My mother who is 90 got Phonak hearing aids from Boots at Broughton Park Chester last year at a cost of over £2000. These are the bronze level aids, the advantages of silver and gold aids were explained but as she doesn’t use a mobile phone or watch much tv or do much socialising in noisy environments it was considered that this level would meet her requirements. I have to say we are disappointed with the outcome as she still frequently asks us to repeat things. I went back with her today and saw the original audiologist. I explained that, for example, on the way there with just the two of us in the car she couldn’t hear what I was saying. The audiologist said this was due to the acoustics in the car and when I said it also happens at home she said the aids were really only suitable for one to one face to face conversations. She then said she would turn them up and that was it. We were in and out in 7 minutes. I don’t think my mother has gained much advantage by spending a lot of money on these hearing aids over the free NHS version. I would be interested in your response to this and if you have had other similar complaints.