Trouble Shooting
With Your Hearing Aid
Adapted from an article written by Robert Martin, Ph.D. in the Hearing Journal, 1999
If a hearing aid is not working check these items:
BATTERY
Put a brand new battery in the hearing aid. Be sure the battery is the right size and is inserted correctly. NOTE: If you have a lot of trouble with batteries, we can equip you with a battery tester. These are not usually necessary; however, some people are more comfortable testing the battery. PLEASE BRING IN YOUR OLD BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING.
BATTERY DOOR
Be sure the battery door is closed completely (snapped shut) when the hearing aid is being used.
WAX
Look at the canal end of the hearing aid and find the little white sound tube. Check to see if the hearing aid is plugged up with wax. You will need to use a bright light (a lamp or flashlight) to see into the sound tube. If the tube is plugged, use the little wire tool provided with the hearing aid and carefully pick the wax out. BE CAREFUL not to push the wax down into the tube. Remember that there is a speaker at the other end of the tube, so do not go too far into the hole.
CORRECT POSITIONING
Be sure that the hearing aid is positioned in the ear correctly and pushed firmly, but not forcefully, down into the ear canal. Look at the top ridge of the outer ear (the helix) and be sure the top of the aid is tucked in behind the skin. Look at the bottom of the ear and make sure the hearing aid is inside the notch.
Be sure the hearing aid is in the correct ear. Some aids have red markings for the right ear and blue for the left.
If a hearing aid hurts, come and see us!
SWITCH SETTINGS
If there is an on/off switch on the hearing aid, be sure the switch on "M" for microphone, "T" for telephone or "O" for off.
TUBING
If the hearing aid is behind-the-ear type, check to be sure the tubing is not twisted or plugged. Hold it up to the light and look for drops of moisture in the tubing. Be sure the tubing has not become hard or cracked and that it is still firmly attached to the ear mold.
VOLUME CONTROL
The volume control should be set correctly. If you need help finding the correct volume, we can mark the volume control with two little red dots. Be sure they are touching each other. Otherwise, be sure the control is set on the correct number. It should not be all the way off, and usually should not be all the way on. Forward or up is louder, backward or down is softer.
WHISTLING
If the hearing aid whistles:
- be sure the aid is inserted correctly (see item above)
- be sure the volume is not turned up too high (see item above)
- be sure there is no wax in the ear canal.
BOOKLETS
Read the instruction booklets that came with the hearing aid.
IF THE HEARING AID IS STILL NOT WORKING OR YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US!!
