NHS Forth Valley – Hearing Aid Support

Communication is important to us and while hearing aids can make a significant difference to someone’s hearing and ability to communicate, they are often either not enough, or the benefit they provide can be added to with some further support or information.

This section summarises some of the advice that supports hearing aid use as well as some of the Companies, Charities and Government support available to holistically support patients.

For some patients, access to additional support may help support independent living.

Please note, most modern hearing aids have the ability to data-log your hearing aid use and the type of environments you have been using your device(s) in, this helps the Audiologist make adjustments or recommendations if required.

Hearing aid how to…

Clean Your Earmould

Insert Your Earmould

Retube Your Earmould

Measure Your Tubing

Insert Slim Tube

Hearing aid usage top tips

Echo

Your new hearing devices will often give you an echo that may be due to the brain recognising sounds from the normal route – your ears – and also via the hearing device, so you get double! This often settles over the first few weeks of use, provided you wear your device(s) as much as you can. Further advice can be obtained from your Audiologist if the echo does not settle.

What’s that scratching sound?

The microphone on your hearing aid will pick up sounds from the environment, speech, noise etc but will also pick up on your hair, collar or glasses as it passes near the hearing aid. As you become more used to hearing with your hearing device(s), you should notice this less.

I struggle to hear when more than one person is talking

If 3 people are all speaking at once, a hearing device will amplify them all, and if No 1 is the loudest, he is the one you’ll hear best, even if it’s No 2 that you are listening to. Regular practice wearing your hearing device(s) may help. Further information may be obtained from your Audiologist if not.

I still find it noisy and difficult to make things out after 6 weeks

Acclimatisation to hearing aids (allowing your ears and brain to adjust to the sound) requires you to wear your device(s) every day, no matter what situation you find yourself in, at home, at work or at a party. We expect an average use of 8+ hours per day. In time, you should find you adjust to the new way of hearing in most situations.

Christmas, New Year and Birthdays

Do you spend the majority of time at home, in a quiet environment? If so it is likely you will struggle to hear when you suddenly find yourself at someone’s 50th birthday party or the Christmas dinner and wear a hearing device that you don’t often wear in company. Using your hearing device(s) more regularly should mean you will manage better and not feel overwhelmed.

Condensation

Condensation appears when moisture from your body (sweat) or environment blocks the tube between our ear and our hearing device. It can appear as tiny bubbles or sometimes cannot really be seen at all. Condensation can make a hearing aid seem to ‘come and go’, cut out completely or reduce the overall volume.

Condensation can be removed by gently shaking a hearing aid mould/tube or changing/cleaning a slim tube.

I can’t hear the TV as clearly as I would like

Modern TVs are very narrow, slim designs, this means TV loudspeakers are also small and generally on the back of the TV so the sound from these is of poorer quality than the older, larger analogue TVs.

Investing in a soundbar or external speaker system can help, or discuss with your Audiologist whether an alternative solution might help.

I can’t hear my phone through the hearing aid

Commonly we hold the telephone receiver to our ear, there is no hearing aid amplification here and often a blockage (earmould or slim tube). Hold the phone to the hearing aid (above and slightly back at top of ear), this should improve the sound quality. Still not any better? Try another phone, some are better than others. Or try hands free, this means you will not need to take your aid out and the phone speaks to you.

Hearing and your mental health

Our ears are the windows to our hearing, however, we actually make sense of what we hear with our brains. We sometimes call this cognitive or processing. Our ability to hear therefore can be affected by many reasons, even though our hearing may be testing at normal levels or our hearing device(s) working well.

Some examples of how our ability to process the information we hear can be affected might include;

Generally getting older
Parkinsons
Poor short term memory
Dementia
Difficulty concentrating / easily distracted
Illness
Depression/Low mood
Anxiety/Stress/Bereavement
Menopause or Pregnancy

Puberty, young adults & exams/ social anxieties
Chronic Pain & Strong Painkillers
Busy brain (trying to concentrate on doing too many things at once)
Hearing in noisy or busy places/when more than one person is talking
Low vision or visual distractions

Unfortunately, even with good hearing or hearing device(s) some of these reasons may affect a person’s cognitive ability and may lessen the ability to understand speech as well as their family and friends would often like.

You can help reduce the impact of some of these conditions such as reducing distractions, getting your attention and eye contact before talking, and speaking clearly and naturally or re-phrasing a sentence.

Young adults and hearing loss

Leaving the safety of school can be daunting for many young hearing aid users. You will have been issued with a transition individual management plan as well as information on accessing adult Audiology Services.

If moving to higher education, always disclose on your application if you have a hearing disability, even if you may not require additional support
More information on support for young people in or looking for employment can be found through the National Deaf Children Society

Useful organisations and resources

Hearing & Communication Support

RNID

Largest charity for people with hearing loss in the UK, hearing loss can affect everything in your life from your relationships, to your education and your job prospects. From day-to-day-care, to practical information, to campaigning for a fairer world for people with hearing loss, and funding research to find a cure, we’re here to support.

RNID/Action on Hearing Loss Information Line: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
SMS: 0780 0000 360
Email: informationline@hearingloss.org.uk

RNID/Action on Hearing Loss Tinnitus Information Line: 0808 808 6666
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
SMS: 0780 0000 360
Email: tinnitushelpline@hearingloss.org.uk
Website: actiononhearingloss.org.uk

British Deaf Association

Supporting British Sign Language users and equality.

Phone: 0141 248 5565
Website: bda.org.uk

Suite 58, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6LD

Connevans Ltd

Connevans specialises in meeting the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Specialises in assistive equipment for hearing and visual impairment. (such as phones, headphones and loop equipment).

Phone: 01737 247571
Email: info@connevans.com
Website: connevans.co.uk

Bridge House, 1 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Surrey, RH1 3EB

Deaf Action

Deaf-led charity, working for an equal and better future for deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard of hearing people.

Phone: 0131 556 3128
SMS: 07775 620757
Email: admin@deafaction.org

Head Office, 49 Albany Street, Edinburgh EH1 3QY

Deafblind Scotland

Deafblind Scotland campaigns for the rights of the deafblind community and provides a range of services, support, training and information.

Phone: 0141 777 6111
SMS: 07715421377

Forth Valley Sensory Centre

Services include:

Assessing your needs for what help and assistance we can provide:
Helping you get equipment to keep you safe and independent
Training to help you manage in your home or get out and about again
Support to read your mail
Help you get to the shops or do what’s important to you
Interpreting sign language

Phone: 01324 590 888
Text: 07341 560 709
Email: sensory@forthvalleysensorycentre.org
Website: forthvalleysensorycentre.org

Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Redbrae Road Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4DD

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Train dogs to alert deaf people to sounds they can’t hear (for those with severe to profound deafness in both ears). Also, confidence and companionship dogs- If you are deaf or hard of hearing and your level of hearing loss is below severe or profound or a full working hearing dog is not for you, you may be eligible to apply for a confidence and companionship dog.

Phone: 01844 348 100 (voice and minicom)
Email: info@hearingdogs.org.uk
Website: hearingdogs.org.uk

Hearing Link Scotland

The charity focuses on giving people knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage the practical and emotional challenges hearing loss can bring.

Phone: 0131 447 9420
SMS: 07564 916798
Email: scotland@hearinglink.org
Website: hearinglink.org

Hearing Link Scotland The Eric Liddell Centre,15 Morningside Road, EDINBURGH, EH10 4DP

NHS Disability Services – Forth Valley Sensory Centre

The Disability service is located within the Forth Valley Sensory Centre, opening hours are 9am – 5pm, however pre-arranged appointments are available outwith these times, for visitors to the Disability Service. The service covers the Forth Valley community from Tyndrum in the North to Bo’ness in the south. For assistance to NHS staff, patients, carers and visitors, to ensure all have equality of support and access to information and services. There are also services for those with low vision which include;

Recording Studio
RNIB Resource Centre Information and Equipment-
Low Vision Clinic
Employability Hub for Blind and Partially Sighted People
Transcription

Phone: 01324 590888

Elderly support and those with long term conditions

Age UK Scotland

The Country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Information or advice on anything from health to housing

Phone: 0800 12 44 222
Website ageuk.org.uk/scotland

ALFY

Advice Line For You – advice for over 65s in the Forth Valley Area. Nurse led advice line available 24/7

Phone: 01324 567247

BSL (British Sign Language) users can contact/communicate with us using the online British Sign Language interpreting service for public authorities.

Phone: 01324 590886
Fax: 01324 590867
Email: fv.disabiltydepartmen@nhs.scot
Website: contactscotland-bsl.org

Braveheart

Offers a range of health related activities to people over 50 who have a chronic or long-term condition

Walking Development Officer Phone: 01324 673 703

The Braveheart Association, Falkirk Community Hospital, Majors Loan, Falkirk, FK1 5SU

Care Information Scotland

If you look after someone, are looking for care yourself or planning for future care. Care services are available to help people who need support because of illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction.

There are also services available to those who look after a relative or friend, and aren’t paid to do so.

Phone: 0800 011 3200
Email: CareInformationScotland@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk~
Website: careinfoscotland.scot

British Sign Language

Phone 0131 510 4555 to connect to the online BSL interpreter.

Royal Voluntary Service (RVS)

Help older people stay active, independent and able to continue to contribute to society providing practical and emotional help.

This includes Social & Lunch Club services, on-ward befriending, Good Neighbours- home befriending services, Meals on Wheels, and Home Library Service in the Alloa Area

Phone: 01786 450718
Email: forthvalleyhub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Royal Voluntary Service, Office 35, Evans Business Centre, 3 Whitehouse Road, Stirling, Stirlingshire FK7 7SP

Benefits and financial support

Access to work

Access to Work is available for people who are in a paid job, unemployed and about to start a job or a work trial and people who are self-employed whose disability or health stops them from being able to do their job. It can provide practical and financial support and does not affect other benefits.

Website gov.uk/access-to-work or enquire at your local Jobcentre Plus for more details

Personal Independent Payments

It will eventually replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64. PIP helps towards some of the extra costs because of a long term ill-health condition or disability.

Phone: 0800 917 2222
Textphone: 0800 917 7777
Website: actiononhearingloss.org.uk

Transport Scotland

Details on concessionary bus travel for those who are severe/profoundly hard of hearing

Phone: 0141 272 7100
Email: info@transport.gov.scot
Website: transport.gov.scot

Government link for more details: mygov.scot/transport-help-for-older-or-disabled-people/

Veterans

Priority treatment is available on the NHS for any long term condition that is related to your time in service. Your clinical practitioner will decide if your condition is likely related to your time in service.

For more information you can contact Helena Buckley, NHS Forth Valley

Phone: 01786 454736
Website: nhsinform.scot

Hearing Forces Scotland – 13 key organisations in improving health and welfare for veterans and their families, (Action on Hearing Loss)

Phone: 07388227407
Email: hearing.forces@hearingloss.org.uk

Mental health and emotional support