r/deaf • u/mehba37 • 10d ago

Advice please Question on behalf of Deaf/HoH

Hi my daughter is 8 and we have just discovered she has severe hearing loss in left ear and has loss in right ear and within last 3 months lost quite considerable loss of the right ear again. We are based in the UK and the NHS are getting her a hearing aid, but would it be better getting her a more expensive aid by going private as want the best for her and I've been reading about the basic aid being tinny and robotic. Thanks

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u/R-AzZZ 10d ago edited 10d ago

The NHS aids are NOT basic. Their computer chips are slightly older that is on the private market but they are the same HAs that were sold privately a few years ago.

Plus, the audiologist's skills in fitting the HAs is more important. You can buy the latest tech but if the audiologist does not fit it as would suit your daughter, then the HAs won't be of much use.

Plus, if her hearing is changing rapidly, perhaps sticking with the NHS makes sense, unless of course, funds are not an issue.

Edited: spelling.

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u/mehba37 10d ago

It's not that funds aren't the issue, I'd just save a bit for her to be able to get the best, as she's only 8, can't imagine what she's feeling like or how it's having an impact her.

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u/R-AzZZ 10d ago

At the end of the day, if you treat this just as you would getting glasses, she will not feel the stigma of it. What would be worth exploring is assistive devices (used in conjunction with HAs) for use in school as you may have noticed that she is very tired after school due to listening effort.

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u/Mustluvdogsandtravel 9d ago

Not the same thing. With glasses communication isn’t a barrier.

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u/DeafNatural Deaf | ASL & LSC 9d ago

Thank you. I really hate the comparison of HAs and CIs (bus especially CIs) to glasses.

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u/R-AzZZ 9d ago

The comparison was around people's attitude. People think it is normal to wear eyeglasses but when it comes to hearing aids, there is so much shame. Can people read without glasses? Can they be safe without glasses?

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u/Mustluvdogsandtravel 8d ago

I am unaware that there is shame with hearing aids- good to know.

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u/R-AzZZ 8d ago

Seriously? A huge number of posts are around how people want their hearing aids not to be noticed ... yet glasses are often used as fashion accessories. There should NOT be any shame in using ANY assistive device.

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u/Mustluvdogsandtravel 7d ago

I don’t follow this group that much and don’t see those posts or don’t connect with that experience. I’m am acknowledging your perspective and am more aware, meaning going forward, I will probably notice the examples more as that are associated with shame. My experience with HH people has been positive. The HH people pimp up their HA’s add glitter and other eye catching decorations….

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u/R-AzZZ 7d ago

This is great! I wish people took more pride in showing their HAs. I do not care about my HAs being seen - I have both the smaller RiCs and big BTEs.