Hearing tests at Boots and Specsavers
Boots the chemist is one of the lastest high street chains to offer free hearing tests.
The thorough, professional examinations, carried out by registered hearing aid dispensers, only take around 30 to 40 minutes, and there's no need to book in advance as you can just drop in when you're nearby.
Specsavers, who have been offering 'Hearcare' for four or five years recommends that people seek professional advice if they have any doubt about their hearing. In any case, you should have a hearing assessment every year if you are over 40, or every two years if you are under 40.
Hearing changes gradually over time, so people often don't realise it's getting worse. To find out whether you may have a problem, consider some of these questions:
1. Have you been told that the TV is too loud?
2. Is it hard work having a conversation on the phone?
3. Do you ever need to ask people to repeat things?
4. Do you have difficulty following conversation in groups?
5. Do you find it difficult to hear dialogue at the cinema or theatre?
Specsavers also offers hearing tests for people in the comfort of their own homes using the latest computerised equipment. To arrange a home visit, call 0808 143 1143 or register on its website.
Comments
BOOTS and SPECS: the basic business models are sound and have revolutionised the hearing aid business. However they are both blighted by high staff turnover and patchy branch cover. Also, both do not typically offer all brands available. Anybody that has ever used hearing aids knows that continuous and supportive aftercare are crucial but also that there are massive price variances between companies. the best way to shop, especially these two companies, is to GET 2 or 3 QUOTES BEFORE YOU BUY!!!! (ie BOOTs and SPECS are quite competitive but they are not impartial, plus you may get a more personal service from an independent??).
Posted by: Robert Donnan | April 10, 2009 08:26 AM
What kind of equipment does one exactly need to be able to take a hearing test online!?
Posted by: Johan | December 29, 2009 02:19 AM
A hearing aid dispenser (hearing instrument specialist, hearing aid dealer) is a person licensed to sell hearing aids and is not to be confused with an audiologist. Hearing aid dispensers are trained in the interpretation of hearing assessment instrumentation, hearing aid electronics, specifications, analysis, modifications, programming hearing aids. All states require a high school diploma or equivelency degree. In most clinics, hearing testing is done for little or no fee for the purpose of supplying hearing aids to individuals with hearing loss.
Posted by: Elena Novikova | March 18, 2010 06:55 PM
i totally hear you people I am going to use it.
Posted by: Scot Chiappetta | March 6, 2011 02:21 AM
This is another reason to get all three trials and test them out.Everyone body is different, so we suggest you try and find the one that works best for you.
Posted by: Andrew Torres | May 22, 2011 04:05 AM