Hidden Hearing answers your questions

Hearing loss is more common than most people think. There are currently about 12 million adults with hearing loss across the UK. That's about one in five of us.

But only 40% of people who need hearing aids actually have them. If you think that you or one of friends of loved ones is suffering from hearing loss, you’ve come to the right place. Book an appointment now.

Hearing loss can occur at any age. Although old age or exposure to loud noise are the most common causes of hearing loss, infection, injury or genetics can cause also be causes.

Understanding the source of your hearing difficulties gives our professionals insight into your needs. We can then advise you on the best options for your specific treatment. For more information see our guide to symptoms, types and treatment.

There could be many reasons behind your difficulty in separating speech from background noise. A hearing test will reveal if you have a hearing loss. If so, we’ll be able to prescribe and fit hearing aids that could significantly improve your hearing. Follow the links for more information on types and causes of hearing loss.

There are many different types of hearing loss, and by far the most common form is age-related hearing loss.

Our hearing decline is a natural part of the ageing process. Older people's auditory systems have been exposed to noise for many years. So as we age, our ability to hear deteriorates.

Our free hearing test will identify if you have an age-related hearing loss, and our hearing care experts will then be able to recommend suitable treatment.

Regular hearing tests and aftercare will help make sure that any decline in your hearing is monitored. This way, your hearing aids will always give you the best hearing experience possible.

You can take our online hearing test to give you an initial idea into your hearing ability.

‘Hearing loss’ is the universal term to describe a lower ability to hear sounds than the average person.

Hearing loss can be treated by amplification or hearing aids. ‘Deafness’ implies a severe or profound hearing loss that only affects a minority of the hearing-impaired population.

If you have a ringing or humming in your ears then you could be suffering from tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the feeling of intermittent or constant ringing in one ear, both ears or inside your head.

It affects roughly 13% of the UK population. Tinnitus is a common symptom of other underlying conditions, particularly relating to the ear and hearing loss. While tinnitus is not a disease, it can cause people a great deal of stress and agitation. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are hearing aids available that have in-built systems designed to help relieve your tinnitus symptoms. Book an appointment and see how we can help with your tinnitus.

Hearing loss can be divided into three categories: sensorineural, (affects the inner ear and possibly the auditory nerve), conductive, (affects the outer or middle ear and how sound is transmitted to the sensory part of the ear), and mixed hearing loss (a combination of the two types of loss).

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss in adults. It’s usually due to age or significant noise exposure. It cannot be reversed. Hearing aids are the only way to improve sensorineural hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss is a lot less common in adults and may cause temporary or fluctuating hearing loss. A hearing test will reveal the degree and nature of the hearing loss, and in some cases will prompt a referral to your GP or even a referral to an ENT specialist for further investigation.

Hidden Hearing are adhering to all government guidelines on how to operate in the current climate keeping our customers as safe as possible. We have put lots of new safety measures in place, including social distancing, PPE, and cleaning the clinic thoroughly between every appointment. Many of our customers have told us that they feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with the measures we have in place. Read more about safety in our clinics.

You can book an appointment by calling us free on 0800 0372 080, or by filling in the form on our website, you will be the contacted as soon as we can to arrange your appointment. Book your free appointment now.

Yes, we offer home visits. We understand that it may not always be possible to attend your local hearing centre. You can book your home visit by calling us on 0800 0372 080 or by filling in our online form, we will then be in touch to arrange a convenient time to visit you.

We’ll ask you a few simple questions about your lifestyle, family history and whether you have difficulty hearing in any specific situations. Hearing loss is different for each person, so we’ll need to understand your lifestyle to make sure we find the best solution if you have a hearing loss.

Then we’ll take a good look inside your ear canal with using an otoscope. We’ll be checking the eardrums and outer ear for signs of damage or infection.

Next, we’ll test your hearing. Wearing headphones, you’ll hear different sounds, played in one ear or the other. We’ll ask you to push a button each time you hear a sound, so we can see how well you hear at different levels and pitches.

We will also conduct what we call a ‘Speech and Understanding Assessment’. A series of words and sounds are performed at a varying level of loudness, pitch and intensity. Here, you will learn at what level of sound you can no longer understand speech very well and this test determines what level of hearing loss you have.

As we understand your hearing loss more, we’ll work out the best course of action for you. Your hearing care expert will allow you to test hearing aids, giving you an idea of just how much sound you have been missing and the potential benefits of wearing hearing aids. Find out more about our what happens at a hearing test.

Due to how thorough our hearing tests are and the complexity of your hearing, the full consultation can usually take up to one hour. Request an appointment now.

You can book an appointment on behalf of a loved one via the form on our site. Just make sure you have their permission to submit their details before you do so.

A hearing loss doesn’t just impact one person; it can affect your loved ones too.

When testing hearing aids at your appointment, it’s important to test them with a familiar voice. Bring a loved one to your appointment so we can check your understanding of the voices that matter most to you.

Find your closest Hidden Hearing centre or clinic using our centre locator.

Our hearing tests are completely free and with no obligations. Learn more about our hearing tests.

Unfortunately, hearing aids will not cure your tinnitus symptoms, but can relieve them. Some of the latest hearing aids come with in-built tinnitus management systems.

The Oticon Opn S™, for example, can be customise to include a range of soothing tinnitus relief sounds. This includes broadband sounds (white, pink and red noise) and natural, ocean-like sounds. To find out more about the Oticon Opn S™ book a free hearing test and speak to one of our experts.

We cannot give you an exact price because there are many variables that contribute to the total cost – the brand, model, your level of hearing loss and what you want to get out of your hearing aid. This can be discussed during your no-obligation hearing test, which is free. Book your free hearing test.

No, but we do have a protection plan that covers for loss, theft and accidental damage as well as repairs out of warranty on all hearing aids purchased through Hidden Hearing. Oneplan is Hidden Hearing’s protection plan for your hearing aid and is there to help when you need it most. Oneplan aims to be the safeguard for your device for the first five years of your hearing system’s life. Read more about the Oneplan

Unfortunately, if your hearing aids are not insured independently or covered by our Oneplan protection, you would need to pay the full value of a new hearing aid system. If your hearing aids are not fully protected, you contact us to arrange Oneplan protection. Read more about the Oneplan

Yes, if your hearing aid device isn’t working properly and is within warranty, we would be able to repair your aids free of charge. If your aid is out of warranty, you would need to pay for the repair and if they are unrepairable, pay for a new hearing aid system. However, if your aids are protected by our Oneplan, then we offer an unlimited repair service that is outside of the manufacturer’s warranty for up to five years. Find out more about Oneplan or call our Customer Service team on 0800 0372 080 for repairs.

We offer a range of the latest devices that are made to suit every level of hearing loss, lifestyle and stylistic preference. We have the latest in hearing aid technology, improved feedback reduction, Bluetooth® functionality and discreet designs. Learn more about the different brands we offer.

Yes, we offer ear wax removal at some of our nationwide clinics. Find your nearest location here to see if they offer this service.

Yes, we offer a lifetime service guarantee. We do not charge for any appointments, adjustments, or ongoing support that an individual may need. We recommend that you come back every six months.

This is so we can test your hearing to see if your hearing has improved, or if we need to adjust your hearing aids to make sure your hearing experience is as good as it can be. We also offer free batteries for the first three years of hearing aid ownership.

At Hidden Hearing we offer a wide range of hearing aids in many styles with the latest technology to suit you. This includes bespoke In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids, where nothing is worn behind the ear.

These types of hearing aids are often preferred by first-time hearing aid users for their discreet appearance.

We also have a range of Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aids. Recently, they’ve become smaller, more adaptable and much more powerful.

We also offer an unbeatable aftercare service that includes regular assessments of your hearing, expert help and advice and new technology demonstrations.

And we offer our Oneplan protection programme, which is a low-cost plan that provides cover against theft, loss and damage and can offer full protection of your hearing aids. Book a hearing test to see why we could be the perfect fit for you.