Rural Age Concern Darent Valley, in conjunction with Hi-Kent, operates several impaired hearing clinics in their area of benefit, which may be used by elderly or disabled clients free of any charge. No appointments are necessary at any of these Clinics, just turn up. Trained Volunteers are available at each Clinic to check, clean and re-tube hearings aids, to supply batteries, and to give advice and information on services and equipment that is available to make life easier for people with a hearing loss.
Age Concern Office, 37 High Street, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8AE -
Telephone: 01322 666448 01322 668106
Clinics held on the first and fourth
Mondays of every month (excluding Bank Holidays), between 10.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.
For 2011 - December 5th.
For 2012 - January 23rd; February 6th, 27th; March 5th, 26th; April 2nd, 23rd; May 28th; June 25th; July 2nd, 23rd; August 6th; September 3rd, 24th; October 1st, 22nd; November 5th, 26th; December 3rd.
The Cottage Day Centre, Scratchers Lane, Fawkham, DA3 8PU -
Telephone: 01474 879473 (or 07889 133633)
Clinics held on the second Tuesday of
every month between 10.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m..
Turners Oak Sheltered Housing, New Ash Green, DA3 8JX - Telephone
warden 01474 873948
Clinics held on the first Tuesday of every
month from 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m. (primarily for local residents)
In addition, Impaired Hearing clinics are also held on a regular monthly basis at Age Concerns in Dartford, Higham, Meopham and Northfleet. Please ask the Age Concern office on 01322 666118 for details.
Free replacement batteries for the most common types of hearing aids, normally CP44 or CP48, are available in a true emergency on a one to one exchange basis and on production of your NHS book from the Age Concern office at 37 High Street, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8AE, telephone 01322 668106, and sometimes from The Cottage Day Centre, Scratchers Lane, Fawkham, DA3 8PU, telephone 01474 879473, or always from any of the above clinics.
If free NHS batteries are unobtainable, they can be purchased from most chemists like Boots for a modest charge.
The Age Concern impaired hearing service is intended to complement, not replace, the specialist NHS impaired hearing service. Referrals for initial assessments to the impaired hearing Clinic at the new Darent Valley District General Hospital are made through your Doctor. This NHS Clinic is open only on Wednesdays from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.. Appointments to have NHS hearing aids attended to can be made direct to the Clinic on 01322 428100 Extension 8060.
If you are housebound or unable to get to any clinic, free home visits from the NHS or Hi-Kent is normally possible. Contact your GP for NHS treatment but long waiting lists may be in evidence. Age Concern / Hi-Kent home visits are normally possible to the genuine housebound and enquiries can be made at the Age Concern Office or any Age Concern Clinic listed above. Alternatively, contact Susan Russell, Volunteer Co-ordinator, 18 Brewer Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1RU, Telephone: 01622 691151.
If you wish to obtain a hearing aid, the NHS offers a reliable and professional assessment service together with the provision of hearing aids which, whilst limited in choice, is totally free of charge. Be wary of the many private companies advertising who will be only too keen to sell you an aid, which may or may not be suitable for you, for many thousands of pounds. Any aid containing a personally moulded ear insert needs to be professionally checked, and possibly re-moulded, after one or two years.
Should you have any queries in respect of any matter concerned with impaired hearing, or require information on the wide range of other services that Age Concern provide, do please contact the Age Concern office during office hours on 01322 666118 or 01322 668106. We would be very pleased to assist in any way we can. Copies of this or any leaflet are available in large print, can be read over by staff on request, can be made available on audio-cassette on request, or by arrangement available in any language.
See Information Sheet 6 - Impaired Hearing