Hearing Aid Handling And Care

When you first get your hearing aids, it’s best to establish a routine of placing them in your ears when you are getting ready in the morning to form a habit. If the aids are a comfortable and secure fit, you should be able to wear them all day, until you are ready for bed. You should also have a daily cleaning routine. By wearing your aids every day, you will get used to the sound and feeling of the aids and they become easier to manage. Caring for your aids will prevent any issues and extend their lifespan.

Turning on/off – OPEN the battery door to turn the aid OFF, CLOSE the battery door to turn the aid ON. If you have rechargeable batteries, you will need to hold the control button down until it turns red to turn it off. Hold the control button down again to turn the aid back on.

Batteries – Your aid will alert you by playing a tone or a voice prompt when it’s running out of battery. Size 13 (orange) = 14 days, size 312 (brown) = 10 days, size 10 (yellow) = 5 days. Keep the batteries in the packaging and remove the sticker only when you are ready to use the battery. Removing the sticker activates the battery and leaving it for 1-5 minutes allows it to fully charge before placing it in the battery door of the aid. Use the magnet tool to remove the battery. You may want to use your fingers to insert the battery if you find this easier or use the magnet tool as shown in the fitting appointment. The battery will only be able to go in the door one way, there is a positive (flat surface) and negative (groove), with the groove usually going in the battery door first

Identify RIGHT from LEFT. The aids have colour indicators to tell Right from Left.

RED = RIGHT & Left = Blue. Each aid is customised for either the RIGHT or LEFT ear and it will be difficult for you to place it in the incorrect ear (not that it doesn’t happen). Your audiologist will teach you how to insert and remove your aids in your fitting appointment and make sure you are confident before you leave.

Your hearing aid will have controls that you can use to change the listening program or volume on your hearing aids. Most hearing aids can be controlled by Apps which make it easier, but manually changing them on your aids is always an option. Your audiologist will show you how to use the controls in your fitting appointment and give you written instructions to refer to.

Controls can be useful if your aids aren’t automatic and need to be manually changed to help you to hear in noisy environments or make the aids sound more comfortable in noise. A telecoil can be activated by using the controls, which can help in rooms that have a hearing loop system (church, theatres, airports). Each model of hearing aid varies in what controls they have, so check with your audiologist if you need further instruction.

When you use your controls, the aids will make a sound (usually a beep or a voice prompt) to let you know that you’ve changed the volume or listening program. Refer to your instructions when you get home from your fitting and practice using the controls so you’re confident in using them appropriately.

It is wise to get into the habit of cleaning your hearing aids daily to keep them in good working condition and prevent any damage, as they can get easily blocked with wax. Your aids will come with a special tool (a brush with a magnet and loop) and a soft cloth. Avoid using water, cleaning fluids or solvents when cleaning your aids as these can cause damage. Your audiologist will also clean your aids and change the domes, tubing and wax guards whenever you visit the clinic.

The key areas to keep clean are the microphone and speaker. The microphone picks up the sound and any debris that covers it will affect the sound being picked up. The speaker is where the sound comes out and into your ear. Being in your ear, it is prone to blocking with wax and is the most common cause of your hearing aid not working.

Cleaning Custom aids: Take the aids out of your ears and wipe down the shell and speaker with the cloth. Use the loop to scoop out any wax lodged in the vent or wax guard that protects the speaker. Brush over the microphone and the body of the aid to remove any wax or other build-up. The microphone may have a cover that can be changed if blocked with stubborn debris. Finally, brush inside the battery compartment and make sure to store your aids correctly overnight.

Cleaning Receiver In The Ear and Behind The Ear aids: Remove the aids from your ears and wipe them all over with a soft cloth or tissue, particularly the end which goes in your ear, to prevent wax blocking the sound coming out. Use the loop to remove any wax in the earmold or dome. Brush over the microphones, the body of the aids, battery compartment and earmold/dome to remove any further wax. Change wax guards if needed.

Domes: These are the rubber parts that protect the speaker/end of tubing and are placed in your ear canal. These come in different shapes and sizes according to your hearing loss and ear canal size. They are recommended to be changed every 3 months.

Wax guards: If you have RICs or custom aids, these are the white parts that sit in the end of the speaker to prevent wax damaging it. These can become blocked with wax and can be changed with a tool. One end of the tool removes the wax guard and the other end will be a replacement. This will be done on a needs basis – if you find the aids sound softer or aren’t working, try this first.

Thin tubing: If you have BTE aids you will have tubing instead of a receiver. The thin tubing is mostly attached by a thread and can be removed by unscrewing the end from the aid. These can become blocked with wax and you can use a ‘whisker’ to thread through the tubing and unblock the wax. You may have been given spare tubing and these can be screwed onto the aid by the thread.

Moulds with (thick or thin) tubing: BTEs can have moulds with either thick or thin tubing. The thin tubing can be unscrewed off the aid or the thick tubing can be removed from the earhook by pulling it off firmly. The mould can then be washed under water and wax in the tubing can be flushed out. A pipe cleaner tool can remove wax from the vent which is located next to the sound bore. A puffer ball can be used to remove moisture as any moisture in the tubing can affect the sound quality.

There are simple steps you can take to avoid damage or wear and tear to your aids. Get into the habit of a daily cleaning routine (as above), be sure to dry your ear canals with a tissue on your finger after showering and prior to inserting aids. Be sure to attend service appointments (your clinic will call you for three month, six month and annual check ups.) If you are unable to maintain your aids at home, take them to be cleaned over the counter every three months. Have your aids serviced prior to going on trips, and collect an adequate supply of batteries. If your aids are not working send them for repair under the warranty period if needed. Your clinic will offer you a loan aid/s to borrow while yours at sent for repair, which usually takes a maximum of two weeks.

Hearing aid not working: To ensure the hearing aid is working cup the aid in your hand and it should whistle, or rub the microphone when the aid is in your ear. If the aid is not working check the sound is not being blocked with wax, then brush the microphones and if they still aren’t working, place them in a dehumidifier. If you continue to experience problems, bring the aids into your local clinic to have them looked at, as they may need to be sent for repair. A loan aid can be fitted for you to borrow while the aid is being repaired, this will take a maximum of 2 weeks.

Whistling hearing aid: If your hearing aid is whistling start by cleaning the aid as above, and checking your ears for built-up wax. Whistling can also relate to cracked tubing, moisture in tubing, incorrect insertion or poor fit – requiring adjustments. Contact your audiologist if you continue to experience whistling.

Dull sound: Start by cleaning your aid as above and changing wax guards, tubing and domes. Brush microphones and change and charge the battery or use the dehumidifier and drying beaker if you are still experiencing problems. If the sound quality doesn’t improve, book an appointment with your audiologist.

Wet hearing aid: Aids are splash proof and can cope with some water – for example, if you’re caught in the rain, or after exercise. But if you have accidentally wet your hearing aids – perhaps by forgetting to take them out before showering or swimming – act quickly to avoid damage. Remove the battery immediately and dry it with a cloth or tissue. Place your aid in a dehumidifier or drying beaker for at least six hours. If you don’t have either to hand, a container of uncooked rice would also work.

Hearing aid storage: Hearing aids are delicate and small – making them easy to misplace. It is important they are cared for and stored properly. It is best to keep them in their case in a cool, dry area and in the same location to avoid losing them. They are splash proof but not water proof so keep them away from moisture and be sure to take them out before showering, swimming or surfing.

Moisture can cause major damage. If they do come into contact with moisture, or you live in a humid environment, you can use dehumidifiers or drying beakers.

Dehumidifiers: Can be as simple as containers with desiccants or moisture-absorbing gel ranging to electronic versions which often have extra features such as sanitising.

Drying beakers: Come with capsules that go into the beaker to dry aids out overnight. It is suggested drying beakers should be used every five days.

Telephone use: Advancements in technology now allow hearing aid wearers to stream phone calls from mobiles and landlines to their devices.

Landlines: using an adapter and streamer analogue landlines can be streamed to your hearing aids, which act as a headset.

Mobile: Phone call audio can be streamed to hearing aids using either a streamer accessory or 2.4 GHz Bluetooth technology. Streamers are usually worn around the neck or in a pocket to allow for hands’ free use.

Direct Streaming: 2.4 GHz Bluetooth technology allows the wearer a wireless experience, with no need for a streamer accessory and works best if the mobile phone is kept within five metres of the aids. Certain models are made for iPhone only and require you to talk into the phone’s microphone. Other models are made for all phones and are hands-free as they pick up your voice from the hearing aids microphone and can be answered by pressing the control on your hearing aid.

Accessories: Hearing aids come with a range of accessories to maximise their performance. They include:

• TV streamers: are used to send the sound from the TV directly into your hearing aids, allowing the person you are watching TV with to have the volume at their preferred level.
• Remote microphones: can be worn by someone you want to hear when they are at a distance (lecturer or priest) or in a noisy environment (restaurant).
• Remote controls: are used to change the volume and listening programs easily, just like a TV remote control.
• Recharging dock: Allows hearing aids with rechargeable batteries to charge up overnight.
• Direct streaming: Allows you to transmit audio from your mobile phone directly to your hearing aids.
• You will be given information on each of these accessories from your audiologist.