Reprogramming of second-hand hearing aids!
- Koorosh Nejad
- Oct 22, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 21
A dear family member passed away, and s/he left you a pair of premium hearing aids. Can you use a second-hand hearing aid? Continue reading this article to learn how we can help you use a pair of second-hand hearing aids.
Here are the frequently asked questions I usually receive from patients who call me for help with a pair of second-hand hearing aids. Please feel free to contact us or leave a comment if you have questions that are not addressed here in this article.
Can I use a pair of hearing aids I inherited?
Is using a second-hand hearing aid clinically all right?
Can a second-hand hearing aid be reprogrammed for my hearing loss?
Do I need a hearing test to use a second-hand hearing aid?
Where can I find help with second-hand hearing aids?
Where to service and reprogram a pair of second-hand hearing aids?
Can I use a second-hand RIC hearing aid?
Can I use a second-hand custom-made hearing aid?
Do I need insurance for my second-hand hearing aid?
I don't live in London. Can I send my second-hand hearing aid for repair and reprogramming?
Do you provide home-visit hearing care services for second-hand hearing aids?
What if my second-hand hearing aids are not functional? Do you repair second-hand hearing aids?
If you have other questions or need assistance with your second-hand hearing aids, please contact us or use the link below to book a free telecare consultation.
Can I use a pair of hearing aids I inherited?
I'd say yes, but not always. The hearing aids you received through inheritance (or bought online) may or may not be adequate for your level of hearing loss. Also, the prescription that is set in them is unlikely to be fit for you. My best advice is to send us your hearing test results (or book an appointment) and send us a picture of the hearing aids in your hand so we can provide preliminary feedback. If the inherited hearing aids are custom, then there is a very, very slim chance that you can use them; for hygiene and also that it is very unlikely that the shape of the in-the-ear hearing aids matches your ear canals.
If they received BTE hearing aids with earmoulds, the hearing aids can be used, but you may need to have ear impressions taken from your ears so a custom-made earmould can be made for you. Another issue is that some brands of hearing aids, such as Specsavers Advance hearing aids, can only be reprogrammed by Specsavers, and this is what they do not offer.
The RIC hearing aids are the most popular among patients who do bargain hunting on eBay for top technologies. Please note that depends on your level of hearing loss and the shape of your ears, the receiver (or speaker unit) may be too short or too long for you. Also, we highly recommend using new receivers and domes for hygiene as well as optimum acoustics of the hearing aids.
Is using a second-hand hearing aid clinically all right?
From the clinical point of view, hearing aids are medical devices and may carry germs and diseases from one person to another, so the short answer to your question is no. If you inherited a pair of hearing aids from a lost relative (e.g. from your mother or father) and you feel very connected to them and wish to use them, the best is to send them to the manufacturer for a full service and cleaning.
Can a second-hand hearing aid be reprogrammed for my hearing loss?
Absolutely. The best approach is to find a local audiologist to have a hearing test and reprogramming. Alternatively, you can send your hearing aids to us along with your audiogram so we can reprogram your second-hand hearing aids based on your hearing test results. Please also see our response to the clinical considerations of using second-hand hearing aids in this article.
Do I need a hearing test to use a second-hand hearing aid?
Yes. This is because the second-hand hearing aids you hold are programmed for the hearing loss level of their original owner. You need to have a fresh hearing test so we can program them for your level of hearing loss. In addition to that, the little wire, the speakers (in the case of RIC hearing aids) and the little silicon dome that goes into the ear need to be selected based on your level of hearing loss and the shape of your ear canals.
Where can I find help with second-hand hearing aids?
Please book a free hearing test with us in London, so we can provide a free hearing test and then reprogram your hearing aids. We will be able to provide a clean-up and service, a different size of speakers and new domes right in the session. We are an official representative of Widex, Oticon, Bernafon, Unitron, Phonak, Starkey, Signia, Rexton and Resound GN in the UK. Please also see our response to the clinical considerations of using second-hand hearing aids in this article.
Where to service and reprogram a pair of second-hand hearing aids?
The best is to contact a local independent audiologist. Please book a hearing test or an appointment to repair your hearing aids in London here. You can also send the hearing aids for reprogramming to our clinic.
Can I use a second-hand RIC hearing aid?
Yes, indeed, RIC hearing aids are the easiest to reprogram and refit to a new owner. Please visit our booking page to book an appointment in London for the reprogramming of your second-hand hearing aids. Please also see our response to the clinical considerations of using second-hand hearing aids in this article.
Can I use a second-hand custom-made hearing aid?
No. Custom-made hearing aids are made based on the impression of the original owner of the hearing aids; therefore unlikely that they fit comfortably in your ears.
Do I need insurance for my second-hand hearing aid?
It is entirely up to you to obtain an insurance policy for your hearing aids. Please read more about this here.
I don't live in London, can I send my second-hand hearing aid for repair and reprogramming?
The best approach to reprogramming your second-hand hearing aids is to consult with a local independent audiologist. If you have a recent hearing test done, then we can receive your second-hand hearing aids in our lab in London and service and repair, and reprogram them for you. Please read more information here. We ship them after the reprogramming via DHL to your mailing address.
Do you provide home-visit hearing care services for second-hand hearing aids?
Yes, you can receive the hearing test and reprogramming service for your second-hand hearing aids at your home. Please book a home visit appointment for the repair and reprogramming of your hearing aids here. Please also see our response to the clinical considerations of using second-hand hearing aids in this article.
What if my second-hand hearing aids are not functional? Do you repair second-hand hearing aids?
Yes, please visit our repair and service of hearing aids for more details on how we may be able to help you fix and repair your hearing aids. Please also see our response to the clinical considerations of using second-hand hearing aids in this article.
Can HearingNow reprogram my NHS hearing aids?
Some of the providers of NHS hearing aids move clinics and sometimes become out of reach. This leaves the NHS hearing aid users wondering whether their NHS hearing aids can be reprogrammed by a local independent audiologist. The answer is that yes, most NHS hearing aids can be reprogrammed by a local audiologist, but not all of them. Please contact us if you wish to reprogram your NHS hearing aids.
Update
April 2024 - If you are in the market for second-hand rechargeable hearing aids, please make sure that the hearing aid technology you purchase is not older than 4-5 years. Most hearing aid manufacturers stop supporting their hearing aids when they become more than 5 years old. Lack of support leaves you with few options for replacing the rechargeable battery of such hearing aids, which eventually results in not being able to use your hearing aids because their run-time shrinks below practical levels. Please feel free to reach out to us if you need a pre-purchase consultation.
May 2025 - Please note that only Specsavers Hearing clinics can reprogram your hearing aid if they are Specsavers Advance. Also, the AudioNova hearing aids can only be reprogrammed by Boots Hearing. As mentioned before, these hearing aids carry no residual value for the owner to pass on to the next. So if you find these hearing aids at a very low price on eBay, be aware that you will not be able to reprogram them to your audiogram.
Questions?
Please book a free telecare consultation through the following link to discuss repair, reprogramming and service of your second-hand hearing aids.
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