NHS Hearing Aids – Better than they have ever been but no where near as good as private hearing solutions-FACT
Whenever a client attends an appointment for a hearing test, an open and honest assessment of their hearing loss (whether they like what I say or not) should always be given. That way the advice given will be the best advice and not be driven by selling for gain.
A good hearing aid dispenser should have respect for people’s feelings and wishes and NOT force hearing aids upon them. For some people who have a hearing loss, it may not be the right time for them to think about wearing hearing aids. This may be for of many reasons such as “denial over their hearing loss”, where the client may not understand the problem and is unsure about what to do, or the client’s hearing loss is very mild and hearing aids may not provide a benefit.
“If there is no perceived problem then there can be no solution”
Some hearing aid companies have been in the past and still are today, guilty of having a claw back or non refundable deposit if the hearing aids do not come up to the clients expectations.
H.A.A.T. L.t.d. deposits are truly fully refundable with only two exceptions –
1. The hearing aid moulds are charged at £50 each.
2. The receiver wires are charged at £75 each.
The reasons for retention in both of these cases is because the hearing aid moulds and receiver wires used with open technology are non refundable items when purchased by the hearing aid dispensers with a no exemptions from the manufacturers.
If a hearing aid company has a policy of a 10-15% non refundable deposit, surely the motivation of a client with a hearing loss to try to find whether benefits and assistance by the use of hearing aids is being heavily thwarted by the threat of losing hundreds of pounds for nothing.
Hearing aids that are put in a drawer by the user for what ever reason is a waste of resources, time and money that could be spent more wisely whether they are free from the NHS or privately paid for by the client.
Only last week a client told me ” If you order my hearing aids, you might as well order my coffin a the same time”. A powerful statement from a person in denial over his problems that most likely cause untold frustration to others who constantly have to repeat themselves, especially when back ground noise is present.
It is not a hearing aid dispensers place to judge the thoughts, feelings and personal wishes of individuals who have a hearing loss, but it is their duty to administer the proper, right and best advice for that person as an “individual”.
The NHS have continued to provide a superb service over the years for clients who choose to take the NHS route, or in some cases are unable to afford private hearing care. The products generally supplied through the NHS are of a good quality and should never be dismissed as an option.
The reality however may be that you as an individual may wish to have more choice than the NHS are able to offer you. In such circumstances a charge for your private hearing aids will ensue. It may be no surprise for you to know that private hearing aids and the services that come with them can vary dramatically to the extent that two identical pairs of hearing aids depending on where they are bought can vary in price by as much as 4,000.00 pounds. The cost of an all inclusive round the world cruise.
FREE CRUISE WHEN YO BUY 7.5K HEARING AIDS FROM H.A.A.T.
You can pay as much as £7500 with some National high street companies where as the very same product could be supplied from independent caring ethical hearing aid dispensers for as little as £3200. One of the main reasons for their high price are the company’s overheads such as the high cost of advertising nationally such as full page newspaper adverts and T.V. advertising. To justify the high prices that national companies charge has always been to use the high level of after care and services that they are offering alongside the hearing aids.
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