Private Hearing Aids
There are six main hearing aid brands. These are Phonak, Oticon, GN Resound, Starkey, Widex and Signia. They each provide a portfolio of products with some variation in the style, colour and also technical ability. Some of these hearing aid brands are also available on the NHS but the choice is limited to one type-the ones that go behind the ear, and quite often, one colour, too.
When you choose private hearing aids you have a choice of colours but you also have a choice of style. If you want an in ear hearing aid you can. If you want your hearing aids to notify a loved one of a fall, then Starkey hearing aids offer this. You can also get rechargeable hearing aids, which take away the bother of small batteries, particularly if you have limited dexterity.
Did you know that not all hearing aid providers are equal? At PinnaClear all services are provided by a senior audiologist.
How do i know if i have a hearing loss?
These difficulties are commonly reported in an audiology clinic. Can you identify with any of them?
- You have to turn the tv up louder than family or friends
- You often feel as though people are mumbling and speech is unclear
- You might struggle to hear birds singing
- You find it hard to follow telephone conversations
- You often miss the doorbell ringing
There are usually tell tale signs of hearing loss but when it is age related, it is usually a very slow process so you might not notice straight away. Age related hearing loss or presbycusis generally occurs from fifty upwards. Quite often family will notice that the volume of the TV is creeping up or you might feel as though everyone is mumbling. If you feel as though you can’t follow conversation when in groups or noisy places such as restaurants, it is likely that you have some reduced hearing.
You can also lose your hearing due to other reasons such as noise exposure, balance disorders such as labyrinthitis ear infection or trauma, in which case the hearing loss might be more sudden. Whether you have progressive age related hearing loss or have suffered with sudden hearing loss there will be private hearing aids that are suitable for you and your needs.
If this sounds like you then arranging a hearing assessment is the first step to taking charge of your hearing loss needs. At PinnaClear we will perform a thorough ear examination and hearing check and discuss the details with you so you understand every step of your hearing aid journey.
Schedule your audiology clinic appointment now
We offer same day and late appointments, if you can't come to us, it may be possible for us to come to you.
Are cheap private Hearing Aids worth it?
There is an incredible amount of information out there and we understand that it can get confusing. There are some private hearing aids available to purchase that are relatively cheap and might be more aesthetically pleasing to you than NHS ones, however, you will be compromising on quality with this type of technology. This is because the hearing aid technology is likely to be old and with limited functionality. You may also have seen pre set over the counter hearing aids available to purchase online. These will be an even bigger compromise on sound quality as they won’t be set to your requirements and work just as basic amplifiers.
At PinnaClear we have decided not to provide private hearing aids that have lesser technology than is available on the NHS. We will only provide private hearing aids that are comparable or better. This means we only provide premium hearing aids.
Meet your Audiologist
At PinnaClear, I want to provide personalised care by taking the time to understand your unique needs and tailoring our services to ensure the best possible outcomes. I want to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and involve you in decision-making, ensuring you have an active role in your hearing health journey.
Hafiza Choonara
Senior Audiologist
Choosing an independent audiologist over a high street chain offers several distinct advantages that can greatly enhance your hearing health journey.
Hear Easy With Our Range of Audiology Topics
Age Related Hearing loss
Learn more about ageing and hearing loss and how it affects us.
Hearing Aid Features
There are different components to hearing aids and how they work for you.
Frequently Asked Audiology Questions
The more you wear your hearing aids, the more natural they become. There is usually an acclimatisation period when you first get hearing aids. This is the time that it takes for you and your brain to adjust to using the hearing aids and for some people, it helps to build up use of their hearing aids in order to get used to them at the beginning.
Hearing aids channel sound towards your eardrum and on to your brain to be processed. This means blocking your ear to different degrees according to your hearing loss. This is called the occlusion effect. It may be possible to reduce some of this occlusion by adding a vent or adjusting some settings in your hearing aids. However, this can increase the risk of whistling from your hearing aids.
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Hearing aids work with how much hearing you have left and therefore cannot replace your natural hearing. It takes time to get used to wearing hearing aids. This is called the acclimatisation period.
The way a hearing aid functions depends on several factors, including your degree of hearing loss, how they have been fitted and how much you understand about how they will work. NHS departments usually have contracts with a single manufacturer, this means less choice for you in terms of technical ability and hearing aid style. You will have more access to different hearing aid types including rechargeable hearing aids by purchasing hearing aids privately.
Wearing a hearing aid in both ears allows them to mimic the way our ears work together and helps with the localisation of sound. Wearing two hearing aids can also help with speech in a background noise situation.
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If your hearing aid is Bluetooth friendly it means that it can connect to devices like your smartphone. This allows you to stream e.g. from your iPhone directly to your hearing aid and also allows you to use hearing aid apps to control your hearing aid settings.
There are six main hearing aid brands; Phonak, Starkey, Oticon, GN ReSound, Widex and Signia. Each manufacturer has a catalogue of different hearing aid products and these vary in technical ability and styles. Hearing aids can be custom made to fit the shape of your ear or rest over the ear. Prices vary according to the technical ability of the hearing aid. The ‘smarter’ the hearing aid, the more expensive the hearing aids are.
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There are different types of earplugs for sleeping. Foam disposable earplugs are commonly used and cheap to buy. An environmentally friendly and more comfortable alternative would be custom made earplugs for sleeping that can be cleaned well, dampen noise and last longer. Learn more.