What you should know before you start is that ALL United Kingdom residents are able to get NHS hearing aid provision, with hearing aids, care and batteries provided at no cost to you (other than your taxes of course). Generally, you go via your GP to get referred via the best pathway for you depending on age and location – quite often this means going to a 3rd party high street provider and the wait isn’t as bad as you’d think. I would always recommend trying NHS first, because they might do everything you want without you spending a penny. If you already have NHS hearing aids, or just don’t want what they offer then keep reading. 

When I worked in the NHS my colleagues and mentors (and then me) would be asked if it’s worth getting private hearing aids and the response would be ‘waste of money’. When I worked for a large national private company we would be told to say that NHS hearing aids are rubbish. It’s like there is a war between NHS and private hearing aid providers, but the only casualty is the patient who might not be getting the best advice. So… I’ve worked in both and now I’m independent I can say what I want. Here goes…

Are private hearing aids worth paying for? 

The answer is not a simple yes or no – it is ‘if YOU think it is worth it’. Let’s look at the reasons people go privately:

• • Quicker service and fitting times (no waitlists)

• • Better technology (generally, some NHS trusts are providing a better level of hearing aid than 3rd party providers)

• • Struggling in background noise with their NHS hearing aids

• • The NHS hearing aids don’t look as good as the private hearing aid options

• • The clinic is closer/home visits are available

Now these are just some of the reasons, feel free to contact me and tell me others and I will add them to the list!

If you have a reason to try private hearing aids, then my advice is to go for it. It’s routine for companies to have a ‘Money back guarantee’ – this tends to range from 30-90 days, meaning you can return the hearing aids for a full refund if you don’t find you get the benefit you expected.

So why are private hearing aids so expensive?

The simple answer is that you aren’t just paying for an object, you’re paying for healthcare. Included in the cost (normally between £1500-£4000 for a pair) you SHOULD receive:

• • 30-90 days money back guarantee

• •  Aftercare (could be lifetime, could be limited to so many years)

• • Manufacturers warranty of at least 2 years (I always upgrade my customers to 5 years warranty, some people charge for this so look out)

• • Regular hearing tests, ideally once a year to check your hearing aids and retune them to your new results

• • If you opt for none rechargeable options then some batteries would ideally be included in the price

YOU SHOULD ALSO SEE AN AUDIOLOGIST/HEARING AID DISPENSER. This is super important. You need somebody who is qualified and legally registered with HCPC before they sell you anything. People buy hearing aids online and never see a human, but maybe save £500 off the cost. The companies are making money from you for doing NOTHING other than programme your private hearing aids without any modification and send them to you. See a human, it’s worth the extra money. 

I also think it’s important that you chose a provider than fits well for you. You can always go for a consultation at some different companies. Be aware that with large chain companies you will often see multiple audiologists over the years as people move around and change jobs etc. If you want consistency then look at independent clinics. My ‘watchout’ for independents is to make sure they have a plan for any unexpected sickness, retirement plans etc as you will struggle to find someone to look after your hearing aids elsewhere.

Why do some companies charge more than others?

This is quite a simple one; these are businesses and are run like it. If you sell large amounts of hearing aids you can order in bulk and get cheaper costs from the manufacturers. If you sell quick and fast you can be cheaper. If you’re an independent business only selling a few pairs a month your cost will be higher from the manufacturer. You’ve also got to factor in overheads as well as ongoing care costs. Here is very simple example:

• • Private Hearing aid cost to you: £3000

• • Hearing cost from the manufacturer: £1500 (remember they are a business too and they spend A LOT on research and development to keep improving)

• • £1500 revenue minus 20% tax = £1200 profit

• • Average 2 appointments a year at £50 over the next 5 years = £500

• • That leaves £700 to go towards rent, staff wages, insurances etc. and of course a company has to make a profit – otherwise it’s going to fold pretty quickly. 

Where should I go?

Again there is no right or wrong answer, it’s all about personal preference, convenience and budget. 

Some of the well know large chain national companies:

Company	Sales since	Hearing Aids	Home visits
Boots	2001	Phonak and Unitron	No
Specsavers	2002	Philips, Signia and Phonak	Dependent on location
Scrivens	1950’s	Starkey, Resound, Oticon and Phonak	No
Amplifon	1950	Use other manufacturers but brand as their own	Yes
Hidden Hearing	1968	Oticon, Bernafon and Starkey	Yes

So what you should know is that a lot of these companies are owned by a larger company and that larger company owns a hearing aid manufacturer. So, Boots and Phonak are owned by Sonova, Hidden Hearing and Oticon/Bernafon are owned by Demant. This means they push their own hearing aids, and will get them way cheaper than I ever will! And unfortunately us independents have to try and match there prices OR prove that we are worth the extra money. 

I’m never one to force sales upon by patients – for example if you need home visits then I would recommend a company that offers this. You should never feel pushed into a sale. You need to find a company that is convenient for you, with an audiologist that will do their best for you. I’d also recommend looking at online reviews, and doing a search of the Audiologists name in case anything worth knowing comes up… If they’ve worked at several companies in a short amount of time that’s a big red flag. 

Which private hearing aid should I get?

Oh the choices! My first point it that ALL HEARING AIDS HAVE BEEN DIGITAL FOR 20 YEARS. It really annoys me when I see ‘new digital hearing aids’ splashed across the front of an advert. Digital means they are programmed to your hearing test results, and not turned up and down by a screwdriver, so don’t let them fool you! If you want more info on styles then check out my page on hearing aids. 

You should be guided by the Audiologist with this choice as not all hearing aids are appropriate for everyone. It will depend on your hearing loss, lifestyle, dexterity, budget… the list goes on. My advice is to do your research where possible – if the Audiologist doesn’t tell you the name or brand of the hearing aids this is another red flag – they don’t want you to google it and find it cheaper elsewhere. If they’re confident in themselves and their product, they should be encouraging you to research and be happy with the choice that you make. That being said, some people just want to be told what to get and that is also fine! Just make sure you are happy with how the appointment is going and don’t feel forced into a decision if you want more information or time to process. 

How much should I pay for private hearing aids?

On average private hearing aids in the UK are between £1500 and £4000 a pair, with some companies going as high as £6000. From experience I’ve found that anything you may be offered under the £1500 mark is either old stock or no better than the NHS technology. This could benefit you if you are happy with your NHS hearing aids but want better service, but don’t expect a significant improvement in your hearing at this price range. 

The best advice I can give is get the best you can afford, but take into consideration your lifestyle. If you sit in front of the TV all day and get one or two visitors a week then lower end technology will be adequate, but if you are social, still at work, go out for meals etc you will need to look at higher technology to help as much as possible in those difficult listening situations. 

My top things to know before buying private hearing aids:

1. 1. It is worth a try! If you’re struggling with your current hearing aids you don’t lose anything by trying with the money back guarantee.

1. 1. Decide whether you want to go for a large national chain or an independent – pros and cons to both.

1. 1. Never feel forced into a sale, if it’s hard sell then get out. Try a few different companies until you find one that makes you feel comfortable.

1. 1. Be aware that certain companies are partnered with hearing aid manufacturers and other manufacturers may be better for you.

1. 1. Make sure you get everything you need included in the price and it is provided by a qualified professional with no red flags/dodgy history

All in all it’s an exciting time to try private hearing aids, with the development of AI, improvement in lithium ion batteries and hearing aid manufacturers constantly pushing to be the best – there’s a good chance you’re going to find something that will benefit you and your hearing. 

So are private hearing aids worth it? They’re definitely worth a try.

Good luck!

Jen frpriv