Hearing Aid Users Information Booklet Audiology Department Specialist Support If you require this leaflet in another language, large print or another format, please contact the Health Information Centre Tel: (023) 9228 6757, who will advise you. 3
Contents 1 3 4 5 5 6 8 10 12 12 13 13 What should I expect from my hearing aid? I have a hearing loss; what can I do to help myself follow conversation? I have a hearing loss; what can other people do to help me to follow conversation? How do I contact my local Audiology Department? Where can I get new batteries from on the Isle of Wight? Where can I get new batteries from in Hampshire and West Sussex? My hearing aid is not working properly; is there anything that I can do to fix it? Where do I go if something goes wrong with my hearing aid? What should I expect from a hearing aid repair clinic? What happens if my hearing aid goes wrong and I am unable to attend a repair clinic? I m going on holiday; what happens if my hearing aid goes wrong whilst I m away? What happens if I lose or damage my hearing aid?
What should I expect from my hearing aid? There are benefits to having two hearing aids if you have two aids then you must wear them both together to get the most from them. Digital hearing aids often do not require a volume control as they attempt to adapt to the listening environment you are in. Quieter sounds will be raised to a level you can hear Loud sounds will not be made any louder: by their nature they will of course still be loud Communication will always be easier if you can see the person you are listening to you. You will get clues from gestures, lip reading and facial expressions Your hearing aid will give priority to the loudest speech sound; this is often the person in front of you The hearing aid does not restore hearing; hearing loss is a result of a physiological problem which is often irreversible. There may be sounds you will never hear as clearly as you may remember them. Hearing aids are designed to make the best of your residual hearing. The more you wear your hearing aid the more benefit you will get. Wear it even in situations where you don t think you need to - it is easier to practice in quiet environments. A hearing aid is not a quick-fix solution it takes time, practice and perseverance. You will not get the full benefit of a hearing aid if used infrequently. Your own voice may sound peculiar initially. You will soon become accustomed to it. Hearing aids can reduce amplification of some types of background noise and can make listening more comfortable in background noise, but no hearing aid is able to cut out background noise completely. 1
Remember that your brain has become used to not hearing many sounds and will take time to adjust to any new situations. It is normal to hear sounds you have forgotten. These sounds have always been there and with time you will re-learn to filter them out again. 2
I have a hearing loss; what can I do to help myself follow conversation? When someone speaks, clues are gained from what we hear and what we see. You may be able to create a situation to maximise these clues. Best conditions for listening A room of soft furnishings to absorb sound and reduce echoes Reduce background noise Ask others to face you, to speak clearly and a little louder Tips to assist communication Don t be afraid to tell people you have a hearing impairment as there are communication tactics which they can use to make things a little easier for you (please see overleaf) Ask others to face you, to speak clearly and a little louder Make sure the room is well lit so you can clearly see the speaker s face Watch the speaker s lips for additional clues Sitting 1-2 metres from the speaker is ideal for lip-reading Make sure your eyesight has recently been checked as you do not want to strain your eyes You lip-read better if you are relaxed so try not to let yourself get too tired or tense 3
I have a hearing loss; what can other people do to help me follow conversation? When someone speaks, clues are gained from what is seen as well as what is heard. These clues compliment and supplement each other, helping the hearing impaired person to piece together the conversation. For the hearing impaired the visual clues of speech become very important. Simple actions on your part will help these visual clues be followed. The following points will help: Attract the person s attention before you start talking to them so they can catch the beginning of what is said and not just the ending Face the person and avoid speaking from another room or as you are walking away from them Keep your face visible and ensure it is well lit Try to reduce background noise Do not hide your lip movement behind your hands or other objects Use natural hand gestures but do not exaggerate them as this can be distracting Do not shout speak clearly and not too fast. Shouting and over-mouthing will alter the lip pattern and speaking too slowly may destroy the natural rhythm of speech Try to make the subject of conversation as clear as possible Try to use full sentences rather than short phrases as these can be easier to understand Be patient Do not wear sunglasses as this makes it more difficult to gauge expression and emotion Repeat or rephrase the sentence if necessary 4
How do I contact my local Audiology Department? Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital (01243) 865418 Gosport War Memorial Hospital (023) 9252 4611 Queen Alexandra Hearing Aid Department, Portsmouth (023) 9228 6289 St Mary s Hearing Aid Department, Isle of Wight (01983) 552205 St Richard s Hearing Aid Department, Chichester (01243) 831536 Where can I get new batteries from on the Isle of Wight? Brading Brighstone Cowes East Cowes Freshwater Godshill Newport Niton Ryde Sandown Shanklin St Helen s Ventnor Beech Grove Surgery, The Mall Brighstone Surgery, New Road Cowes Health Centre, 200 Newport Road East Cowes Health Centre, York Avenue Brookside Health Centre, Moa Place Godshill Medical Centre, Yarborough Close St Mary s Hospital, Main Reception or The Audiology Department. The Dower House Surgery, Pyle Street Niton Surgery, Blackgang Rd Argyll House, 78 West Street Outpatients Department, Swanmore Road Sandown Medical Centre, The Heights Arther Webster Clinic, Landguard Road St Helen s Medical Centre, Upper Green Road Ventnor Health Clinic 5
Where can I get new batteries from in Hampshire and West Sussex? Bognor Regis Arundel Chichester Emsworth Midhurst Selsey Witterings Southbourne Denmead Fareham Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Bognor Regis Health Centre, West Street The Croft Surgery, Barnham Road, Eastergate Flansham Park Health Centre, Felpham Grove House Surgery, Pryors Lane, Rose Green Maywood Surgery, Hawthorn Road, Bognor Middleton Medical Centre, Elmer Road West Meads Surgery, The Precinct, Bognor Yew Tree Surgery, North End Road, Yapton The Surgery, Green Lane Close St Richard s Hospital, Chichester Cathedral Medical Centre, Cawley Road Parklands Road surgery, Parklands Road Lavant Road Surgery, Lavant Road Tangmere Medical Pratice, Tangmere Emsworth Surgery, North Street Riverbank Medical Centre, Dodsley Lane Selsey Medical Practice, High Street Wittering Medical Centre, East Wittering Southbourne Surgery, 337, Main Road, Southbourne Denmead Health Centre Fareham Community Hospital Gudgeheath Lane Surgery Highlands Road Medical Centre Jubilee Surgery, Titchfield Lockswood Daycare Centre 6
Fareham Gosport Havant Hayling Island Petersfield Portsmouth Waterlooville Lockswood Surgery, Locks Heath Portchester Health Centre Stubbington Medical Practice Shopmobility, Osborn Road Whiteley Surgery Gosport War Memorial Hospital Lee-On-The-Solent Health Centre Bosmere Medical Centre Havant Health Centre Hayling Island Health Centre Petersfield Community Hospital Age UK, The Bradbury Centre, Kingston Road Battenburg Avenue Clinic Cosham Health Centre Eastney Health Centre Lake Road Health Centre Queen Alexandra Hospital, Audiology Department Somerstown Health Centre Waterlooville Health Centre Please dispose of your old batteries responsibly. Battery recycling bins can be found at some of the larger centres listed above. Battery recycling bins are also available in the community, for example in supermarkets or your local council recycling plant. Please bring your brown record book with you to obtain new batteries. 7
My hearing aid is not working properly; is there anything that I can do to fix it? If your hearing aid is not working properly there are some simple checks that you can do. Symptom Possible Cause Possible Remedy No sound coming from hearing aid Battery not working or incorrectly inserted Aid not switched on Earmould blocked with wax Earmould tube blocked by condensation Hearing aid faulty Replace battery, make sure sticker is removed and it is the correct way up Check battery door is fully closed or the aid is switched to M position Disconnect earmould from aid and wash earmould in warm water Disconnect earmould from aid and blow out moisture Return aid to repair clinic 8
Buzzing, crackling or frying noise Aid is on the Telecoil (Loop) setting Faulty connections in aid 1. For aids with a button; press program button until a single beep is heard 2. For aids with a switch; reset to M position Return aid to repair clinic Symptom Possible Cause Possible Remedy Aid Wax in ears Get ears checked for wax with whistling practice nurse at your local GPs Aid not loud enough Intermittent Poor fitting earmould Split / brittle tubing Internal fault Earmould not inserted correctly Wax / condensation in tubing Faulty aid Hearing down Condensation in tube Kink in tube Aid has been exposed to moisture Faulty aid Check earmould is inserted correctly. If mould does not fit well then attend repair clinic for new impression Replace tubing Return aid to repair clinic Reinsert earmould carefully Disconnect earmould from aid, wash earmould in warm water and blow out moisture Return aid to repair clinic Ask to be reassessed Remove earmould and blow out moisture Replace tube Disconnect aid from mould and leave out to air in a warm place Return aid to repair clinic 9
Where do I go if something goes wrong with my hearing aid? Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every Monday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm Wednesday from 9.00am until 12.00am Friday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm at: Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Shripney Road Bognor Regis PO22 9PP Please phone (01243) 865418 to book an appointment. Patients will not be seen without an appointment. Gosport War Memorial Hospital Hearing aids can be left with the receptionist at Gosport War Memorial Hospital any morning (Monday - Friday) between 8.30am and 11.30am and collected later. Hearing aids can also be repaired by appointment. Gosport War Memorial Hospital Bury Road Gosport PO12 3PW Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment Patients will not be seen without an appointment. St Mary s Hospital, Isle of Wight Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every Monday to Thursday at: Audiology Department St Mary s Hospital Newport Isle of Wight 10 Please phone (01983) 552205 or visit the Audiology reception to book an appointment. Patients will not be seen without an appointment.
St Richard s Hospital Chichester Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 12pm and 1.30pm until 4.30pm at: Hearing Aid Department Waiting Area D St Richard s Hospital Spitalfield Lane Chichester PO19 6SE Please phone (01243) 831536 to book an appointment. Patients will not be seen without an appointment. Queen Alexandra Hospital Hearing aids can be repaired without an appointment every Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 12.00pm at: The Audiology Department Queen Alexandra Hospital Cosham PO6 3LY There are no repair sessions in the afternoon. Fareham Community Hospital Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at: Fareham Community Hospital Brook Lane Sarisbury Fareham SO31 7DQ Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment. Highlands Medical Centre Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at: Highlands Medical Centre 102 Highlands Road Fareham PO15 6JF Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment. 11
What should I expect from a hearing aid repair clinic? Most simple problems can be solved during the hearing aid repair clinics. For example: Retubing your ear mould Issuing batteries Reducing whistling Replacing lost / damaged or faulty hearing aids Making new ear moulds If the audiologist feels that your problem is more complicated and requires more time, an appointment will be arranged for a future date. Repair clinics are not intended for more complex problems. No hearing tests can be carried out during these sessions. What happens if my hearing aid goes wrong and I am unable to attend a repair clinic? Some simple hearing aid repairs can be completed by post. In a padded envelope, send your; Hearing aid Ear mould Brown hearing aid record book A description of the problem A self-addressed envelope with a large letter stamp Please note: Hearing aids are sent through the post at your own risk. Lost hearing aids will incur a charge. 12
I m going on holiday; what happens if my hearing aid goes wrong whilst I m away? If you are going away and feel you might benefit from a spare hearing aid, a loan can be arranged. You will be asked to fill in a loan form and to sign it with an agreed return date. You will also be asked to give a post-dated cheque. If the hearing aid is not returned by the pre-agreed date, your cheque will be cashed. What happens if I lose or damage my hearing aid? The hearing aid you have been issued with remains the property of the NHS you will be charged for lost or damaged aids Charges are a nominal fee towards covering the lost or damaged hearing aid and the expense of issuing a new one you are not purchasing a new hearing aid Charges are based on individual circumstances which will be discussed with a member of staff The Department does not handle payments you will be billed from the Finance Department once your replacement hearing aid has been issued 13
How do I comment on my treatment? We aim to provide the best possible service and staff will be happy to answer your questions. However, if you have any concerns you can also contact the Patient Experience Service on 0800 917 6039 or E-mail portsmouthhospitals.patientexperience@ porthosp.nhs.uk Information we hold about you and your rights under the Data Protection Act Please refer to the booklet Your Healthcare Information Your Rights! Our Responsibilities! for further guidance. Author: Audiology Department Date: Sept 2009/2011/2013 Review Date: Sept 2015 Ref: AUD/01 MPI Ref: 09/1889 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust