Hearing Aids

Audiologists carry out a thorough assessment, including a hearing test and a detailed history focusing on hearing difficulties and lifestyle. Where a hearing aid will be helpful, patients are fitted with a modern digital hearing aid which is programmed, or tuned, to their individual hearing loss. Hearing aids, batteries and all after-care are provided free of charge through the NHS. We provide a patient-centred service and ensure that each patient is fitted with a hearing aid that is tailored to their specific needs. Patients are seen in a timely manner, within current NHS waiting times.

Following the hearing aid fitting, patients are offered a follow up appointment to check progress and given a maintenance plan for dealing with any problems. Click here for more information.

How can I get help with my hearing aid?

If you are having problems with your hearing aid, there are a few simple checks that you can carry out yourself. Please see the trouble-shooting section for more information.

If you are not able to deal with the problem yourself, our Hear to Help Volunteers provide a basic repair and battery service. Alternatively, please ring the Hearing Centre for a booked repair appointment with one of our audiologists on 0121 424 0888

Specialist Care

In addition to routine care, we also provide specialist treatment for people who only have hearing in one ear (Single Sided Deafness) or have a conductive hearing loss, who may not be helped by conventional hearing aids. Patients may be referred to our specialist teams who provide CROS hearing aids (Contra Lateral Routing of Signal) or Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA's).

CROS/BiCROS hearing aids are for people with hearing in one ear only. CROS hearing aids pick up sound from the side with no hearing and send it to the ear that is able to hear. BiCROS aids work in a similar way and may be useful for people who do not have any hearing in one ear and a degree of hearing loss in the other ear. BiCROS hearing aids also make sounds louder.

Bone conduction hearing aids are for people who cannot wear conventional hearing aids or people with a conductive' hearing loss. They deliver sound through the skull by vibrations. One type of bone conduction aid involves the wearer having a minor operation behind the ear to fit a small screw. A special hearing aid (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or BAHA) then clips onto the screw. Click here for more information.

For more information about hearing aids and answers to commonly asked questions please visit the Action on Hearing Loss website. For current hearing aid users this also provides a wealth of information about hearing aid maintenance and daily care.

Useful links

Action on Hearing Loss
Tel: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Email: information@hearingloss.org.uk

Hearing Link
Tel: 0300 111 1113 
SMS: 07526 123255 
Fax: 01323 471 260
Email: enquiries@hearinglink.org

NHS Choices
http://www.nhs.uk

Deafness Research UK
http://www.deafnessresearch.org.uk/

Information Service
Freephone: 0808 808 2222 (Monday-Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm)
Email: info@deafnessresearch.org.uk