I will start by saying I am confused.  I have two, digital, behind the ear aids, supplied by the NHS.  I have had them programmed and re programmed on numerous occasions but still find them unsatisfactory.   Ideally I would like to have, 'in the ear' aids, but cannot find anywhere which will advise as to which aids are better for me.  Perhaps it is a decision to be made by an audiologist based on individual requirements.  My hearing loss creates a jumble of sound which my current aids only amplify.  My concern is, that I might be tempted to pay for something I can ill afford, being a pensioner, with no improvement in my state of hearing.  Is it possible to get appropriate, honest and unbiased advice.  J.

Thanks for your reply DJ.  I find the problem with getting them programmed at the hospital is,  that they tend to do it in a room devoid of any sound, other than that produced by myself and the audiologist.  As soon as I am confronted with additional day to day sounds the whole thing goes out of the window.  I have tried going without the aids and for most part I can get away with it.  But it is the important sounds I am failing on, such as the quiet voices of the grandchildren. Can I get my partner to talk at me other than from two rooms away, or her head stuck in a cupboard somewhere.  I even tried ignoring people I could not hear properly, in the hope that they would make a greater effort to help, but just ended up no better off and feeling guilty about being personally rude, by ignoring them.  Such are the frustrations of being hearing impaired.

Hi there, not sure if this will still reach Sach after all this time.  I have only had hearing aids same as yours, for just over a year (35ears old) ahhhh old before my time.  Up until a copule of weeks ago I to had the hearing tests headphone press button hearing sound etc.  My last visit I had a different test, it was a test that tested the sounds that were received through my hearing aids into my ears.  This was done by the audiologist inserting to probe like tubes into my ears (didnt hurt just tickled) then I faced a speaker which made aload of funny sounds, then still with the probes in she then put my hearing aids in and did the sounds again.  I didnt have to do anything just sit in fron of the speak.  After the lady adjusted my hearing aids to what was registered I forget I have them in, its like normal hearing again.  Hope this helps.

Sue