
required for your individual hearing loss and lifestyle.
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Do you offer any
support once I've purchased my hearing aids from you?
Amplifon's free Lifetime Aftercare programme looks after your
hearing aids for life. This unrivalled programme of support
includes a regular assessment and evaluation of your hearing,
expert help and advice, demonstrations of new hearing aid
technology to ensure you continue to get the most out of your
hearing aids.
Once your hearing aids have been fitted, our hearing aid audiologist
will arrange your programme of free Lifetime Aftercare to make
sure you are getting the maximum benefit from them and they
continue to work at maximum efficiency. The hearing aid audiologist
will also advise you on how to take daily care of your hearing aids
to maintain their performance and what to do when batteries need
replacing.
During the regular six monthly Aftercare appointments we offer
expert help and advice, new technology demonstrations and a 5 Star
Service check which includes:
- Cleaning or replacing tubing and adjusting your hearing
aid contacts
- Cleaning the hearing aid casing and microphone duct
- Checking for acoustic feedback
- Checking your hearing aid performance
- A free pack of hearing aid batteries
We will also assess your hearing on a regular basis to ensure
your hearing aids continue to give you the best possible hearing
improvement.
Also see: Free
Lifetime Aftercare
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How
long does it take to get my hearing aid?
Normally non-customised hearing aids are fitted within one week
and custom aids are fitted within two weeks of your hearing
assessment. All our hearing aids are selected and programmed
individually to meet your specific hearing requirements and this
can take between one to two weeks dependent upon the type of
hearing aids.
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Do
hearing aids just amplify all sounds?
Almost all hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds
selectively so that they amplify the sounds that are more difficult
to hear. Hearing aids that use digital technology produce more
accurate amplification that can be tailored to your individual
needs.
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What's the
difference between analogue and digital hearing aids?
Digital
hearing aids have largely taken the place of analogue ones
because they offer far better sound quality and clarity. They have
a tiny computer inside which processes sounds and this makes it
possible to customise them very precisely to suit each individuals
hearing loss.
Many digital aids can be programmed with different settings for
different sound environments; for example, one programme for a
quiet living room and another for a noisy restaurant.
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Why
do most people wear two hearing aids?
Usually people have a hearing loss in both ears, so it is a
common misconception that only one hearing aid is necessary to
assist with hearing problems affecting both ears. Just as with your
eye sight, if both ears have less than normal hearing, then the
maximum benefit can only be attained if you use two hearing aids.
This is especially important if your hearing problem is most
noticeable in noisier situations.
Your brain's hearing system also helps you perceive space and
depth, and helps you balance. Wearing only one aid not only
significantly reduces the brain's ability to hear and
understand but also affects your ability to perceive space,
depth and direction. So to obtain maximum benefit, two hearing
aids are needed.
When you wear two hearing aids, you find
that:
- Listening is more comfortable and less stressful because when
both ears work together you need less amplification and a lower
volume setting to hear clearly. Your brain can process the
information more effectively.
- Sounds heard by both ears sound more natural and are easier to
understand. If you only wear a hearing aid in one ear, sound can
appear flat or dull and speech may be unclear. You may need to turn
your head to hear when a person is speaking, or ask them to sit on
your 'good side'.
- Hearing clearly in both ears allows you to detect the direction
that the sound is coming from. So you won't appear rude by
accidentally ignoring someone speaking to you on your unaided side
and you know where alarm sounds are coming from - which could be
critical for your personal safety!
- If you're in a busy restaurant or at a party where lots of
people are speaking, it's easier to pick out the voice of the
person you want to listen to.
Over time the ear without a hearing aid may suffer from
'auditory deprivation', resulting in even greater hearing
difficulty and problems understanding speech. So wearing two
hearing aids, carefully adjusted by your hearing aid audiologist to
work together, will be better.
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Will
hearing aids restore my natural hearing?
Although it is not possible to restore your natural hearing,
hearing aids allow you to hear better. Even people who have normal
hearing experience some difficulty in noisy situations and,
although no hearing aid can restore your natural hearing
completely, wearing hearing aids will almost certainly improve your
hearing significantly.
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What will I experience when I first wear hearing
aids?
As your hearing loss will probably have been gradual, over the
years you will have become used to not hearing properly many of the
sounds of life, like traffic noise, the fridge, leaves rustling or
birds singing. When you start wearing hearing aids, these sounds
will reappear so you need to get used to ignoring the sounds that
you don't want to hear - just like you used to. By wearing your
hearing aids as much as possible, you can re-educate your brain to
do just this. Wearing your hearing aids will also help you
recognise where sounds are coming from and learn the best settings
for different situations.
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Should I
wear my hearing aids at night?
Hearing aids are not normally worn in bed at night.
To help in other situations we stock a range of products that
are specifically designed for people with hearing loss, such as
alarm clocks, . If you are worried that you won't hear your smoke
alarm, ask the fire prevention officer in your local fire brigade
for advice about smoke alarms for people with hearing loss.
Also see: Helping you hear around
the home
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Can
hearing aids make my hearing worse?
Properly prescribed and fitted hearing aids definitely cannot
make your hearing worse, because they do not physically alter the
state of your hearing mechanism. Also, hearing aids are preset to a
safe maximum level. Once your hearing has begun to deteriorate, it
will usually continue to do so over time - but hearing aids are
designed to help you make the most of your remaining hearing to
make sounds clearer and sharper. You may find that louder sounds
that you haven't heard in quite some time may surprise you, so you
will need to acclimatise yourself to this.
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Why are hearing aids that look the same different in
price?
Although the hearing aid casing may look the same, it's the
technology inside that really determines the price. The more
sophisticated the technology, the better the hearing aid can cope
with many different situations and lifestyles - and this increased
sophistication means that the technology is more expensive to
produce.
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Which
are the best hearing aids to buy?
There are many brands of hearing aid produced by reputable
international manufacturers. However the most important issues in
determining which hearing aid is right for you are the results of
your hearing test, your lifestyle, the style of hearing aid that
you prefer and your level of dexterity. Based on these four key
factors, your hearing aid audiologist will recommend the hearing
aids that he thinks are most appropriate for you to ensure that
they will satisfy your individual needs and that you will feel
comfortable and confident wearing every day.
As a specialist hearing aid retailer Amplifon offers a range of
market leading products from the worlds leading hearing aid
manufacturers, so we will always be able to offer you a
choice of the very latest, high performance products
to suit every budget.
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Should I consider buying hearing aids by mail order or via the
internet?
The sale of hearing aids by mail order or the internet is not
regulated so there are virtually no safeguards to ensure your best
interests. Also, it is important to remember that the effectiveness
of your hearing aids relies on them being properly prescribed and
fitted by a fully registered and qualified hearing aid audiologist
to ensure they meet your individual needs.
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Are the In-the-ear (ITE) aids advertised really as small as
they appear?
Yes, generally speaking. The size and shape of the aid may vary
with the dimensions of each person's ears, but advances in digital
technology now mean that hearing aids really are very discreet and
almost "invisible".
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Is it true that anyone is allowed to dispense hearing aids
commercially?
No, only people who are registered with the Health Professions Council and
therefore meet their standards can prescribe and dispense hearing
aids in the private sector.
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How can I tell if someone is authorised by the Health Professions
Council (HPC) to dispense hearing aids?
All our hearing aid audiologists are authorised by the
HPC who issue an authorisation card to each hearing aid
audiologist. You can ask to see this card or, if you prefer,
contact the Health Professions
Council or check on their website which holds a list of
registered hearing aid dispensers.
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Is there any advantage in buying hearing aids from a large
national company or should I go for a local independent
supplier?
Choosing Amplifon means you will receive the very highest levels
of care from fully qualified, highly trained professionals who are
all HPC registered. We offer a wide range of
products incorporating the very latest, high
performance technology in different price ranges backed by an
unrivalled, comprehensive, regular Aftercare programme,
wherever you live in the UK. We will service your hearing aids
regularly to maintain their performance and check your hearing to
ensure your hearing aids continue to provide you with the
maximum benefit.
Also see: Our product
range
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I've
tried hearing aids before and they didn't work. Why was
that?
It may be that you tried an out-dated type of hearing aid or one
that wasn't suitable for your needs. Today's digital hearing aids
are a huge improvement on the old analogue ones; they're much more
comfortable and can be programmed to suit your individual hearing
loss.
Features such as directionality and noise reduction allow you to
hear what you want whilst cutting down background noise. When you
are fitted with new hearing aids it is important to allow time to
get used to them. Once you do, you will probably find your life is
changed for the better - for good.
Also see: Digital
hearing aids How do
hearing aids work?
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Can I try on
some hearing aids and see whether they help?
Of course - this will give you some idea of how much hearing
aids could help you and how it feels to wear them. But depending on
the type of hearing aid your hearing aid audiologist
recommends, the demonstration may only give you a general idea of
how much hearing aids could help. For example, many hearing
aids are made individually so they would improve your hearing much
more than you could experience with a sample aid during your
hearing consultation.
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Are NHS aids
the same as private ones?
Some of the aids may be similar but the choice under the NHS is
limited. In contrast, privately supplied aids often offer a much
wider range of advanced technology and include the most invisible,
discreet models to suit the individual wearer.
Also see: Our product
range
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If
I wear a hearing aid everyone will know I have a hearing problem,
won't they?
It's no stigma to have a hearing problem, any more than it is to
need spectacles. Around the age of 50 the proportion of people
with a hearing loss begins to increase sharply and 55% of
people over 60 are deaf or hard of hearing. However, if you don't
feel comfortable wearing visible hearing aids, there are excellent
in-the-canal aids available that fit right inside the ear and are
almost invisible. Some people actually treat their hearing aids as
fashion accessories and choose one of the futuristic modern designs
and/or colours available. Usually it's the effects of not
wearing hearing aids that advertise a hearing problem!
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What
styles of private hearing aids are available?
The main types of aid are behind-the-ear, in-the-ear and
in-the-canal aids. All three types are small, discreet, and often
available in colours that tone with an individual's skin or hair.
In addition, hearing aids are now available that automatically
adjust to different sounds so you don't need to adjust them
manually, or they can be used with a remote control to help people
with dexterity problems such as arthritis. For wearers who want to
link their hearing aids wirelessly to their TV, music centre or
mobile phone, new Bluetooth enabled hearing aids take sound
directly from a wide range of electronic sources, providing clear,
sharp sound direct to your hearing aids.
Also see: Types of
hearing aids Our product
range
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Are private
hearing aids expensive?
Private hearing aids cover a wide range of prices depending on
the style and complexity of hearing aid that you need to suit your
hearing loss and your lifestyle. Although most digital hearing aids
may be able to improve your hearing, the more expensive hearing
aids incorporate advanced technology which makes them easier to
use, better able to cope with differing environments and situations
and increased functionality to integrate with other electronic
equipment around your home.
Your hearing aid audiologist
will be able to recommend the style and price of hearing aids that
best suit your hearing loss and lifestyle - but if you consider
that a single hearing aid worn for five years can cost you just 27p
a day, it's a small price to pay for all the benefits that better
hearing can bring to your daily life.
Also see: Types of
hearing aids Our product
range
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How long does
a hearing aid last?
Your hearing aids will last for years. But even if your hearing
aids are still functioning perfectly, your hearing may have changed
since you first had your hearing aids and so they may no longer be
giving you all the improvement you now need.
In addition, technological advances in hearing aids mean that
new hearing aids could significantly improve your hearing or could
make them much easier for you to use. As part of your free
Lifetime Aftercare programme, your hearing aid audiologist
should reassess your hearing on a regular basis to ensure your
hearing aids are still giving you the best available improvement in
your hearing.
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How
can I protect my hearing aids against damage or
loss?
To ensure you have peace of mind, when you buy a hearing aid
from Amplifon, you not only receive your manufacture's warrenty
but we also give you a year's guarentee
free, under the National Hearing Aid Guarantee
Scheme.
This covers your hearing aids against:
- Accidental loss or damage
- Repairs
- Re-shells
- Faults due to wax or moisture
- Ear moulds
- Receivers
- Malfunction and breakdown for one year from the date of
purchase
After the first year you can extend the warranty for up to four
years if you wish, for an additional cost. If your hearing aid is
covered under the warranty, repair and parts are free. If your
warranty has expired, your hearing aid audiologist will be able to
advise you on what is required and will obtain a free estimate for
the cost of the repair from the manufacturer.
Also see: Protect
your hearing aid
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Do all
hearing aids need batteries and are they expensive?
All hearing aids need batteries, but the cost of running your
hearing aids is likely to be a few pence per day, depending on the
type of aid and battery size. Some hearing aids are available with
rechargeable batteries and a charging unit.
Also see: Hearing loss
- your questions answered
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Source: Facts and figures on deafness and tinnitus: Action on Hearing
Loss
