I agree that it is worth trying out NHS aids for a start to see if they work for you. My experiences:
NHS. Set of Oticon Spirit Zests. Free, being the fourth set in about 20 years. Prominent (I can’t in any case use the in-ear type); coarse sound; either too loud or too soft (when loud, transients such as dropped china in a café are such that I literally jump in my seat. I still need subtitles for TV); feedback whistle if anyone comes too close; wind noise not a problem); only three controls (two identical in result); no un-off switch; easy to clean; local access for service poor (e.g. for tube changing every six months – not a DIY job.)
Private. Set of Phonax Savias, £2750 in 2005. Can be switched off in use and are better in most other respects but very hard to keep clean and the tiny tubes only last about a month before blocking with wax, after which they can’t be cleaned further and are very costly to replace. As are the tiny filters that only last a month or so and are so fiddly to change that I am tempted to give up on them. However the sound is very suave by comparison and they are so small few people can spot them. They have been tweaked several times over the years and may need replacing.
I imagine I shall find that there would be no change from £5000 for a set now. SpecSavers or Boots might ask less but I don’t know about their quality.
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