i) Will I need to pay for the initial consultation?
ii) Will my child need two hearing aids?
iii) How long can I expect my child's hearing aids to last?
iv) Can I take out a warranty to cover repairs and remakes?
v) What type of hearing aids are there?
vi) Will I get the best aids possible for my child on the NHS?
vii) How much does a hearing aid cost?
viii) How long will each hearing appointment take?
x) Will my child still need to keep seeing anybody about his/her hearing?
ANSWERS
Will I need to pay for the initial consultation?
An initial consultation and hearing assessment will take in the region of an hour to complete, thus many hearing aid dispensers do charge for this session. Dr Russell waives this fee if the consultation leads to the purchasing of hearing instrument/s otherwise a nominal fee is levied.
Will my child need two hearing aids?
Most children and babies benefit from the use of two hearing aids - we have two ears and listening with both ears is needed to help speech and language learning. Even if a child has different amounts of hearing loss in each ear, two hearing aids usually will be recommended. In any case Dr Russell ensures that your child is not penalised for having two hearing aids by offer an extra discounted price for two aids purchased.
How long can I expect my child's hearing aids to last?
This is not a simple one to answer. I have fitted hearing aids on children who have worn them all through their school life. However if you are thinking about purchasing CIC hearing aids for your child then they will need remakings your child grows. The rate at which they will need remaking depends on the age of your child and the rate they are growing.
Can I take out a warranty to cover repairs and remakes?
Yes you can. This is one of the reasons why CIC hearing aids are now no longer prohibitively expensive for children.
What type of hearing aids are there?
There is a limited number of 'types' of hearing instrument, but many manufacturers. Click on this link.
Will I get the best aids possible for my child on the NHS?
Not necessarily. Please click here for further details.
How much does a hearing aid cost?
This is a hard question to answer directly. It is rather like asking 'how much does a car cost?' - the answer being, 'it depends on the type of car'. Your child will have individual needs that will be met by a specific range of hearing instruments. There are many features that can be chosen to be included in your child's amplification pakage. Your child will first need a thorough assessment before a recommendation can be made and a hearing aid dispensed.
However if you have details of your child's hearing loss and you know the specific type of hearing instruments you require (for example, you may need a replacement hearing instrument) please email me here and I can provide you with a specific quotation.
How long will each appointment take?
The actual length of the appointment will depend on a number of factors. Generally the younger the baby or child the longer it takes to build up the audiological picture - this does not mean that your child will have one long appointment! All the information required for infants an babies is almost never obtained in one session. Infants have a short concentration span and babies need catching at the right time of day and when they have a clean nappy! For older children the initial appointment is usually around an hour in length. Further appointments are made as necessary, at no extra cost, until all the required information is obtained to fit the hearing aids accurately. Both objective and subjective verification techniques are used to ensure that your child's or baby's hearing is the best it can be.
Can I insure my child's hearing aids?
A number of Insurance companies will insure children's hearing aids against loss. Some ask for a small excess on the policy for the individually named items. The feedback received from parents is that this is generally felt to be worthwhile.
Will my child still need to see anyone else about his/her hearing?
A hearing aid dispenser or audiologist will look after your child's audiological needs. It will be necessary for your child or baby to be referred to a medical practitioner if they are not already known to one or seen in realation the their hearing. This is to ensure that all the information possible is obtained about your child's hearing and to ensure that their ears are as healthy as possible. You may also wish to continue to see your local NHS audiologist; you are entitled to free hearing assessments, hearing aids under the NHS and batteries for these hearing aids. You may consider that these would be useful spares