Hearing Aid information needed

purerandom

hi All,
my mother has very poor hearing so i am looking into getting a hearing aid for her. I have no idea where to start and whats best for her.
The most important thing is that it is comfortable and improves her hearing.
Can anyone reccomend a particular product or point me in the direction of a website that can?
thanks for any help on this.

Vorsprung

I'd try this first, seems to provide lots of information!

Sid_Justice

You might go to the GP first. There are a number of different causes of hearing loss and impairment. The GP might recommend/refer you to an audiologist if a hearing aid is appropriate or a better course of action.

j.mcdrmd

Vorsprung wrote: »

I'd try this first, seems to provide lots of information!

The problem with this approach is that it will throw up all sorts of adverts for commercial companies whose objective is to achieve sales. If you go with one of them you MIGHT have the same experience as one of my relatives. They got the hearing aids but they were not working properly for them. They had to send them back and they returned a couple of days before the expiration of the trial period. They are now frustrated and own very expensive hearing aids that kind of work a bit. Mostly they stay in the box.

My advice is to stick with the professionals, they are interested in health as against sales. This link should help.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/dental_aural_and_optical_services/aural_services.html

I know some people who say that the service works very well. One has digital hearing aids through the service and crucially has follow up appointments for tweaks as apparently hearing changes. Another has an appointment to collect new digital hearing aids next week.

j.mcdrmd

j.mcdrmd wrote: »

Another has an appointment to collect new digital hearing aids next week.

To follow up on this I am delighted to confirm that the hearings aids were supplied as promised by the HSE. There was a comprehensive consult involved and a follow up appointment has arrived in the post for next month.

I attended the consult with the recipient and saw a notice on the wall with words to this effect:-

The HSE do NOT recommend ANY private audiologist in the area.
Details of these audiologists can be found in the Golden Pages.

I have to admit I am suprised that any section of the HSE is this good. Hopefully the service will continue and someone on boards will benefit from this advice.

eyescreamcone

Any truth that the waiting list to have your hearing tested by the HSE is now over 24 months???

jcbrowne1

It depends on where in the country you are based - I know in the Galway area it's closer to 14 -16 months for assessment and it is in the years for children.

Other posters may be able to confirm waiting times in other parts of the country.

Joe