Caring For Y our Hearing Aid

1. Caring For Your Hearing Aid Moisture Temperature Knocks, Shocks and Sports Cosmetics Babies and Animals Batteries Troubleshooting for Hearing Aids

2. Moisture Moisture is your hearing aid’s worst enemy. Perspiration, rain, fog, snow, sleet and high humidity are all causes of troublesome moisture. Be sure your ears, skin and hair are dry before putting in your hearing aid. Do not wear them when you take a bath or shower, even if you use a shower cap. Do not wear them when you go swimming.

3. Temperature Hot and cold temperatures an damage your hearing aid and batteries. Remove them when you go to the hairdresser. Do not sit under a hair dryer while wearing them. Do not place them on spots of high and low temperatures, such as radiators and air conditioners. Damage is usually caused by changes in temperatures, which causes condensation of moisture in the aid, rather than the temperature itself. Do not leave your hearing aids in a hot or cold car.

4. Knocks, Shocks & Sports Do not take your hearing aids off over a hard surface. You might drop them or damage delicate parts. Change your hearing aid battery over a table to avoid dropping it on the floor. Hearing aids and sports can go together if common sense is used. Attention to moisture is doubly important when it comes to sports.

5. Cosmetics Hair spray, perfume, cologne, bath powder, after shave, make-up and shaving cream will cause problems with your hearing aids. Hair spray seems to be the worst offender, so spray your hair before putting on your aids. Hearing aids get dirty. Keep them clean. You can wipe them off at night with alcohol, taking care not to get them too wet.

6. Animals & Babies Dogs, cats and other animals love to chew on hearing aids. The high pitch whistling or rustling sound, as well as the smell of skin oils, attracts them. Don’t let the aids lie around where babies and small children can get a hold of them. Babies may also subject them to teeth treatment. When not wearing your aids, put them inside containers or drawers that pets and children can’t open. Remember hearing aid batteries are TOXIC so keep them away from children and pets.

7. Batteries • Remove your aids and turn them off at night. • Leave the aids in the same place every night so that you can find them in the morning. • You can take the batteries out entirely or open the battery door so the batteries will last longer. • Keep the tab on you zinc air battery until you are ready to use it. • Always carry extra batteries with you in your purse, pocket, or book bag to avoid losing your hearing at critical times. • Store your batteries at room temperature. • Avoid storing them in hot locations. Refrigeration is not necessary. • Hearing aid batteries are TOXIC!!! (Call Poison Control Center if swallowed).

8. Troubleshooting Hearing Aids Weak or Dead Aid Feedback Distortion Intermittent sound

9. TroubleshootingWeak or Dead Aid If the hearing aid is weak or dead: • Make sure the aid is turned on (don’t laugh; this happens) • Check if the battery dead is inserted correctly (+ and in the right place. If you force the battery you probably have it wrong). • Check to make sure the battery is not dead. If in doubt, try a new one. • Make sure hearing aid is on “M” (microphone), not “T” (telephone) or “O” (off) switch • Check battery contacts to be sure they are not corroded. • Check tubing to make sure it is not clogged with moisture (shown by water in the tube). • Check tubing to make sure it is not cracked or collapsed. (Tubing should be soft and clear-not hard and yellow. ) If not, audiologist will need to replace. • Check earmold to be sure that the sound hole is not clogged with wax. • There may be moisture in aid (place aid on warm, not hot, dry appliance for a few minutes to dry it out).

10. TroubleshootingFeedback Feedback-if the aid is making whistling sounds: • The earmold may not fit properly anymore. It may be too loose. You may need to have a new earmold made—children grow out of earmolds quickly. • Remove aid, put finger over the earmold hole; if the whistling stops, the earmold may have been inserted incorrectly and is not fitting well. If the whistling continues, see your audiologist. • The tubing may be cracked or loose –tubing should be soft and clear not hard and yellow. Fix/have tubing replaced. • Make sure the ear canal is not blocked with wax or other debris-this can also cause feedback. • Check the volume control; aid may be turned too high.

11. TroubleshootingDistortion Scratchy or distorted sounds: • Check battery. It may be weak. Replace. • Check battery contacts for corrosion and rust. Clean contacts. • Microphone opening may be blocked. Clean opening. • Tubing may be partially blocked. Clean tubing. • Aid may have moisture build up. Place aid on warm, dry appliance for a few minutes.

12. TroubleshootingIntermittent sound Aid is intermittent (hearing aid goes on and off) • Check battery contacts for corrosion. • Flip on/off switch back and forth, in case lint or dust has collected in the switch. • Check tubing to make sure that it isn’t bent or collapsed. Fix or have audiologist replace tubing. • Earmold may be partially blocked. Clean earmold. • Check volume control for dirt or debris, if it doesn’t worked after moving it up and down-consult audiologist. It might be defective. • Moisture in aid (place aid on a dry, warm appliance for a few minutes and then check to see if it works).

13. References • Ross, Mark, Ph.D. 2005. Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid. • Children, Troubleshooting Hearing Aids www.siemenshearing.com/hearing_aids/children/troubleshooting • Trouble Shooting for Hearing Aids. www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/pub/dhss/disabilities/document • Kimball, Suzanne H. AuD, CCC-A. Listen Up! A Listening Scope Session for SLP’s and AUD’s • Troubleshooting Hearing Aids. www.sesa.org/DHHSite/NoFramesSite/ nfATTroubleshooting.html