Communication Hints and tips for friends and family Your NHS Hearing Aid with Thin Tube

Transcription

1 Communication Hints and tips for friends and family Minimise background noise Attract attention before speaking Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Your NHS Hearing Aid with Thin Tube Speak clearly and not too fast Face the person, be sure your mouth is visible Get to the point. Make sure the topic of conversation is clear Include people. Tell them what you are talking or laughing about Speak one at a time Be patient Repeat, rephrase, or write it down Remember, communication is a two way responsibility 24 Date of review: 07/10/ Audiology Services

2 Contents Inserting the Thin Tube Inserting the Thin Tube... 2 Changing the batteries... 3 New batteries... 4 Maintenance... 5 Changing your tubing... 6 Troubleshooting... 7 Hearing aid repair clinics... 8 Other services... 9 Useful contacts Communication Place the hearing aid over the top of your ear Hold the bottom of the dome with your finger and thumb and insert into your ear canal. Ensure the tail is sitting in the notch above your earlobe, if it isn t, push the dome further into your ear canal. Our Vision To provide every patient with the care we want for those we love the most 2 Audiology Department Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY Tel: Fax: audiology audioadmin@nnuh.nhs.uk The tail can now be fitted so it follows the shape of the bowl of your ear. The tubing should now be lying flush at the front of the ear. 3

3 Changing the battery New batteries You can obtain free batteries from any of these centres on presentation of your battery card or By Post: Send your battery card to the address on the back of the card and new batteries will be posted to you. Remove your old battery (these can be recycled). When inserted, the battery should be smooth side up. If the battery is inserted the wrong way up, the hearing aid will not work and may become damaged. The battery should last approximately 7-10 days Please store and dispose of batteries carefully. Keep out of the reach of children. If swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. Batteries can cause severe internal burns. 4 Norwich Adelaide Health Centre Bacon Road Surgery Bates Green Health Centre Bowthorpe Health Centre Drayton & St Faiths Medical Practice East Norwich Medical Partnership (Sprowston) Magdalen Medical Practice NNUH/ENT Reception Norwich Community Hospital Reception Oak Street Surgery Old Catton Medical Practice Roundwell Medical Centre Sprowston Medical Centre St Stephens Gate Medical Practice Thorpewood Medical Group Timber Hill Medical Centre West Earlham Health Centre 5

4 New batteries Outside Norwich Aldborough Surgery Attleborough Health Centre Aylsham Market Surgery Birchwood Surgery, North Walsham Brundall Medical Centre Churchill Surgery, Pulham Market Coltishall Medical Practice Cromer Hospital Dereham Hospital Diss Health Centre East Harling Surgery Fakenham Health Centre Harleston Medical Practice Humbleyard Practice Mulbarton Kelling Pharmacy, Holt Loddon Chet Valley Medical Practice Long Stratton, Swan Lane Millgate Surgery, Hempnall Mundesley Medical Centre Newton Flotman Surgery North Walsham Hospital Poringland Old Mill Surgery Reepham Surgery Sheringham Health Centre Stalham Staithe Centre Taverham Surgery Thetford Healthy Living Centre Watton Medical Practice Wells Surgery Wroxham & Hoveton Med Prac Wymondham Health Centre Batteries can also be obtained from the Listen Here Bus run by the Norfolk Deaf Association at towns and villages throughout Norfolk (see page 11 for NDA contact details to obtain a timetable) 6 7

5 Maintenance Keeping the Thin Tube clean is important for keeping the instrument in good working order. You will be given a tool to do this. Daily cleaning Use a damp cloth or wet wipe to gently clean round the dome Checking for blockages 1. Unscrew the Thin Tube from the instrument 2. Push the cleaning tool right through the Thin Tube from the instrument end, and out through the dome 3. Screw the thin tube back on the instrument Do not remove the dome from the thin tube as it may become loose. If you suspect a dome has become stuck in your ear, do not attempt to remove it yourself but please attend the ENT department (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm) or A&E department (weekends and bank holidays) to have it removed. Do not immerse the thin tube or hearing aid in water. 8 9

6 Changing your tubing Due to wear and tear the thin tube should be changed approximately every three to six months Unscrew the thin tube Replace with new tube taking note of the right (RED) and left (BLUE) markers on aid and thin tube Replacement thin tubes can be obtained from: The Repair Clinics (see page 8) By By post: Send in your battery card NDA mobile clinic (timetable available on request) Unscrew here Program button Dome Thin tube Left/Right coloured marker On/off switch and battery compartment 10 11

7 Troubleshooting Problem No Sound Possible Cause Aid not turned on. Battery not inserted correctly. Action Turn aid on. Insert battery correctly. For any adjustments to the sound of your digital hearing aid or fine tuning, you must make an appointment with the Audiology Department. Please phone: Dead Battery. Replace battery. Blocked earmould. Check and follow advice for cleaning. Whistling or buzzing when in ear Mould not inserted correctly. Excess wax in your ears. Take mould out and insert carefully. Have your practice nurse check and remove any wax if necessary. Damaged tubing. Replace tubing. Aid is on the loop program. Turn aid off. Turn on to reset. Cracked/Loose earmould. Attend repair clinic. Unknown 12 Attend repair clinic 13

8 Hearing aid repair clinics Attend the clinic for: 6 monthly change of tubing 6 monthly change of filters (certain models of Phonak aids only) Cracked or loose mould Uncomfortable mould Cracked, loose or hard tubing Broken or damaged aid* Lost aid* Please bring your battery card or book The Norfolk and Norwich Repair Clinic No appointment necessary Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:45-12:15 8:45-12:15 8:45-12:15 8:45-12:15 8:45-12:15 Cromer Repair Clinic Attendance by appointment only. To book at Cromer Hospital please phone: :45-16:45 No Clinic 13:45-16:45 No Clinic 13:45 16:45 *There is a 55 + VAT charge for hearing aids lost or damaged through lack of care

9 Other services Hearing Support Service For general advice and maintenance of your hearing aid through static clinics and the Listen here mobile clinic. Static clinics: At locations throughout Norfolk Mobile clinics: The Listen Here bus at towns and villages throughout Norfolk Home Visits: For those who are housebound and unable to visit the static or mobile clinics Assistive Listening Devices Timetables and locations for both static and mobile clinics are available on the NDA website or from the Audiology Department Hearing aid user support group A group where new users can ask questions about their hearing aids and seek practical support. Befriending Service Provides companionship, reduces isolation and improves confidence. Tinnitus Support Group Regular support meetings Deaf Awareness Training Training is provided for public and private sectors, Charities and community organisations Hard of Hearing Club A self help group that offers support and facilitates social networks and activities 16 17

10 Other services Our Vision To provide every patient with the care we want for those we love the most Audiology Department Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital,Colney Lane Norwich NR4 7UY Telephone: Fax: nnuh.nhs.uk Providing support to deaf people and their families. Deaf Connexions Unit 14, Capitol House, 4 Heigham Street, Norwich NR2 4TE Telephone: Textphone: mail@deafconnexions.org.uk The Norfolk Deaf Association 120 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RT Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service Whitegates, Hethersett, Norwich NR9 3DN Supporting the deaf and hard of hearing in Norfolk Tel/Textphone: Fax: nda@norfolkdeaf.org.uk Provide a free assessment and fitting service for smoke alarms with a strobe light and vibration pad. Telephone: Text: Minicom: home.safety@fire.norfolk.gov.uk

11 Useful contacts A charity providing support, care and training for those with hearing loss or tinnitus. Action On Hearing Loss Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL Telephone: Textphone: webteam@hearingloss.org.uk This is a government department that can offer help with equipment and advice in the workplace. Job Centre Plus Operational Support Unit, Harrow Jobcentre Plus, Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 1JE Telephone: Textphone: atwosu.london@jobcentreplus. gsi.gov.uk The British Deaf Association is the largest organisation of Deaf people in the UK that is run by Deaf people. British Deaf Association 18 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7SU Telephone: bda@bda.org.uk 20 21

12 Communication Things to think about for good communication. The Telephone The Environment Lighting Furnishings Position Help Yourself Make sure the speakers face is well lit. Soft furnishings reduce echo, for example using table cloths and mats can reduce cutlery/crockery noise. Always try to minimise background noise. eg. sit with your back to a wall in a noisy restaurant. Position Type Instead of holding the phone against your ear canal, hold the earpiece of the phone to the top of your ear, against the microphone located towards the front of your hearing aid. If your hearing aid has the loop setting and your telephone includes an induction loop, use your phone in the following way: Hold the earpiece of the phone against the back of your hearing aid, try different places until the sound becomes clearer. Be Open Be Observant Be Positive 22 Tell people about your hearing loss. Ask them to get your attention before speaking. Watch for facial expressions, lip patterns and hand gestures. These all give clues to the conversation. Don t be afraid to ask the speaker to repeat themselves. Encourage people to start a conversation with the topic. Induction Loop Ask your Audiologist about the LOOP/ TELECOIL.This may be useful in many situations including: On the telephone At the bank The theatre At church Supermarkets Lecture theatres Anywhere this sign is displayed 23