Hello

Can anybody  recommend a make or model of hearing aid?

I did have an NHS Siemens one, but I've lost it, and in any case it was 
always unhelpful in situations with background noise, however they adjusted 
the settings.

So I'm thinking of getting one privately. Any advice?

It's impossible to recommend an aid without knowing the loss characteristics, etc, of your ear(s).  Most of the retailers offer a free trial for up to 28 days, though if the aid(s) you go for need moulds, they may try to charge you for them if you don't buy the aid.  That's something you can negotiate, however.  Specsavers Hearcare offers a 2-for-1 price deal, but while they mention £495 a pair in their advertising, you'll find once you get in the shop that the practical start point is £1200 a pair.  Specsavers aids are made by Siemens, but but it does offer other brands as well.  I understand David Ormerod Hearing Centres are now owned by Phonak, but the waiting list for an initial consultation was so long I didn't bother.  I had surgery on my deafer ear last year, since when I've had feedback problems due I think to the ear canal changing shape.  I've been an NHS aid user since 1991.  I went a few weeks ago to Specsavers and was ready to part with £1600 for a pair of receiver-in-canal aids, but while I was waiting for them I tried the hospital audiology department.  The audiologist looked at my old Oticon digital aids (prescribed 5 years ago in another NHS trust area), sniffed and said "I think we can do better than this".  I now have a pair of Danalogic 6s, NHS and state of the art.  They are terrific.  Moral of the tale:  persevere with the NHS before spending big wodges of wedge!

John

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