• If your hearing problems came on suddenly;
• If the problem seems to be mainly on one side;
• If you have any pain in your ears;
• If you have felt dizzy;
• If there is any fluid coming from your ear;
• If you have tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in your ear).

Check out locally based dispensers first, rather than respond to a newspaper ad. If possible get a recommendation from someone you know who is a satisfied client. Don't accept a home visit unless this is really what you want. You may prefer to visit a convenient, fully equipped high street centre that you can easily get to again if you need further help.

It can cost from around £600 to more than £3,000 to have a digital hearing aid fitted, depending partly on its style and how sophisticated it is. The prices for the same or similar models vary between different dispensing companies too. You can find up-to-date hearing aid price comparisons on the Internet, but it's also worth thinking about which features you really need or can do without.

Ask whether there is a less expensive model that could meet your needs rather than just accepting the first one proposed. If you have medical insurance, check first whether this will cover the purchase of a hearing aid. Get everything in writing and make sure that you understand all the terms of the purchase agreement before you sign anything. It's particularly important to find out if you will be able to get a refund if, after trying it in everyday life, you are really not happy with the hearing aid.

Most dispensers offer a 'free' hearing test and then charge one bundled amount for fitting a hearing aid that includes tests, consultation, the hearing aid itself, the customised ear insert, programming the aid to suit you, aftercare etc. RNID would like to see itemised billing become standard.

You'll need to pay for a regular supply of batteries and also the cost of hearing aid repairs once the warranty expires. Find out how long the warranty period is. Hearing aids last five years or more, but you'll have to budget for new ones when they need replacing.

Further information