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Just a test

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  • 20-11-2015 10:10pm
    #1
    Sully
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Since a very young age, I am 50% deaf in my left ear. I've grown up without hearing aids and I don't particular fancy them right now. But I would like to get my hearing tested to see if it's worse or same, as I find it's deteriorated and I struggle in work a little.

    The HSE won't assist as I don't have a medical card and Specsavers doesn't strike me as a place to go and on asking a friend who is deaf, she didn't recommend them either.

    Any other suggestions on where would be good for a test?

    Thanks :)


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    #2
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,121 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    We have had very satisfactory dealings with Waterford Hearing Services https://www.facebook.com/waterfordhearing/info/?tab=overview

    Specsavers are fine for glasses, but I am not convinced by their hearing services. Hidden Hearing have a good rep as I understand, however they will damn you with advertising, phone calls etc if they get your name.


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    #3
    RainyDay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,925 ✭✭✭RainyDay


    Your GP would be a good starting point


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    #4
    Sully
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    RainyDay wrote: »
    Your GP would be a good starting point

    Wouldn't have thought a GP would be good for hearing tests?


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    #5
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,121 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    RainyDay wrote: »
    Your GP would be a good starting point

    Why?


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    #6
    210
    Registered Users Posts: 186 ✭✭210


    GP is good place to start. Ask your local surgery if they can do hearing tests. Its a very basic test but it establishes if problem exists & Doctor can then refer you on to ENT consultant if needed for more detailed examination.


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    #7
    bilbot79
    Registered Users Posts: 1,980 ✭✭✭bilbot79


    You can get free tests in loads of places in dublin like hidden hearing for example. I almost bought hearing aids from specsavers years ago but I gave them back cos the sound just wasn't as good as the expensive widex ones I'd had before.
    FWIW I spent a small fortune on cic aids but when I walked out of bonavox that day I was the happiest guy on the planet. Got promoted in work within 6 months too.
    Moral of the story...dip your hand into your pockets for this


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    #8
    RainyDay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,925 ✭✭✭RainyDay


    looksee wrote: »
    Why?

    Because your GP is your gateway to other health services. I wouldn't expect the GP to do a hearing test, but they should be able to steer you in the right direction.


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    #9
    cobham
    Registered Users Posts: 767 ✭✭✭cobham


    You need to be medically checked over as to why you have a hearing problem especially if it is in one ear only. A GP will refer you to a consultant who will in turn send you to an audiology department for a hearing test. Then you might have a CAT scan or MRI. With all this done and a recommendation for a hearing aid, then you can check out various places that supply hearing aids. I do not think a professional audiologist is allowed supply hearing aids without decent medical background.

    I was happy with my experience of Specsavers - both the person I dealt with and the hearing aid. There was a 30 day trial of same I think.


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    #10
    Sully
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    I've booked into the local private hospital anyway just to see where I am at now :)


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    #11
    bilbot79
    Registered Users Posts: 1,980 ✭✭✭bilbot79


    cobham wrote: »
    You need to be medically checked over as to why you have a hearing problem especially if it is in one ear only. A GP will refer you to a consultant who will in turn send you to an audiology department for a hearing test. Then you might have a CAT scan or MRI. With all this done and a recommendation for a hearing aid, then you can check out various places that supply hearing aids. I do not think a professional audiologist is allowed supply hearing aids without decent medical background.

    I was happy with my experience of Specsavers - both the person I dealt with and the hearing aid. There was a 30 day trial of same I think.

    Unless you're in a hospital an audiologist is a glorified salesperson


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    #12
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,121 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I had a rubbish (and expensive) experience with an ENT consultant who assured me I had no significant hearing loss. I knew I was having serious difficulty hearing with one ear, as a result of an (apparently mild) ear infection. I found the audiologist I attended very knowledgeable and helpful, no hard sell, and an excellent outcome.


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    #13
    ronjonbyrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6 ✭ronjonbyrne


    2 years in University to get a degree in Audiology is not to be.a glorified salesperson. And fyi Specsavers sell Widex fusion & passion RICS or CIC's depending on personal preference or the prescription of the loss.
    The test is free with no obligation & performed by a fully qualified registered Hearing Aid Dispenser (Audiologists)


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    #14
    cobham
    Registered Users Posts: 767 ✭✭✭cobham


    I agree that an audiologist is a professionally trained person and as such should not dispense hearing aids without some medical background on their client. My audiologist was happy with my account of my history and I had a couple of audiology results with me.

    Initially I thought to go direct to one and just asked a GP to recommend a person and was surprised when he insisted that my ears (and cause for sudden hearing loss in one ear) be examined by a consultant. Of course the obvious cause of wax blockage was quickly ruled out by the GP. After the second grommut failed, the ENT person was prepared to go again but also said I would be a good candidate for a hearing aid and that the level of hearing loss I had would probably not deteriorate any further. So I 'saved' myself the expense of further surgery/hearing tests etc and invested in my hearing aid.

    Now I have it nearly a year and I really miss it when I forget to put it in... I no longer have to strain to catch words in company or apologise for not hearing properly. And when the mobile goes walkabout, I can only locate its hiding place with the hearing aid in to guide me.... :)

    Ok maybe not important but it was a traffic situation where hearing was crucial that prompted me initially to do something about my hearing after 7 years of hearing loss.


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    #15
    210
    Registered Users Posts: 186 ✭✭210


    Just out of interest did the ENT consultant refer you for an MRI of your ear ?


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    #16
    Sully
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    I'm not due back yet but there is a wide ranging debate about it being a waste of money going private when, apparently, you can be referred onto the public system by your doctor and be seen within a couple of weeks where the tests are done in one day. This advise was given by another doctor within the hospital.


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    #17
    cobham
    Registered Users Posts: 767 ✭✭✭cobham


    Just out of interest did the ENT consultant refer you for an MRI of your ear ?

    Sorry just saw your post now. Yes ENT surgeon referred me for MRI when first say me maybe 6 yrs ago. After failure of first grommut, it was a CAT referral, before second grommut installed.... all money and only so much cover from VHI. There was also hearing tests done before and after surgeries. My problem is a blocked eustacian tube so ear full of gunk as does not drain.


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    #18
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,121 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Sully wrote: »
    I'm not due back yet but there is a wide ranging debate about it being a waste of money going private when, apparently, you can be referred onto the public system by your doctor and be seen within a couple of weeks where the tests are done in one day. This advise was given by another doctor within the hospital.

    Goodness things are looking up!


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    #19
    Sully
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 24,056 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sully


    looksee wrote: »
    Goodness things are looking up!

    Some sort of Swift Clinic?


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