I have free Bluetooth hearing aids from NHS Scotland which do a reasonable job. I would happily pay for private aids from Specsavers if I was convinced they would do a better job in addition to being a bit more subtle from the looks perspective thanks to wirw v tube. Specsavers offer a 100 day test if you pay up front but I am very interested in any experience in comparing by other users. It seems that some are delighted but others dissapointed by private hearing aids with more adjustment potential?
You are lucky, where in Scotland are you? I’m in the Scottish Borders area, as far as I know, and from my own experience, they do not yet supply bluetooth aids at my local audiology.
I was fitted with NHS aids in 2016, they were ok did a reasonable job also. In 2021 purchased hearing aids from Costco and they have been great. As for some people being disappointed with Specsavers aids or any other supplier, could be down to the fitting, and possibly not using REM (real ear measurement) which is essential to get the best out of any hearing aids.
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I am covered by Edinburgh audiology. Bluetooth aids were offered to me in 2022. It has proved exceptionally useful for Duolingo (so I don’t annoy my wife as much)
and also for the link from rear bike radar/light with the audible warning of traffic detection to the hearing aid.
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I can thorougly recommend Costco Edinburgh, around £1350 for a pair of premium aids. All come with a 3 year warranty, and 3 month full refund return policy. Plus free replacement of receivers, domes and wax filters for the life of the aids.
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Um. WOW! For 20 years I relied on wearing a side view mirror attached to my sunglasses to see who’s sneaking up on me when riding in traffic. I’ve never heard of an audible alert option that could ping hearing aids. I wear Phonak Lumity Life 312 battery aids, so I doubt they’d have such a nifty option. SAFE RIDING!
In fact, someone over in Egypt was asking about the safety of riding a bike in traffic, and if I can recall her name, I’ll let her know. Does this option come with Specsavers only?
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As long as the hearing aid has Bluetooth it will work with the light/radar Garmin Varia or indeed any other equivalent. Not only do you get an audible warning, if you mount a mobile phone on handlebars it shows and gives a distance indication. In town you will be inundated of course but on country roads against the wind, it’s a winner.
OK that is informative! I asked my hubs about this device, and just found out he’d bought the Garmin Varia radar camera tail light kit a few years ago - I never even knew about it cuz we are skittish about riding bikes where we live - not enough bike paths, just the wild open traffic-infested roads. This Garmin Varia along with our sideview mirrors worn could make things safe … but then I still worry about the craaaazy drivers on cell phones barreling at us unaware. Even so, great safety device for open highways and less-traveled roads. 
It’s illegal to use a cell phone in the UK whilst driving, heavy fines are imposed, almost akin to drink driving.
You haven’t mentioned the model you’ve been given.
Most likely the Marvel platform from Phonak- Nathos Nova?
You can do more research on here once you know what your dealing with.
I don’t think you’ll find major differences unless you go for expensive (compared to NHS) models.
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I have Bluetooth aids from the NHS - Phonak Nathos Novas. They work fine for one to one in quiet situations. I went to Specsavers hoping to get a better hearing aid which would bring more clarity, especially in social situations. I purchased Phonak Infinio Spheres. I returned them after a week because the audiologist didn’t really listen to me and didn’t do REM. I then found an independent audiologist through this forum. He has transformed my hearing by testing properly and regularly including REM. I had a series of fitting appointments with him. He supported me in learning how to fine tune the aids. He has given me loads of advice on hearing related issues such as dealing with wax. So the message is to choose your audiologist with great care. In your location, I would make Costco my first port of call but would also reach out via this forum for recommendations.
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Not quite true. Hands free is allowed.
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The benefits of the device include, very reliable audible warning via bluetooth and visual on a mounted phone. All clear sound when no cars remain behind. Particularly beneficial on country roads where cars can be unexpected.
My current device is Phonak Nova M and the device Specsavers are recommending is the Advance Super model
Very interesting thank you.
Yes I realise that, I should have stated physically holding the phone is illegal.
Yipes, same here. I guess the cell phone’s purpose on a bike ride is SOLELY to let someone else know precisely where you are on a route (a good thing!), but if it started to ring with phone calls, AUGH. Yeah, technology sometimes gets too fraught with complexity.
The Garmin Varia is an excellent tool for radar-notification directly to one’s aids … but for folks like me streaming BT on a cell phone to my Phonak aids, I’d have to have the cell phone on my person while riding.
So the aids you have are the Marvel platform from Phonak, you can do some research on here to see how they perform. That issue has now been superceded three times but was considered a very good hearing aid.
As far as Specsavers is concerned you can’t know what you’re getting until you see them connected to their software, they are likely to be locked.
Hi Bluejay, for me, if you mount the phone where it is easily visible its use is far more than letting others know where you are. Eg, the display in conjunction with the rear radar/light, navigation with Komoot etc. Of course, in the uk, watching the road surface is much more important than watching the screen😎
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What’s your experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology like?
While there is a gap in the level of technology offered by the NHS vs private sector dispensers, the gap in levels of service can be even greater.
My experience of NHS Lothian Adult Audiology was for a two week wait for an appointment to be standard, even for rearranged appointments arising from issues at their end. They’d tell you to go home and call them to make another appointment. The department itself was perhaps the least deaf aware environment I’ve ever experience:a waiting area with pillars blocking view and laid out with your back to where staff would call out names; and staff who would speak to hearing chaperones rather than the deaf patient directly. They’d just treat the symptoms rather than dealing with the cause properly. Ear mould impressions that had to be re-taken multiple times.
Contrast with local independent audiologists (not the high street chains like Specsavers) who offer next-day, if not same-day, appointments, access to hearing aids across the whole of the market and who understand what customer service is. They’re often willing to deal with NHS hearing aids.