Frequently Asked Hearing Questions
Below are answers to some frequently asked hearing questions. If you have any questions about hearing aids, please read our hearing aid FAQs.
Hearing difficulty can often be hard to notice as in most cases it begins gradually, without discomfort or pain. Family members often learn to adapt to someone’s hearing loss without even realising. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help determine whether you have a hearing loss:
- Do I often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Does it sound like other people are mumbling or slurring their words?
- Do I have trouble following conversations with more than two people?
- Do I prefer the TV or radio volume louder than others?
- Do I have difficulty hearing what is said unless I’m facing the speaker?
- Do I struggle to hear in crowded places like restaurants, supermarkets and meeting rooms?
- Do I have a hard time hearing women or children?
- Do I experience ringing or buzzing in my ears?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, the chances are you do suffer from hearing loss.
Everyone is entitled to free hearing aids and batteries on the National Health Service (NHS). The differences can be summarised into 4 main areas; waiting times, technology and style of hearing aids and aftercare services.
Private waiting times are much shorter than on the NHS and you are often fitted with your hearing aids in a matter of days. From hearing assessment to hearing aid fitting is usually between 7-14 days. Many NHS providers are only able to fit you with one specific range of hearing aids available to them. Privately you can choose from the full range of technology on the market which offers smaller, more discreet styles and more advanced hearing aid features that are suited to you individually.
If things go wrong due to often limited time and resources, being seen on the NHS can often be a lengthy process. You are often left with the same hearing aids for long periods of time without follow-up on how you are getting on. At Integrate Hearing we always include a lifetime of free aftercare with your hearing aid purchase, meaning you can count on to keep your hearing aids working at optimum performance. We provide regular six-month check-ups, and should you have a problem it will be dealt with speedily to minimise any inconvenience.
Where possible avoid exposure to loud noise. The damage caused by noise exposure is cumulative over the course of time and there is often a high incidence of hearing loss amongst those people who have worked in loud noise, such as with loud machinery or with loud music exposure. At times avoiding noise may be impractical or impossible so a good rule of thumb is to try and wear hearing protection when being exposed to sounds that prevent you from understanding conversation in a normal voice or any noise that leaves you with tinnitus, as this can cause permanent damage to your hearing.
If you have any other questions which haven’t been answered above, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help!
Our Services
We offer all aspects of hearing care in Stockport & Manchester. Whether it be wax removal, hearing protection, music devices, hearing tests or tinnitus rehabilitation, we can help. Please click on one of the following services for more information.
Private Hearing Aids
Hear well and stay integrated with a choice of the latest hearing aids from the best manufacturer’s brands like Phonak, Unitron, Widex, Signia, Starkey or Oticon. Our honest, unbiased and comprehensive advice helps you understand your best hearing aid features and styles. We offer a 14-day FREE trial, moneyback guarantee and fully inclusive aftercare package on all our devices to prove our dedication to your satisfaction.
