Why buy a hearing aid?

The National Health Service will provide a hearing aid to any person, subject to clinical need, free at the point of issue. However, hearing aids can be purchased from private hearing aid dispensing companies. These companies can provide hearing aids for both audiological and cosmetic reasons.

Private dispensing companies must be registered with the Hearing Aid Council (a government sponsored body), their hearing aid dispensers must pass examinations to become qualified, and they must also be registered with the HAC. They are then known as Registered Hearing Aid Dispensers (RHAD).

It is unlawful for any person to dispense hearing aids for money unless they are so registered.

During the initial visit we will examine the outer ear, including the ear canals and eardrums, to check for any abnormalities or conditions that would require medical attention. Once we know everything is fine we then conduct a hearing test. If you have details of a recent test from your ENT consultant or the hospital, we will use this as a basis for assessment, although further tests may be needed. Otherwise we will carry out a full audiological assessment. This procedure is quite painless, and is of interest to many people. You may bring a friend or relative with you if you wish.

Until we have the results of your hearing assessment it is not possible to tell you which hearing aid is best for you. Ebor Hearing Healthcare is completely independent of any manufacturer, and supplies all types of instrument, including Siemens, Widex, Oticon, Starkey, Phonak and many others. We can supply the tiniest 'in the canal' instruments and the latest digital technology, subject to your suitability. We can also supply tinnitus maskers.

The initial assessment is free of charge. The cost of the hearing instrument will depend on your hearing loss, and which instrument is dispensed. However, to give you some guidance, 'in the ear' instruments start from £550. Digital instruments start from £800. For a tiny 'completely in the canal' instrument, prices start at around £1100. If you want the latest technology that can cut out background noise when listening in noisy places, such as at a party or in a restaurant, these start at £1875. Remember this is for one ear only. However, we do offer a 30-day trial period with a money back guarantee

Once we have decided on a particular hearing aid and we have given you the total cost, you can then decide if you want to try that instrument. If you do, we will get it made for you. We see you again to fit the hearing aid, to check that it fits comfortably, and that it sounds right in the office. We will teach you how it works and how to handle it, and keep it clean.

We then ask you to pay for it before you take it away to try it. We make a follow up appointment so that we can assess how you are coping with the instrument, and to see if any adjustments need to be made. If necessary we will modify or exchange the instrument according to your needs, and extend the trial period. If, at the end of this time you are still not happy with the instrument, return it to us and we will arrange for the money to be returned to you. We do make a small charge for our professional services, but this amount is advised to you in writing at the time we confirm the order, before you have paid any money.

Although we now have a shop at 57 Newborough, we are currently still conducting our weekly session on a Thursday morning in the audiology suite. Scarborough Hospital and Ebor Hearing Healthcare are completely independent of each other, and Ebor Hearing Healthcare has full responsibility for any instrument dispensed by any of its dispensers. If you want to make an appointment to see us at the hospital, please contact our office at 57 Newborough on 01723 369505.