A guide for hearing aid maintenance and care
Hearing aids Hearing aids come in lots of different shapes and sizes Behind the ear (BTE) In the ear (ITE) Hearing aids amplify sound. All hearing aids have ba eries. The size of the ba ery will vary depending on the power of the hearing aid. Some people can only wear behindthe-ear hearing aids, while others can only wear in-the-ear hearing aids. This depends on the degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids come in a range of different colours. The most important colours to look for are the red or blue markers. A red colour marker is found on hearing aids made for a persons right ear. A blue colour marker is found on hearing aids made for a persons le ear. Pu ng the hearing aid on the wrong ear can be very uncomfortable and can cause further hearing loss.
How to determine left from right 1 2 3 On custom-made hearing aids, le and right can be dis nguished by the colour of the serial number on the shell or the wax system at the p of the aid. Le is blue, right is red. Side iden fiers are located inside the ba ery compartment near the serial number. Standard behind the ear devices will have the side iden fier on the inner spine of the hearing aid housing. 4 5 If there is a hearing aid for both ears, it is important to be able to tell the le from right. Hearing aids are set to the individual hearing level of each ear and should not be swapped from ear to ear. Some BTEs will have the side iden fier inside the ba ery compartment The moulds can be dis nguished by the wax system a ached to the p of the mould, or by a red or blue marking on the side of the mould.
Inserting a battery 1 2 The ba ery should always be placed in the ba ery compartment with the + symbol or flat side facing upwards. BTE ba eries should be inserted with the + symbol or flat side facing upwards.
How to clean a hearing aid 1 2 3 Use the wax brush to gently brush the wax or dirt away from the hole where the sound comes out. Use a small brush to push out any wax or dirt from inside the air hole. Use the tool located on the bo om of the replacement wax system card to remove the wax system from the mould.
Attaching a new earmould If you still have the old earmould 1 2 Remove the earmould from the hearing aid by pulling the tubing away from the earhook. Measure the tubing of the new mould against the tubing of the old mould. 3 4 Cut the tubing on the new mould to the same length as the old mould. Push the tubing of the new mould over the end of the earhook, making sure the mould is in the correct direc on to fit your ear.
Attaching a new earmould If you do not have the old earmould 1 2 3 Place the hearing aid without any tubing or mould behind the ear in a comfortable posi on. Then insert the new mould into the ear so it is completely tucked into place. Use a pen to mark the exact place where the earhook ends on the tubing. You may need someone to help you with this. Remove the mould and cut the tubing 3mm longer than the pen mark. Push the tubing of the mould over the end of the earhook with the mould facing correctly to fit in the ear.
Cleaning the earmould 1 2 Remove the earmould from the hearing aid by pulling the tubing away from the earhook. Place the earmould in a cup and let it soak un l any wax or dirt becomes so. 3 Flow warm water 4 through the tubing un l the mould is clear. Dry the earmould by shaking and wiping with a ssue.
Removal of wax 1 2 3 Remove the earmould from the hearing aid by pulling the tubing away from the earhook. Insert the nozzle of the air blower into the p of the earmould or open end of the tubing. Blow out any wax or moisture. Replace the earmould by pushing the tubing back over the earhook.
Troubleshooting If the hearing aid is whistling Problem Problem Problem Problem Ear Wax Solu on - If ears are free of wax and the hearing aid is constantly whistling when in the ear, the best solu on is o en a new earmould. The earmould is not sitting in the ear properly Solu on - Make sure the hearing aid and earmould are posi oned correctly in the ear. Contact your Australian Hearing centre for assistance if the earmould appears to be loose or does not fit as well as it did originally. Tubing Solu on - Take the hearing aid and earmould to your Australian Hearing centre for repair. Ear mould has deteriorated Solu on - If the earmould is discoloured and/or hardened a new one will be required. Contact your Australian Hearing centre to make an appointment.
Troubleshooting If the hearing aid is not working Check Is the sound bore or tubing blocked with wax or debris? Check Is the battery flat? Check If you have access to a volume control, has it been turned down or off? Check If you have access to a memory button, has it been accidentally changed to the noise or telecoil program? If the aid is s ll not working contact your local Australian Hearing centre on 131 797.
You can arrange for Australian Hearing to attend your facility by calling your local centre on 131 797. NFR4412