Cycling UK Forum

I've just been advised I need hearing aids. There is such a vast choice that any advice on what works well for cyclists would be most welcome.

I'm wondering whether they should be ones that fit behind the ear or in the ear, whether they cope with wind noise, whether you can still hear traffic approaching from behind, what shape works with a helmet and glasses and a Buff over the ears in winter, whether they get dislodged over potholes, etc. etc.

Sorry if this has all been discussed before, but I'm new to the Forum despite being a lifetime Cycling UK member.

Thanks,

Steve

Which did a test a couple of years ago and decided the NHS hearing aids were the best. Surprising when commercial ones cost so much!

Al

al_yrpal wrote:Which did a test a couple of years ago and decided the NHS hearing aids were the best. Surprising when commercial ones cost so much!

Al

Agreed - after some research I came to the conclusion that the NHS provided ones offered everything I needed and spending (a lot) of money on private ones from Specsavers or Boots was money down the drain.
I tend not to wear mine when cycling but I have got a set of cheap Neoprene covers that eliminate wind noise - I think from a recommendation on this forum.

If:
• You have the most common type of hearing loss
• You're happy with behind the ear devices
• You don't want Bluetooth reception
then I'd also recommend trying the NHS offering.

Jonathan

PS: As well as the birdsong and the rustling of leaves look forward to discovering a few mores squeaks and groans from the bike! : - )

Fortunately I'm not yet needing any (but just a question of time - mine is going)

But from helping my Mum who was very very dependent on them:
1. Standards: some makes don't stick to standards. Mum Mum's hearing centre only did Phonak and they used proprietary "standards". Impact of this is eg. you need to purchase their special (expensive and not very good) telephone handsets to work with the hearing aids) - whereas brands following standards will work well with most telephone handsets, mobile handsets, etc.

2. Mum ended-up going through quite a few different aids (virtually all Phonak but some NHS models as well) and every change was a nightmare requiring multiple returns to the hearing specialist to get them set properly. She suffered things like not working, terrible echo sensations, etc. To a degree it might have been adapting to the change.

3. Mum also had problems with build strength. Every new pair would "fall apart" on being fitted/removed (though after a few weeks she got used to them and things improved). But do look at how robust they appear.

3. Wax. Dad's pair had ongoing issues with getting blocked with ear wax - though that was likely him rather than the hearing aids.

Main issue probably relevant to OP is "standards" (what devices the hearing aids can work with (landline handsets, smartphones, etc.) - more useful than many think. We got to the point where we could not phone Mum and she could not call others because the Phonak handsets were "poor" and hearing aids wouldn't work with Smartphones - and that becomes very isolating for an elderly person living alone.

Ian

Hearing is just important as eyesight. Professional help is best.On my local high street is a Boots Hearing shop.You can google your nearest and drive up (or cycle up).Think they do free tests.Also do not neglect eye tests.Even people in their 40's have the start of cataracts.This can affect night driving vision.
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I ride Brompton and a 100% British Vintage.

Jdsk wrote: ↑23 Dec 2023, 9:21am If:
• You have the most common type of hearing loss
• You're happy with behind the ear devices
• You don't want Bluetooth reception
then I'd also recommend trying the NHS offering.

Jonathan

PS: As well as the birdsong and the rustling of leaves look forward to discovering a few mores squeaks and groans from the bike! : - )

I was fitted with NHS hearing aids in June which are Bluetooth enabled, so great for phone calls etc.

They can be a mixed blessing in very noisy environments, and if you wear them with glasses and a hat, they can pinch your ears a bit.

briansnail wrote:Hearing is just important as eyesight. Professional help is best.On my local high street is a Boots Hearing shop.You can google your nearest and drive up (or cycle up).Think they do free tests.

Why would you go to a private provider when free tests are available through your GP?

The private one - with the bait of the free test - will offer you their expensive aids (and an expensive maintainace package)
The NHS one will give you the same (sometimes more thorough) hearing test with no cost and free follow up and free batteries.

I have NHS ones. The ones issued to me have Bluetooth, With Apple products you can download an app to pair with your hearing aids, With Android devices you need to get a device that attaches to the item to send blue tooth to your hearing aids. I carry my hearing aids in a glasses case when I’m on the bike and put them in when I stop. I have discovered Aftershock bone conductor headphones which I use with the Garmin gps or phone app. They do fit when you are wearing your hearing aids as well.

I’d go with the NHS option initially and see how they perform; I’m more than happy with mine. I no longer wear them when cycling after I dislodged one when removing my helmet whilst waiting at a railway station. I wasn’t aware that I’d lost it but fortunately my cycling buddy spotted it on the ground.

There are downsides to not wearing them when cycling; the most obvious is not hearing motorised traffic approaching from behind. A rear view mirror can help here. Another problem is being aware of any strange noises coming from the bike, chain rub and the like. A cycling buddy with good hearing comes in handy here.

millimole wrote: ↑23 Dec 2023, 2:54pm

briansnail wrote:Hearing is just important as eyesight. Professional help is best.On my local high street is a Boots Hearing shop.You can google your nearest and drive up (or cycle up).Think they do free tests.

Why would you go to a private provider when free tests are available through your GP?

The private one - with the bait of the free test - will offer you their expensive aids (and an expensive maintainace package)
The NHS one will give you the same (sometimes more thorough) hearing test with no cost and free follow up and free batteries.

Also, my optician (optician chain) also does hearing tests and the free ones are a joke and only establish if you might have an issue and need a paid for full test. I already knew my hearing is suffering from a load of very detailed tests I had done (far beyond normal "hearing tests" - in relation to a different medical issue related to ears) - the private free tests were a complete waste of time.

Ian

Norman H wrote: ↑23 Dec 2023, 4:09pm ...
There are downsides to not wearing them when cycling; the most obvious is not hearing motorised traffic approaching from behind. ...

I wonder if we need to get more used to using mirrors and less reliant on hearing motor vehicles approaching behind? - electric vehicles are a lot quieter so maybe need to get more used to not using hearing for awareness of card?

Ian

I recommend using NHS hearing aids for general use, but I've decided against using them whilst cycling:
(1) The combination of cycle helmet straps and helmet liner (in cold weather) can easily dislodge your hearing aid,
(2) I recommend using a radar tail light, such as the Garmin Varia RTL510, which gives a visual warning on your GPS for vehicles, however quietly, approaching from behind. It can also supply an audible warning via your headphone, but I don't think this is compatible with the NHS hearing aids.
(3) I have found wind noise a problem with my NHS hearing aids.
I think it comes down to a personal decision based both on the individual and their cycling environment. For starters, I'd definitely recommend the NHS hearing aids.

I have the standard behind-ear NHS hearing aids and it never occurred to me not to use them while cycling. Occasionally there can be a bit of wind noise but it's rarely objectionable. They securely fit under my helmet and any cycling cap and I don't really have to think about them. For free they are brilliant.

I can't answer the question as to whether going private would get you better hearing, but my brother went private, spent £2000, and from what he says his hearing experience is much as mine; much better except in crowded noisy spaces where conversations can jangle.

I have found wind noise a problem with my NHS hearing aids. - yes me too so I don't wear them