Got Questions? Email Us support@betterlivingdaily.co.uk/

Home > Hearing & Wellness > NHS or HearWell? We asked a hearing specialist to test both to See What Actually Works

NHS or HearWell? We asked a hearing specialist to test both to see what works best

Published by Emma Whitfield | Hearing & Wellness | Last update: Feb 24 👁 584256 📖 4 min

Let's talk about something no one really explains when you start losing your hearing: how impossible it feels to find something that actually works, without waiting a year or spending thousands.

 

You've probably been to your GP. 

 

You've been referred to audiology. 

 

You've been told the wait is 10 to 16 months.

 

And you've thought… surely there's something I can do now?

 

We kept seeing two options come up again and again in our reader feedback:

 

1. NHS hearing aids, the free route through the health service, and 

2. HearWell, a smaller company selling direct for £149. 

 

One is free. The other costs £149 — but works out to less than 20p a day (see more about that below). Practically free too.

 

So we asked Dr. Joanne Prescott, hearing specialist with 26 years fitting hearing aids on the NHS and in private clinics, to test both properly.

 

And here's what she found.

But first — what type of hearing loss do most people actually have?

This matters, because not all hearing aids are built for the same problem. 

 

Most people assume hearing loss is hearing loss. 

 

But according to the NHS, 80-90% of people with hearing difficulties have what's classified as mild to moderate loss: 

 

- difficulty following conversations

- struggling with the television

- missing words on the phone. 

 

Not silence. Just… unclear.


And that distinction changes everything about which hearing aid you actually need.

What do NHS hearing aids and HearWell have in common?

  • Both are proper hearing aids and certified medical devices in the UK (UKCA) - not the cheap amplifiers from Amazon that screech and end up in a drawer
     
  • Both are comfortable enough to wear all day.
     
  • Both made a genuine difference for every single person in Dr. Prescott's test
     
  • If you're currently wearing nothing, either of these would change your daily life

Where they're different

  • NHS hearing aids sit behind the ear with a visible tube. HearWell sits inside the ear canal, virtually invisible.
     
  • NHS requires a GP referral, an audiology appointment, and a fitting — current wait times average 10 to 16 months depending on your region. HearWell ships to your door in 2-3 days with no appointments needed.
     
  • NHS hearing aids vary by region — you get what's available at your local audiology department, not what's best for your specific situation. HearWell is one consistent product, designed specifically for mild to moderate loss.
     
  • Some NHS aids still use disposable batteries that need replacing every few days. HearWell is fully rechargeable — drop them in the case overnight, ready to go in the morning.
     
  • NHS is free. HearWell costs £149, which works out to less than 20p per day over its guaranteed 2-year lifespan (and if it breaks within those 2 years, you get a free replacement).

 

Think of it this way: NHS is a free bus pass. HearWell is a taxi that costs 20p. 

 

The bus is free, but you wait an hour in the rain and it might not go where you need. The taxi arrives in three minutes and takes you to the door.

To be fair — some of our readers have had a great NHS experience. Seen quickly, happy with their aids. 

 

But the majority tell us a different story. Long waiting times, bulky behind-the-ear devices, limited aftercare, and aids that end up in a drawer. Dr. Prescott sees the same thing in her clinic.
Title

She tested both for 4 weeks with 6 volunteers — here's what happened

Dr. Prescott recruited six volunteers. Three men, three women. Aged 64-79. All with mild to moderate hearing loss. 

 

Four of them already owned NHS hearing aids. Two were on the waiting list.


She tested both devices across real-life settings over four weeks.


With NHS aids, the results were mixed. 

 

Clear enough in quiet rooms. 

Television was improved but not always consistent. 

 

In a busy pub on a Friday night, most volunteers said background noise was overwhelming — voices got lost in the chatter.


With HearWell, the results were noticeably more consistent. 

 

Quiet conversation: clear. 

Television: clear. 

Phone calls: clear. 

The busy pub: still the hardest environment, but volunteers reported hearing voices more distinctly than with their NHS aids.


But here's what surprised her most.


Four of her six volunteers already had NHS aids at home. None of them were wearing them. 

 

Within a week of trying HearWell, all six were wearing them every day.


"That tells you everything you need to know. It doesn't matter how good a hearing aid is on paper if it ends up in a drawer. The best hearing aid is the one you actually wear."
Title

The verdict

NHS hearing aids are free. And for some people, they work well. We would never tell someone to skip the NHS entirely.

 

Also, if you have severe or complex hearing loss, see an audiologist, that level of hearing loss requires a personalised approach


But for mild to moderate hearing loss — which is what 80-90% of people actually have — the picture looks very different:

 

  • NHS is free but the wait is often  10-16 months. HearWell costs 20p a day and arrives in 3 days. For most people, the result was better with HearWell. 
     
  • NHS aids are behind-the-ear and visible. HearWell is virtually invisible in-ear — and every single tester actually wore them daily, unlike their NHS aids.
     
  • NHS aids varied in quality and generation depending on region. HearWell was consistent across all six testers.
     
  • NHS aftercare was limited — long waits for follow-ups, if available at all. HearWell's UK support team responded within hours.
     

Margaret, 71, one of the test volunteers, had been wearing NHS aids for three years. She said: "I always thought free was the best I could do. Turns out 20p a day changed everything. I hear my grandchildren now. I actually wear these."
Title

Final thoughts

For years, people assumed the choice was simple: wait for the NHS, or pay thousands at a private clinic.


But there's a third option now.


One that costs less than a bag of crisps per day. One that arrives in days, not months.

 

One that people actually wear.


NHS is free. But 20p a day for hearing aids you'll actually use? That's basically free too.


Normal price of HearWell is £300, but after this article, the founder extended their 50% discount for our readers (see button below).


At £149, that's less than 20p per day over a 2-year guaranteed lifespan. 45-day home trial — if they don't work, send them back for a refund.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Since this article was published, HearWell has gained tremendous attention and interest. 

The company has reached out to our editorial team to inform us that, for a limited time, they are offering our readers an exclusive 50% discount on HearWell.

Plus, every order comes with a 45-day risk free trial at home, 1 year warranty and free insured shipping.

 

If you don't experience clearer hearing within 45 days, you can just return it for a refund.

Try HearWell for 45-days at home, with free shipping and 1 year warranty

Check availability

Comments (3)

JanR58

3 Mar, 2026 at 1:16 pm

2 weeks with Hearwell now, amazing value! Returned my £2,400 Specsavers aids for full refund. These work just as well!! Already told 3 mates at the pub about them. should've found these sooner! Thx!
Title

Margaret_S

27 Feb, 2026 at 9:16 am

My son sent me this article yesterday after I missed another important phone call. Just ordered HearWell with the discount. On pension so the £149 price really helps. Fingers crossed! Will update in a few weeks
Title

RobertJames

19 Feb, 2026 at 10:22 am
 

Can finally hear the telly without subtitles! Wife doesn't have to repeat herself anymore. Should've done this years ago instead of waiting for NHS. Worth every penny!👍
Title

LEAVE A COMMENT

Thanks for contacting us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Name
Email

Comment
Privacy & GDPR Disclosure: We value your privacy and are committed to transparency. While we may collect personal information for marketing purposes, we will always inform you of the reasons behind such collection. Additionally, please be aware that this website uses cookies for marketing purposes.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT AN ACTUAL NEWS ARTICLE, BLOG, OR CONSUMER PROTECTION UPDATE. THE OWNERS OF THIS WEBSITE RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE SALE OF HEARING AIDS.
Marketing Disclosure: This website serves as a marketplace. It is important to note that the owner has a financial connection to the advertised products and services. The owner receives payment when a qualified lead is referred, but this is the extent of the relationship.
Copyright © 2025 Better Living Daily. All Rights Reserved.