Hearing Aids For A 70 Year Old Woman With Mild To Moderate Hearing Loss

cronos

My mother has been told she has Mild to Moderate hearing loss after a review by Specsavers.

She tried a behind the ear version from hidden hearing for 90 days that would have cost 4100 euros but after the 90 days she found them too strong with the rustle of hair also they were visible and she'd prefer if possible something that's not visible.

She's had a couple of brands such as Signia and Siemens STPX mentioned but she does not know much about how to choose such an item. I'm interested to see if people have a good idea how to choose such an item, what's a good price etc...

Can they be purchased online or is it always in a shop? I'm interested to hear other's experiences. If you see some other threads that may be useful to me also feel free to reference them, I searched for some but couldn't find any, but I'm sure they likely exist. Thank you.

the_syco

Sorry, but only saw this post now.

I'd recommend you buy in a shop. So that they can program the hearing aid to fit your mums hearing loss, and so that the ear mold fits comfortably.

I've used Bonovox, and have heard good reports of people using Deaf Hear.

Was the 4100 for one or two hearing aids? And what would she be mainly using it for?

I dislike HH.

cobham

I went with Specsavers.... only deaf in one ear so got a deal as did not avail of second free one. Definitely go with a shop or audiologist. It should be installed over month or so with level of device brought up gradually to prescription level. Yes there is a rustle from hair on behind the ear but should get used to it. They offer free filter replacement every few months and annual check up also 4 years of batteries. You need to wear the aids for up to 5 hrs a day to get best out of them.

the_syco

I find that currently, over the ear (OTE) hearing aids are for very bad hearing loss. There is in the ear (ITE) hearing aids for fairly bad hearing, and in the canal (CIC) hearing aids for not so bad hearing.

My hearing is fairly bad, but have been able to get ITE hearing aids. The grant is €500 an ear, but I don't think you can get as much tax back as you used to.

The cost really comes down to how many channels are needed. When I got my current aids 4 years ago, the amount of channels that I needed meant I couldn't get the first two models. Now, even the basic ones that I looked at had the 8 channels that I need.

cobham

I thought the over the ear ones were for less severe hearing loss as it allows for some sound to come in the normal way. Even the bones around the ear transmit some sound. The tax refund is at 20% as it is deemed a medical expense.

lulu1

Has your mum a medical card if so apply to the health board. Private companies are there to sell and will try to get you to buy the most expensive. The health board are there to help not sell. Have dealt with both and it's health board all the way

Iwouldinmesack

cobham wrote: »

I thought the over the ear ones were for less severe hearing loss as it allows for some sound to come in the normal way. Even the bones around the ear transmit some sound. The tax refund is at 20% as it is deemed a medical expense.

No depends on the model. ive worn over the ear hearing aids (behind the ear) in both ears since i was a child and Im profoundly deaf. The ones i wear would be the bigger ones and are probably the most powerful. Cant hear a thing without them and hear the bare minimum with them. Other types of hearing aids do not work, the smaller over ear ones, in the ear ones etc. Not powerful enough.

Mrcaramelchoc

cobham wrote: »

I thought the over the ear ones were for less severe hearing loss as it allows for some sound to come in the normal way. Even the bones around the ear transmit some sound. The tax refund is at 20% as it is deemed a medical expense.

If you get the grant are you allowed get the tax refund as well?

lowelife

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

If you get the grant are you allowed get the tax refund as well?

Yes.
Did this recently myself so its a nice little payback from what is sometimes a very big outlay.
I only applied for the money I paid after the grant had been taken off.

Mrcaramelchoc

lowelife wrote: »

Yes.
Did this recently myself so its a nice little payback from what is sometimes a very big outlay.
I only applied for the money I paid after the grant had been taken off.

Would you mind telling me how you did it please.

lowelife

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

Would you mind telling me how you did it please.

Sure you caught me at a loose end so happy to help.

I completed this form:-

https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/documents/med1.pdf

Sent it off to my local revenue office
(the address can be found here if you are not sure (PAYE))
https://www.revenue.ie/en/contact-us/index.aspx

Took around 6 weeks if I recall (maybe quicker)

Just make sure you retain receipts as I think you will need them if they call on you.

First time ever claiming tax back on medical things for myself so seemed pretty seamless.

Mrcaramelchoc

lowelife wrote: »

Sure you caught me at a loose end so happy to help.

I completed this form:-

https://www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/documents/med1.pdf

Sent it off to my local revenue office
(the address can be found here if you are not sure (PAYE))
https://www.revenue.ie/en/contact-us/index.aspx

Took around 6 weeks if I recall (maybe quicker)

Just make sure you retain receipts as I think you will need them if they call on you.

First time ever claiming tax back on medical things for myself so seemed pretty seamless.

Thankyou very much.that's great.