Information Line (Freephone)
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.
Digital hearing aids available from the NHS in England
The NHS is now taking advantage of its position as the biggest volume purchaser of hearing aids in the world to obtain high quality digital aids at a price it can afford.
NHS hearing aids
The latest NHS digital aids for adults have:
- Multi-channel "wide dynamic range compression". This means the aid can be set so you can hear a wide variety of sounds, without any of them being uncomfortably loud.
- Suppression of some annoying kinds of background noise.
- Suppression or cancellation of feedback, making the aid much less likely to whistle.
- Multiple listening programmes, which allow you to switch to different settings for different listening conditions.
The moderate power aids and all but one of the high power models also have a dual microphone system. This allows you to select whether you want the hearing aid to pick up sound from all around you or mainly from in front of you (directional setting). The directional option makes it easier to focus on what someone is saying in a noisy environment.
All NHS digital hearing aids can be programmed.
All of these digital hearing aids can be programmed and fine-tuned to suit you, and give you the best chance of hearing well in a range of everyday situations.
Children's hearing aids
Children's digital aids are smaller and include other useful features such as:
- an indicator showing which settings they are switched to
- a low battery indicator
- battery compartment and controls that can be locked in place
- a way of linking with classroom sound systems.