Tomorrow I have my NHS hearing aid fitting appointment. My hearing aid assessment was very quick and limited; unlike the hearing assessment I had done privately. My NHS assessment didn’t test how I hear (or rather struggle to hear) certain voice tones or in areas where the background noise was high.
I guess this has led me to feel that I may not gain the full potential from my hearing aids, and also because I am only having one for my right ear. And nothing for my left!
I am fortunate that as I am registered blind, I do receive a second right ear hearing aid. This is so that should I drop one, or (as suggested by the audiologist) my guide dog EATS one. I am not left isolated while a replacement is sort.
The NHS Choices website states;
Hearing aids are designed to help you hear everyday sounds such as the doorbell and telephone, and improve your ability to hear speech. They should make you feel more confident when talking to people and make it much easier for you to follow conversations in different environments. They might also help you to enjoy listening to music and the TV again, at a volume that’s comfortable for those around you.
I guess I find it hard to feel confident. For as long as I remember I have worn glasses and it was actually a feeling of loss that I felt when I was told I didn’t actually need to wear them on a day to day basis, when I changed my prescription for reading glasses. I tend to just wear them out of habit and the ability to hide behind them.
How will I feel wearing a hearing aid?
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