NHS vs. Private Hearing Aids: should I buy hearing aids?

Considering the purchase of private hearing aids here in Nottingham? 

Then you have come to the right place. We offer a wide range of intelligent and discreet digital hearing aids to suit your budget and hearing requirements. But when it comes to hearing aid provision, should you "go private"? 

Make no mistake, the NHS can provide hearing aids completely free of charge.

However, the reality is you will wait months for a hearing assessment and perhaps several more for fitting, following a referral from your GP*. Once fitted, you may wait weeks should you require further assistance e.g. a basic repair or service. National Health Service hearing aids are good quality, but fundamentally they are still relatively basic; battery operated and of the behind-the-ear type where the amplified sound is piped through a tube.  From a connectivity point of view, they should be able to connect to your smart phone however they don’t offer as many features as you can find from a top specification hearing aid found in the independent sector. That's because the private sector aren’t limited to any one hearing aid type or manufacturer. When new hearing aid technology is launched it can be accessed instantly. Private hearing aids are generally smaller, they can feature more amplification channels and better processing chips for improved clarity and background noise management. The most common default design of a private sector hearing aid is known as a receiver in the canal aid. This means that rather than transmitting sound from the hearing aid in to the ear via a hollow tube (NHS style), sound is sent electronically via a very fine wire in to a loudspeaker (the receiver) which is housed directly in your ear canal. Here, there are three benefits (1) separation of the mic from the loudspeaker reduces the risk of feedback (2) the sound source is closer to the ear drum - less distance to travel / no effects of resonance as sound is not being piped through a tube (3) thinner and cosmetically more appealing. Of course, within the private sector one can also choose to have an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. Here, the entire device is housed within the patients concha bowl and ear canal and not behind the ear. Arguably, ITEs are better suited to "flat" configuration hearing losses.

Importantly and on balance, it is worth noting that a privately purchased hearing aid should not automatically be assumed to be superior to an NHS hearing aid. Like other technologies, there is a wide range of hearing aids out there, so do your homework and go for the right model from an internationally recognised brand. Likewise, the level of service (e.g. aftercare, appointment lengths, warranty) you receive in the private hearing aid sector and indeed the professional qualifications and experience of the individual hearing aid dispenser will vary significantly. Read their reviews, don't be afraid to check the clinicians credentials and make sure you can try your hearing aids before you buy them.    

To help weigh up all these vital consideration points, we have put together a comparison chart for NHS hearing aid provision vs. private hearing aid provision. To be more meaningful to Nottingham, we have pitched our services against the local NHS audiology department*. 

NHS audiology provision vs. private hearing aid provider: Ear Care Specialists, Nottingham

Features & Considerations	NHS	Private
Cost	Free, but no choice in hearing aid type	£-£££ typically between £1995 - £3995
Waiting time	From GP referral to hearing aid fitting: 6 months +	Self-referral to hearing aid fitting: within 2 weeks
Style	Behind the ear (BTE)	Receiver in canal (RIC) Behind the ear (BTE) or in the ear (ITE)
Tubing	Sound transmitted from aid into ear via tube  Needs replacing every 4-6 months	No tube: electric wire (2 x thinner than tube) transmits sound into ear via loudspeaker
Battery	Air zinc battery, individual batteries require the user to replace every 1-2 weeks	Lithium ion rechargeable – dock aid over night to top up
Size	BTE around ~3cm in length due to receiver, telecoil and battery housing	BTE minis around ~1.8cm in length due to receiver being worn in ear canal
Connectivity	Bluetooth connectivity to smart phone   Multi-mic connectivity (multimic not provided by NHS)	Bluetooth connectivity to smart phone / smart devices  Multi-mic connectivity   Auracast (bluetooth 2.0) enables connection to multiple bluetooth devices including laptops and smart TV
Number of amplification channels	~ 12 -15	~ 20 +
Number of programs	~ up to 4	~ up to 4 (can be customised through app)
Colour choice	Limited: beige, silver brown	All colours available
Tinnitus sounds	Yes, via tinnitus clinic, not applied routinely	Yes, customised through phone app
Aftercare	As required, seen within weeks. Phone or email to book via administrative staff.  Patients cannot book in for ear wax removal	As required, seen within 2 working days. Easy online booking system and text reminder service. Patients can book in for ear wax removal. Able to contact Dr. Jeff personally via WhatsApp, email or phone
Appointment duration	Assessment and fitting appointments are 45-60 minutes (this is generous for the NHS). Repair appointments are 15 minutes. No routine follow up appointments given.	Assessment and fitting appointments are a minimum of 70 minutes. Repair appointments are 45 minutes. Follow up appointments are 70 minutes.
GP referral required	Yes, all ages	No, 18 years plus for hearing aid provision
Loss of aid	Chargeable, cannot be insured as on loan via NHS	Insurance cover advised
ENT referral as necessary	Waiting 6 months plus: free	Waiting 1-3 weeks: arranged privately (~£250-300)

So, if you want rapid access to the highest quality audiological care and world-leading hearing aid technology then why not make an appointment with Dr. Jeff to begin your journey to better hearing. We are here to help you hear.

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*Accurate to Nottingham, at the time of writing (July 2024).