Lost hearing aids

Hearing aids and tinnitus sound generators are issued to patients on a loan basis, and remain the property of the NHS. If the equipment is lost through carelessness or damaged through misuse a charge will apply.  This charge is reviewed on a yearly basis and some exemptions to these charges may apply.

When a hearing aid is first issued to a patient, they will be advised by the audiologist that the equipment they have just received is on loan, and that loss of the equipment or damage through misuse may result in a charge per hearing aid.  Patients are asked to sign a hearing aid fit agreement form which will be countersigned by the audiologist and attached to a patients electronic record. This form will be completed at the first fitting and also at further reassessment appointments / hearing aid upgrades.

If a patient loses or damages their hearing aids they must attend a repair clinic to begin the process of replacing the hearing aid, unless they are a patient who receives domiciliary audiology appointments.  If the patient telephones the department regarding a lost aid, they should be advised at this time that there may be a charge for replacing the hearing aid.