Welcome to HearPerfect

The Facts

Unfortunately, for most of us, perfect hearing doesn't last forever! if you find yourself turning up the volume on the TV (much to the annoyance of your loved ones!) then it may be worth looking into hearing aids.

Below is a little bit of information to help you better understand hearing aids, including what types are available, which one is the best fit for you and where to get one.

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Hearing Loss

It is estimated that 1 in 6 of the UK population currently suffer from some form of hearing loss.

The Numbers

Of these, 6.7 million could benefit from wearing hearing aids but just 2 million actually use them.

What is a hearing aid?

Hearing aids are small battery powered devices which help those afflicted with hearing difficulties to hear sounds and understand speech easier.

Do I need a hearing aid?

Hearing loss is generally categorised by 4 hearing levels:

Normal hearing loss
Mild hearing loss
Moderate hearing loss
Severe hearing loss

There's a misconception that only those with severe hearing loss require hearing aids, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Even a mild diagnosis can cause you to require a hearing aid.

If you've recently found yourself struggling to understand others, listening to the television on higher volumes or even if you've noticed just a slight change in how you hear, then now may be the time to get a hearing aid.

How do modern hearing aids work?

All hearing aids come in two types, analogue or digital.

Although they have different components and process sound waves differently, they have the same purpose, to amplify sound and make it clearer for the wearer.

Analogue hearing aids

Analogue hearing aids elongate continuous soundwaves.

This means that all sound is amplified equally, regardless of whether it’s speech or the noise of a packed stadium.

As a result, these will often have different settings for you to manually change to best suit what environment you’re in.

Digital hearing aids

Digital hearing aids convert soundwaves into digital signals and reproduce them as an exact duplication of the original sound.

If you’re struggling to understand speech these can help improve this as they have the ability to reduce background and whistle noise.

Regardless of whether they are analogue or digital, they will always have three main components:

Microphone
Amplifier
Speaker

The microphone picks up noise, this then triggers the amplifier to process the sounds, increase the level and send the signals to the speaker in your ear.

Think of it like a microphone you see someone speaking in to on a stage.

It works the same way but instead of the sound coming out of the PA system, it comes out of the speaker in your ear.

What features do I need in my hearing aid?

There are many things to take into consideration when looking to get a hearing aid.

There’s a bit more of a comprehensive pros and cons in the next section, but these are some general features that can help you make your decision.

Rechargeable batteries

Being able to recharge batteries is much more cost effective than routinely purchasing new ones as non-chargeable batteries will generally last anywhere between 3-20 days.

This is also a more environmentally friendly option as you will not be contributing to harmful battery waste in landfills.

Techcoil technology

Techcoil or T-coils are small copper wires found in some devices that remove background noise and amplify sounds.

These help wearers hear clearer in environments with crowds so if you’re a regular down the football ground then this will be something that you should consider.

Bluetooth compatibility

If you find yourself speaking on the phone a lot then having this feature will connect your hearing aid to your device totally hands free via Bluetooth.

App integration

Many modern hearing aids will come with apps which allow you to adjust settings such as volume via your phone.

Some apps even have the ability to translate different languages automatically.

What types of hearing aids are available?

In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids

These are worn in the ear and are often custom made based on an impression of your ear.

Some sit deeply in the ear canal whilst others are more exposed.

ITE hearing aids can also be broken down into two different types:

Completely-in-the-canal (CIC)
Invisible-in-canal (IIC)

These are the smallest and most discrete models on the market. So much so that IIC styles will need to be pulled out using a pull-out sting.

A result of their size, they do not come with manual controls such as wheels or buttons.

Pros	Cons
Discrete (Can come in a range of colours to fit your skin tone).	Difficult to remove so not suitable for those with dexterity issues.
Good Sound quality.	Although powerful they may not be suitable for those with severe hearing issues.
Do not have to remove if using phones or headsets.	If you have narrow ear canals they may not fit.
Have a natural feeling in the ear.

In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids

Although slightly larger than IIC & CIC models, ITC hearing aids are no less discrete.

These however sit in the lower third of your external ear canal and are usually bespoke to your ear shape.

This increases comfort and useability for the wearer.

The increase in size means that they have the option for manual controls to alter volume and benefit from a slightly longer battery life.

Pros	Cons
Discrete.	Less powerful than other models so may not be suitable for those with severe hearing loss.
Custom made to increase comfort; these are suitable for those with small ear canals.	Susceptible to ear wax and moisture damage.
Larger in size so more suitable for those with dexterity issues than smaller models.	Can leave wearers feeling plugged up.
Longer battery life.	Not the most suitable of all models for those with dexterity issues.
Option of extra features.

Low Profile hearing aids

Similar to ITC model hearing aids and come in half shell or full shell designs.

Half shells fill half the bowl of the outer ear.

Full shells fill almost all of the entire outer ear.

Pros	Cons
Large enough to feature a directional microphone and manual volume controls.	Less discrete than smaller models.
The ability to switch programmes.	Can leave users feeling plugged up.
Often come with Bluetooth compatibility.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Like In-The-Ear hearing aids there are two types of BTE models:

Receiver-in-the-canal (RIC)
Receiver-in-the-ear (RITE)

These are both less discrete than the models mentioned previously and are designed to have a part of the device sat behind the ear with a wire connected to the receiver which sits in the canal.

These are open fit models and because of the way they sit in the ear, the overall sound quality is better.

Pros	Cons
Easily fixed at local hearing aid centres.	RITE models are smaller which can be an issue for those with dexterity problems.
Rechargeable battery options are more cost effective and environmentally friendly.	Susceptible to ear wax and moisture damage.
Telecoil options available.	Microphone & processor are visibly noticeable.
Speaker replaced separately.	Speakers require more cleaning than other models.
RIC are the larger of the two and are the most suitable for those with dexterity issues.	Using phones can be tricky if the hearing aids are not Bluetooth enabled.
Comfortable for wearers.	More noticeable than smaller models.
The strength of the receiver can be manually adjusted meaning that it can be easily altered to fit different environments.

Behind-the-ear with ear mould

BTE with ear moulds are longer in shape and follow your outer-ear contours.

Because of the size these can include more features and support a longer battery life than any other model of hearing aid.

These are perfect for children as the device can be easily adjusted and the mould replaced as the child grows.

Pros	Cons
Perfect for all levels of hearing loss.	Can leave users feeling plugged up.
Available in devices that connect to phones via Bluetooth.	Difficult to wear for those who have glasses.
Custom fit ear moulds can be replaced separately.	More noticeable than smaller models.
Less susceptible to ear wax and moisture damage.

What is the difference between open and closed fitting hearing aids?

Open designed hearing aids

These are found in Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids.

Open fit means that the whole ear canal isn’t filled which allows for louder sounds to be heard more naturally.

They also provide better natural ventilation for the ear.

Closed designed hearing aids

Closed designed hearing aids will fill most of your ear canal.

Because of this, these hearing aids will have specially designed vents to allow aeriation.

The way it sits in your ear allows for sounds to be transmitted more directly compared to open design.

What is the best type of hearing aid for me?

When picking the right hearing aid for you it is important you make the right decision.

Not having the right one for you will just result in frustration, wasted time & money and more importantly your hearing won’t improve because your hearing aid will be sat in a drawer collecting dust.

Below are a few questions you might want to ask yourself to help when making your choice.

Do you already wear hearing aids?

If you do and you’re happy with that current style of device then keep that design and just opt for updated tech.

After all, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Do you have dexterity issues?

If so, then smaller devices will not be suitable and you are best off going for larger models.

Not only are they easier to handle but they often come with easy-to-use features such as volume controls.

Also changing batteries is easier due to the increased size of them.

This would mean that larger models like BTE would be more suitable for you.

Is your movement limited?

For those who are homebound, have mobility issues or suffer from cognitive impairments then ear mould BTE devices may be most suitable.

Hearing aids with ear moulds are soft so have added comfort for the user and for the caretaker they are easy to assess.

What level of hearing loss do you have?

I struggle to hear high pitched frequencies

If you struggle to hear high pitched frequencies, which is most common in age related hearing loss, then RITE styles will be the most suitable.

They let the natural low frequency sounds that you can still hear in, but amplify the frequency that you cannot.

These can also be modified to filter noise for speech and have settings for different environments.

I struggle to hear high-& low-pitched frequencies

If you struggle with high-and low-pitched sounds then CIC or ITC styles will be most suitable due to the way they process sound.

Their occlusion fit helps block out background noise whilst remaining discrete.

I have severe hearing loss

ICT, Low profile ITE, BTE & BTE with ear moulds are the most suitable.

These are the most powerful devices and as a result of this, provide the most powerful amplification.

As well as speech filtration, they have the ability to adapt to different environments, feedback suppression they can also connect to headphones, phones & speakers

Can I get a hearing aid on the NHS?

Absolutely you can and hearing aids are free if you decide to get one on the NHS.

All follow up care, including replacements, repairs and new batteries will also be free.

There are some drawbacks to using the NHS as your hearing aid provider though.

For example, you may only get a small selection of styles and these may not be particularly suited to you.

You may also have to wait to be seen using the NHS, this isn’t just the initial meetings but also include any aftercare/repair that can be avoided by going private.

Can I go private with NHS funding?

Some local NHS hearing services in England do take part in the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) scheme.

This means that private companies or charities will provide you with your hearing aid and aftercare but it is paid for by the NHS.

This is only available if you have age-related hearing loss with no other complications.

Only some areas offer this service and in many of these you will need to be 55 or older.

You will need to check whether your local hearing service takes part in the AQP scheme.

How much do hearing aids cost?

Everyone is different when it comes to hearing aids and as a result the price will vary from person to person.

If you’re looking at the most basic models with simple components then this will be much cheaper than one that can connect to phones via Bluetooth and be controlled by mobile apps.

The level of aftercare you need will also be dependent on the overall price.

Even something as simple as what type of battery you want will be a factor. Buying new batteries on a regular basis will add up when compared to getting one with a rechargeable battery.

Where can I get a hearing aid?

Now you know a bit more about what type of hearing aids are on the market and which one is most suitable for you, you might be wondering how to get one.

The process couldn’t be any easier.

Just follow the “Get A Quote” below and answer a few simple questions.

Based on your answers, a trusted and professional advisor will be in touch to discuss your tailored quote in more depth and get you on course for your new hearing aid.