Helping to Maintain Hearing Aids

Helping to maintain hearing aids

Information for carers – A4 sheet 1 Updated: Sept 2012

Please contact Audiology if the hearing aid user has any problems with their aids, or if their hearing or listening needs may have changed:

Telephone number: <number>

Minicom number: <number>

For North Powys, phone: <number>

Other forms of contact are as above.

Open Access Clinic:

If there is a problem with an NHS hearing aid, Audiology runs a clinic at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, which the hearing aid user can attend without an appointment. Or you can bring the hearing aid in on their behalf.

Monday to Friday 9 – 12 noon,

1 – 4.30pm

For those unable to come to Wrexham, an appointment can be made at one of the following hospitals: Mold, Deeside, Chirk, Dolgellau or Tywyn. Phone <number>

for the next available appointment.

Information for carers – A4 sheet 1 Updated: Sept 2012

Hearing aids are valuable National Health Service (NHS) property and are on loan for as long as needed. If an aid is lost or damaged through misuse then a charge may be made to replace it. If for any reason the aid is no longer required, please return it to Audiology, Wrexham Maelor Hospital or your nearest Audiology clinic.

Information for carers – A4 sheet 1 Updated: Sept 2012

Postal Services:

§ This is available for those unable to attend the Open Access clinic or an appointment.

§ You must ensure the correct postage is on the packet or Royal Mail doesn’t deliver it.

§ Please also enclose the correct return postage, the record book or battery slip, a brief note of the problem and the hearing aid (not the blue folder, pouch or batteries).

§ It will be serviced the day it is received and sent back to the hearing aid user.

Batteries:

§ Appointments are not needed for new batteries. You can collect new batteries from the main reception at these hospitals with a record book or battery slip: Mold, Deeside, Chirk, Dolgellau, Tywyn, Welshpool, Newtown or Wrexham Audiology Department.

Retubing:

§ The tubing on the hearing aid will need to be changed every 4-6 months, as it will begin to harden and discolour and the performance will be reduced.

§ Just take the hearing aid to the Open Access clinic or phone Audiology to book an appointment in the local hospital.

§ It is beneficial if the hearing aid user can attend, as we can check their ears and discuss their progress; otherwise you may bring the hearing aid in on their behalf.

Cleaning:

§ For a thorough clean, separate the hearing aid and earmould.

§ Pull the soft tubing off from the hearing aid elbow,

taking care not to pull it out of the earmould.

§ Wash the tubing and earmould in warm soapy water and

rinse thoroughly in clean water.

§ Shake to remove any water from the tube and either leave

to dry overnight in a warm, dry place or wipe with a tissue.

§ Then push the tubing back onto the hearing aid elbow, with the curves together.

Supporting Hearing Aid Use

Switching hearing aids on:

§ Make sure that there is a battery in the aid.

§ Check which ear the hearing aid is for if there are two – a red dot on the aid indicates the right ear, and a blue for the left.

§ Switch the aid on by closing the battery drawer fully.

§ If there is a whistling sound, this should stop when in the ear correctly.

Putting hearing aids in:

Telephones:

§ To use the telephone with a hearing aid, the earpiece must be held to the top

of the hearing aid (this is where the microphone is situated).

Taking hearing aids out:

§ Hearing aids must be taken out when lying down to sleep, e.g. each night.

§ Push the hearing aid off the top of the ear.

§ Pull the earmould out of the ear canal using the plastic part – pulling the tubing may cause the tube to loosen and come out.

§ Switch the aid off by opening the battery drawer. Put the hearing aid in a safe place.

Regular checks:

§ Wipe the earmould and hearing aid daily with a tissue.

§ Check that the tube is not blocked at the end – if you can see wax, remove it with the hook issued inside the hearing aid wallet.

§ Check that the battery is working by switching on, cupping your hands around and listening for a whistle.

§ Some hearing aids may beep for 6 seconds before coming on.

Changing the battery:

§ The battery will need to be changed every 2 to 3 weeks.

§ You can wait until the hearing aid user hears the aid “beep” or if they

are unable to tell you, you may change the battery regularly –

every 2 weeks if switched off each night.

§ To change the battery: Open the battery drawer completely. Remove

the sticker from the new battery. Insert it with the positive (flat) side facing up.