The Phonak Audeo Mini III costs £1890 per pair. That Includes:
We supply every current UK hearing aid. We ARE INDEPENDENT, but we are also honest in opinion. In comparison with Amplifon (Amplivox), Hidden Hearing, Ormerod at Boots, Boots Hearingcare, KIND, Regional Hearing Services, Hearing and Mobility, The Hearing Company (Scrivens), Invisible hearing and Independent suppliers that DO NOT LIST THEIR PRICES, you will save between 20% and 60%. On Specsavers products, we can provide similar pricing and clear and transparent model identity - & with us, you will get more features, home visits and out of hours visits. In comparison to other discount sites like Half price hearing, Affordable hearing aids, Discount hearing aids, Hearing aids online and Crystal Hearing, we offer a guaranteed aftercare service that is specific (that's 3 visits after fitting in the first 2 months. + we call you EVERY 3 MONTHS) and the most generous trial period (1 week FREE TRIAL followed by 60 day 100% money back period)...
And the wise consumer says
"SHOW ME YOUR PRICES!" BUT WAIT - Unlike other discount websites, we list only those hearing aids that we would care to recommend in a real consultation.
PHONAK is generally highly recommended as a brand as at March 10 - for a number of reasons (namely an impressive processor chip, high research and development investment, continually growing World sales, etc.). The number of channels in each hearing aid is a relative reflection of it's sound quality - ie 1 channel is poorer than the typical NHS hearing aid, 20 channel is about the highest you can get.
20 channel EXELIA ART highest spec aid in range of configurations, with bluetooth: our price £1895: Recommended for those expecting the best, but with severe wax accumulation problems and/ or recurrent ear infections (We would usually recommend a mini behind the ear type in this case) or 2. those unwilling to wear anything on top of the ear (the Exelia comes in a completely in the ear canal model) or 3. those seeking maximum reliability (a normal size behind the ear aid would be best). The chip used in all listed Phonak products is the CORE processor - it is probably the best available right now. The top range models are Exelia Art, Mini IX, Smart IX and Naida IX.
SMART IX 20 channel open ear receiver in ear with bluetooth: £1995
MINI IX 20 channel smallest open ear, receiver in ear: £1895
NAIDA IX UP / SP TWO POWER VERSIONS 20 ch: £1695 recommended for those with a severe or profound hearing loss looking for the best technology that money can buy. However, please note that in most cases, you will need many follow up adjustments.
VERSATA 16 ch. multi-fit, bluetooth: £1550 recommended for those wishing to invest a lot of money and buy wisely. Is there enough of a difference between this and the Exelia? Again this is for those with wax accumulation problems / or those unwilling to wear anything on top of the ear.
SMART V 16 ch. open ear, receiver in ear version of Versata, with bluetooth: £1695
MINI V 16 ch. smallest receiver in ear: £1595 Recommended High Performance Aid
CERTENA 6 ch. multi-fit,bluetooth: £1195 recommended for those wishing to get the Core chip and blutooth functionality (which is a bit of a gadget anyway ...?). Again this is for those with wax accumulation problems / or those unwilling to wear anything on top of the ear.
SMART III 6 channel receiver in ear with bluetooth: £1195 small but still has bluetooth
MINI III 6 channel smallest open ear, receiver in ear: £945 No.1 ALL ROUND BEST Aid
NAIDA III UP / SP 6 ch. POWER VERSION: £1195 recommended for those with a severe or profound hearing loss looking for superior technology at a more affordable price. However, please note that in most cases, you will need many follow up adjustments.
MILO Plus : 6 channels for £495: recommended for those wanting the best processor without spending too much. Again this is for those with wax accumulation problems / or those unwilling to wear anything on top of the ear. LOWEST UK PRICE ON THE MILO PLUS
UNITRON Passport Shift 20 ch.: £995 With free ultrasonic remote control. Superb value for money. 1 pair remaining.
UNITRON Latitude 8 Moxi 8 channel: £795 With free ultrasonic remote control. Superb value for money.
UNITRON Latitude 8 FUSE 8 ch.: £295 With free ultrasonic remote control. Superb value for money. 2 pairs remaining. MASSIVE SAVING - 70% off!! NEW TECHNOLOGY HEARING AID!
WIDEX are generally not recommended due to higher than normal wholesale prices. However this is due to change on 1st July 2010. The exception at the moment is the Passion 105, which we have in stock.
WIDEX Passion 105 5 channel: £795 recommended purely on the grounds that Widex have a long standing excellent reputation. It is a beautifully conceived hearing aid with anti-bacterial nano coating and titanium microphone shield.
Widex Hearing Aid Consumer Advice
OTICON Epoq XW 10 channel, Binaural communicating, Connectline compatible: £1895 recommended for those wishing to invest a lot of money and those really interested in effective bluetooth technology. Specifically for those with wax accumulation problems / or those unwilling to wear anything on top of the ear.
OTICON Dual XW Connect 10 channel, Binaural communicating, Connectline compatible: £1895 recommended for those wishing to invest a lot of money and those really interested in effective bluetooth technology. The receiver in the ear version of the Epoq XW.
SIEMENS are generally not recommended due to higher than normal wholesale prices. The exceptions are the MOTION 100 and MOTION 300, which we have in stock. 1 pair of Motion 300 remaining as at end March 10.
SIEMENS Motion 100 6 ch: £295 LOWEST EVER UK PRICE INCLUDES FREE RECHARGER
SIEMENS Motion 300 8 ch: £595 LOWEST EVER UK PRICE INCLUDES FREE RECHARGER
GN Resound are generally not recommended due to ongoing company stability issues (change of directors, low sales, threat of takeover). The exception at the moment is DOT2 10, which we have in stock.
GN RESOUND Dot 2 10 very small open ear: £890 Very light and small receiver in the ear hearing aid
STARKEY S Series 11 with touch switching: £1595 Very interesting touch sensitive controls
BERNAFON is not supplied at the moment as it is a trading arm of Oticon and I can't see any necessity in the brand at this point.
We will supply any hearing aid not on our list on the market at your request on a free 30 day trial (if you feel a certain product is worth trying then we will let you try it - after all, it's in our best interests to find out if we missed out a good hearing aid!)
All Makes REALISTIC EXTRAS:
High dependency home visit package: Ranging from £100 to £405 (multiple rehabilitation and counselling visits / up to 8 per year) Dependent on distance ie. £100 in BD19 code
Rural home visit charge: £250 (eg. outlying villages in North Yorks) Please enquire. We regularly visit SETTLE GARGRAVE THRESHFIELD etc
OFFERS:
EXTRA VALUE ON ALL PHONAK IX PRODUCTS THIS MONTH -- Offer ENDS 31st March 2010.
The Incredible CORE chip hearing aids feature a state of the art ultra fast processor that is packed with features and recommended by professionals in all sectors: Order now with a 4 year warranty, 4 year free batteries, software upgrades and receiver replacement for 4 years.
WE DON'T HIDE THE IDENTITY or REBRAND our hearing aids - We are truly 'whole of market' and supply the original manufacturers' products
CARRY ON SCROLLING DOWN FOR SOME COMMON SENSE CONSUMER INFO
> Our latest letters of thanks....
"I would like to thank you, most sincerely for the time and trouble you have taken, in providing hearing aids for me to try….may I add that I was most impressed with the level of service you have provided, and I would have no hesitation in recommending you to my friends and colleagues* Ms. C. Lees, Notts.
"I appreciate your attention to detail... and that you have made so many visits to ensure i'm happy with my new hearing aids" Mr. F. Earnshaw, Hebden Bridge
"...to thank you for the patience and courtesy you have shown me since purchasing my new hearing aids. It's lovely to be able to able to hear things I haven't heard for ages.." Mrs. E Parker, Bramley, Leeds
(the above are unsolicited letters - we did not ask for them)
OTHER REASONS WE DON'T LIST SOME PRODUCTS >>>
1. it's a discontinued (or soon to be obsolete) item, now replaced by a newer product
2. a budget hearing aid of lower technology than current NHS aids (however, we do supply these for £395 to £790 for a PAIR for those needing a discreet alternative to the NHS - this includes receiver in the ear products)
3. a renamed hearing aid, rebranded to confuse you (Specsavers Advance IS NOT PHONAK), We advocate LIKE FOR LIKE comparisons
4. in our opinion, too quirky to be practical (for instance Siemens Vibe, GN Resound Be)
Our Advice for the wise hearing aid consumer: In our experience, satisfactory hearing aid results generally occur when
- your hearing loss is recent and of uncomplicated pathology,
- you communicate well with your hearing aid audiologist,
- your motivation is high
- and there are no current distracting health issues,
- the new aids are physically fitted well
- and lastly, you test your hearing aids thoroughly over a 60 day trial period.
It is not necessary to spend a fortune on a typical hearing loss JUST CHOSE A GOOD MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AID
However If your hearing loss is of complicated pathology or very long term; if you have experienced problems with hearing aids in the past or you have always found concentrating in the presence of background noise difficult…then your patience is the main factor. A quick solution is less likely. It may be that you need to try 2 or 3 different models to ascertain which will best suit you...with 6 or so visits in the first two months.
We care: All our new clients benefit from a guaranteed and quantified aftercare as follows:
- 60 day no catch 100% money back guarantee. You can thoroughly and safely test out your new system!
- Our unique structured rehabilitation appointment program (1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks) - & more if required.
- 3 monthly courtesy call. We know you need ongoing encouragement to ensure your continued successful hearing.
- 6 monthly recalibration and hearing check. Most digital hearing aids will need software upgrades to stay up to date.
- Unique proactive repair strategy (we act on component failure before it happens) at 2 and 4 years.
- Ongoing for 4 years, so you know exactly what you are entitled to.
WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER
Why do Hearing aids cost so much?
The main reasons for this are
- You pay for the accelerating rate of innovations through research and development costs incurred by the 6 big hearing aid manufacturers. If you want the latest technology, you'll have to pay a higher price.
- Poor economy of scale. The existence of both a poorly funded NHS AND an under-regulated private sector means that not enough private aids are sold, therefore the price is higher. This is changing rapidly. This year and next, You will see hearing aid centres springing up everywhere...
- Hearing Aids can only be dispensed by professionally registered hearing aid dispensers / audiologists and NHS ENT/audiology staff with the correct qualifications. This closed shop, as with opticians causes the pricing to be higher.
- We (the registered staff) are required to price up-front for a potentially high level of aftercare. In our case, this is a 1, 3 and 6 week visit followed by 3 monthly calls / 6 monthly check ups over a period of 4 years and within that, your option for multiple additional visits in that time.
- Hearing aid returns and cancellations are notoriously high. New hearing aid wearers often reject new hearing aids because they receive a less than perfect follow up service. So manufacturers build this into the price. However at Hearing Check Today we have a structured and quantified follow up service and reassuringly our returns are almost non-existent. But you will be able to return your products at no cost and no embarrassment in the first 60 days.
- The no.1 reason in the UK is quite simply - excessive profit making AND poor business models of hearing aid companies (the top-heavy manager structures, etc).
Which first - NHS or private hearing aids?
It’s a very good idea to get your first hearing aids from the NHS - IF you are patient and you have identified your hearing loss early and you are not too bothered about their appearance. Or if you have had ear operations, certain ear disorders (especially chronic suppurating middle ear infections) or you have multiple health issues. The NHS is certainly the preferred option if you have long term profound congenital hearing loss and/or you are under 40 years of age. If you are planning to emigrate within the next year, it is best to take advantage of the NHS hearing aids before you move. If a person of under 18 years is experiencing hearing loss, it is extremely important to seek medical advice, immediately.
It is fair to say that in Yorkshire there are waiting lists and that the hearing aids provided are of limited choice and quality. The models offered are mostly Siemens Prisma Pro 2 and Oticon Spirit 3 (Both these models suffered from poor sales worldwide and in relation to 2009, they represent redundant technology. But they are FREE). These are beige behind the ear aids of obvious proportions, made more noticeable by the thick tubing and full ear moulds fitted to them. There is limited availability of thin tubes for open fittings, but this is not receiver in ear.
The Private option will likely be more suitable if you have a very mild loss, a high frequency loss, if you prefer more attention from your professional or if you have had many problems with hearing aids in the past. If you get on well with your private dispenser and you value the time they can spend on fine tuning your hearing aids, then private may be the best option. Also, an independent dispenser such as Hearing Check Today can supply from the whole of the UK market. Home visits are included in your service plan, so private hearing aids will certainly suit you if you are less able to get around. Private dispensers of hearing aids will generally respond quicker to service requests and in the case of a new fitting, waiting times are between 1 and 9 days only. Private hearing aids are certainly neater, lighter, smaller, more comfortable and mostly, far more advanced technologically. But you will need to pay (Sovereign Health, Wakefield Hospital Fund and Leeds Hospital Fund will contribute towards the costs).
Buying hearing aids 'on the internet'
This is just not an issue so long as you deal with a Registered hearing aid dispenser. It is illegal to sell hearing aids in any other way than that prescribed by the Hearing Aid Council / Health Professions Council. That means all internet companies must physically meet you, examine your ear canals, measure your hearing correctly, ascertain the existence of any medical conditions that would prevent the dispensing of hearing aids and if present, inform your GP; follow the very highest standards of ethical conduct and only prescribe where justified, etc etc. To understand more about these rules, visit www.thehearingaidcouncil.org.uk
The Risks of buying
There needn’t be any risk at all so long as you follow the consumer’s golden rules
· Shop around – make sure you avoid over-paying by getting 2 or 3 like for like quotes.
· Always consult fully with your close family and friends.
· Don’t buy on emotional reactions. Be logical and assess the real improvements you will get from any new hearing aids.
· Get a cast-iron guaranteed escape clause for as long as possible (this should be at least 60 days). We provide a no cost return period of 60 days even if you post your products back to us.
Why are there so many products out there?
Hearing aid manufacturers need to offer a whole range no matter what they happen to have invented that year, so often ranges will be filled out with lots of duplicated hearing aids with funny names. We provide you with a whole of market price list BUT we also recommend our outstanding monthly offers – the choice is simplified for you.
Why do MOST Hearing aid companies NOT show a FULL PRICE LIST online?
Quite simply, this is bound to be because their prices are too high to be competitive and don't bear any scrutiny at all!
Why do some companies not even have a customer price list?
Again, it would cause them commercial harm to have their higher prices placed under any comparison.
Why are some companies hiding the exact make and model numbers of hearing aids?
To confuse you, the consumer?
We supply:
Oticon Dual Connect, Oticon Dual M, Oticon Epoq XW W V, Oticon Delta, Oticon Hit, Oticon Hit Pro, Oticon Vigo Pro, Oticon Vigo, Oticon Sumo, Phonak Exelia, Phonak Exelia Art, Phonak Versata, Phonak Certena, Phonak Extra, Phonak Naida, Phonak Audeo Yes, Widex Mind 330, Widex Mind 440, Widex Mind clearband, Widex Real, Widex Passion 440, Widex Passion, Widex Bravissimo, Widex Inteo, Widex Aikia, Widex Flash, Siemens Vibe, Siemens Life, Siemens Motion, Siemens Pure, Siemens Centra, Siemens Nitro, GN Resound Azure, GN Resound Xplore, GN Resound Ziga, GN Resound Dot 2, GN Resound Be, GN Resound Essence, GN Resound Sparx, Starkey S series, Starkey E series, Starkey Zon, Starkey Destiny, Starkey Da Vinci, Unitron Passport, Unitron Shift, Unitron Latitude, Unitron Fuse, Unitron Next, Unitron 360, Bernafon Icos, Veras, Verite, Bernafon Prio, Bernafon Win, Bernafon Brite, Bernafon Xtreme, Avanti, Neo
Older models you may want to know about:
Widex Diva, Senso, Senso+, Vita, Bravo, Bravissimo. Oticon Adapto, Tego, Tego Pro, Atlas, Gaia, Go, Delta, Ergo, Swift, Phonak Savia Art, Perseo, microPower, Eleva, microEleva, Valeo, Claro, Una, Maxx, PowerMaxx, Phonak Supero, Astro, PICS2, E-prom, MicroZoom, Piconet, SonoForte, PowerZoom, NovoForte, Classica, PicoForte, SuperFront, Siemens Cielo, Intuis, Prisma, Prisma2 pro, Artis, GN Resound Metrix, Pulse, Plus5, Pixel, Starkey Axent, Cierra, Mesa, Aspect, Genesis, Sonic Innovations Natura, Balance, Applause, Tribute. Unitron Yuu, Indigo ..... REMEMBER we can repair just about anything.
Our service is currently available in:
Leeds, Yeadon, Horsforth, Guiseley, Garforth, Rothwell, Bramhope, Pudsey, Bramley, Farsley, Garforth, Shadwell, Thorner, Adel, Roundhay...
Bradford, Bingley, Shipley, Otley, Ilkley, Burley in Wharfdale, Skipton, Settle, Threshfields, Addingham, Oakworth, Haworth, Steeton, Silsden, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Ossett, Horbury, Hemsworth, Normanton, Elland, Halifax, Elland, Riddlesden, Huddersfield, Honley, Holmfirth, Kirkburton, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Ripponden, Mytholmroyd, Brighouse, Birstall, Batley, Heckmondwike, Mirfield, Morley, Clifton, Gomersal,Hull, Beverley, Selby, Goole, Scunthorpe, Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley, Kippax, Wetherby, Harrogate, Spofforth, Knaresborough, Northallerton, Ripon, Thirsk, York, Pickering, Malton, Driffield, Pocklington, Scarborough, Whitby, Bridlington, Filey, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Clitheroe, Bolton, Farnworth, Bury, Prestwich, Oldham, Heywood, Rochdale, Littleborough, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Liverpool, Formby, Birkenhead, St. Helens, Wigan, Chorley
