Once you have a hearing aid you can get continuing support should you need it.

How users are supported

Your audiologist will tell you how you can get new batteries and what you should do if your hearing aid develops a fault or is uncomfortable.

Some services have particular staff you can see if you need further advice and help with hearing and communication. Some have volunteer assistants who may be able to visit you at home, and some run groups for hearing aid users.

Your audiologist can also tell you about other helpful organisations and groups, including local lipreading classes.

Hearing Direct

Seven services - Cambridge, Chester, Exeter, Leicester, Southampton, Peterborough and the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in London - are running a new telephone based follow-up service for adult hearing aid users called "Hearing Direct".

A group of NHS Direct health information advisers has been specially trained to provide this service, which includes a helpline for hearing aid users and prearranged follow-up consultations over the phone at a time convenient for users. This avoids you having to travel to a follow-up appointment.