Opting to go private

One in six people in the UK suffer from hearing loss — a figure expected to rise to 20 per cent of the population by 2031. About 11 million people currently experience hearing problems, including more than half of all over 60s, yet research shows that not everyone is seeking help. Research by the charity Action on Hearing Loss found there were four million people with hearing loss in the UK who could benefit from wearing hearing aids. Despite this, many found that relying on help from the NHS did not meet their needs. Often they were left with a lengthy wait to be seen and only a small range of hearing aids to choose from. The 2015 report found many NHS audiology departments were being forced to cut core services due to shrinking budgets or increased demand. The waiting time between referral and treatment on the NHS can be several weeks and the NHS itself admits the range of aids it can offer is not as extensive as those available from a private specialist like Amplifon. In contrast, Amplifon, an independent global hearing specialist, can see patients much more quickly and can offer a wide range of hearing aids to choose from. The testing process is thorough and customers can trial the aids recommended by their audiologist free of charge before they commit to buying them. Not only that, but Amplifon offers a great aftercare service to ensure customers' hearing aids are adjusted to be just right for their lifestyle. Technology is advancing constantly, improving the look, ease of use and adaptability to any situation of the aids on offer and Amplifon is on the edge of those innovations, ensuring it can offer the latest models to customers in more than 22 countries across 8,600 hearing centres worldwide. Consumer body Which? found that 37 per cent of those with hearing aids had decided to buy them privately. Its report in September 2016 also found that 94 per cent of people who had used private hearing aid providers rated them 'excellent' or 'good' when it came to time spent getting to be seen for appointments, compared to 68 per cent with the NHS. The Which? survey also found that 77 per cent of members rated the variety of aids from private providers as 'excellent' or 'good', yet just 32 per cent of respondents said the same about the NHS devices on offer. When it came to comparing aids from the NHS and private companies for appearance, comfort and individual suitability, 91 per cent of customers rated their private provider as 'excellent' or 'good', compared with just 70 per cent of NHS patients. ■