Your local audiology department

Your local audiology department will prescribe hearing aids for you if they are required.  They will, most likely, be good quality digital hearing aids. 

 

Are they the best?

The NHS and Primary Care Trusts are inevitably constrained by financial issues.  Sometimes this means that the hearing aids that you and the audiologist would preferentially choose for you are not available.

The audiologist working for the NHS is considerably limited in the range of hearing aids available, often only three types.  Hearing aids are produced in bulk for the NHS and the hearing instrument selected for you will inevitably be from a restricted range -  ie those aids 'on contract'.  These hearing aids are purchased by the NHS at a greatly reduced price.  It will always be possible to enjoy a wider range of hearing aids with the most up-to-date features if you are able to take advantage of privately marketed hearing aids.

What might not be available?

You sould be able to take pride in your hearing aid.  Today's hearing aids are smart, sleek and discreet if you wish them to be. It is important to us that you feel comfortable with your hearing aids and that they become an integral part of you and your personality.  They will be the key to you continuing to live life the way you want to live it.

You might feel that the styl and design you want is not available to you - there are hundreds of different styles and designs available privately.

You may want hearng instruments that cannot be seen - in the canal hearing aid.  It is understandable that these aids are not available on the NHS: you can now purchase them privately.

Then there are other features, some of them technical electro-acoustic features, that the audiologist might consider very useful for you that might only be available on a privately dispensed hearing instrument.  Technology to enable you to hear better in noise, to hear on the telephone or to cope in 'the board room' situation.

 

How much is a hearing aid privately?

How much does a car cost? - well it really depends on whether it is a Mini or a Rolls Royce.  This is the same for hearing aids.  Can you really put a price on your hearing?

It is important that you discuss through with your audiologist what features are useful, desirable and essential for you.  Your dispenser is bound by the Hearing Aid Council's Code of Practice to offer you the best advice and to tell you when a feature or instrument is not required.

 

Phonak hearing aids

From choice Dr Russell generally uses Phonak's range of hearing aids.  Over the years these have been found to be robust and reliable and to offer good value for money.  They may not be the cheapest hearing aids initially, but in the long-run the quality shines through.  Dr Russell has fitted hundreds of children and adults with Phonak hearing aids over the years.

 

Dr Russell will guarantee that he can match or better any written quote from another registered Dispenser for Phonak hearing aids. 

 

When making comarisons with other suppliers - be careful - some large organisations commission their own hearing aids and it is extremely difficult if not impossible to compare their hearing aids with those available from known established companies like Phonak. Thus direct price comparisons can be meaningless since you will, almost certainly, not be comparing like for like.  Hearing aid details are quoted in generalised terms  eg, a 'group 1' aid a 'platinum group' aid or a '17 channel' aid.  This makes comparisons impossible. 

For further information relating to pricing please complete the online contact form and details will be forwarded to you.  Thank you and best wishes in your quest to improve your  access to sound.