Hearing aids rarely go wrong. This is remarkable when you consider we use them all day every day in a warm moist and an environment hostile to electronics. The vast majority of problems can be traced to battery failure or lack of cleaning.
Does it whistle when in your ear or when in a closed hand?
Battery is OK. Wax guard is OK. Have your ears checked for wax and try cleaning the microphones.
the image to the left shows a microphone blocked with wax and skin debris. If you wax filter looks full like this microphine is is highly likely that your problem can be solved by changing your wax solution.
Turn the aid off and back on again. listen closley to the aid to check for the start up tune. Unless in the rare event that it has been turned off - all aids play a 'welcome tune' of some sort. How it sounds will help you to identify your problem.
Never try more than 2 or 3 new ones if the aid fails. Batteries are reliable and there will be another reason.
Your battery is designed to deliver high power levels over a short period. Typically, a hearing aid battery will last a week, but you may get as little as 2-3 days or as much as 2-3 weeks depending on your loss and the instrument you are using. Cheap copies, old stock and low budget batteries will not deliver the same results as genuine high quality cells.
Please note that that batteries start to run down the second you remove the sealing tab. You cannot replace the sticky tab to save the battery power.
You will generally hear a set of warning tones, advising you that your battery is about to run out. You can expect it to fail within an hour or two of hearing the beeps.
This may not always be the case as the battery might fail overnight.
Check that your charger is plugged in and you have green charging (pulsing) or charged (soild green) lights.
Wax is a migratory substance. It will naturally work its way out of the ear and settle on the speaker outlet and sometimes on the whole aid in the case of custom products. Even if you have clear ears you will be producing wax. Hearing aids must be cleaned daily to guarantee wax free functionality. Failure to do so may result in more extensive cleaning or component replacement, which may attract a cost.
In the same way that sound travels from the speaker thorough a hole in the dome to get to your ear, so wax can travel back the same way. notrmally it is caught iin the wax guard (see above) but sometime a plug of it can lodge in the dome itself so swapping the dome is a good idea it there has been a problem.
Your hearing aid has one or normally two small slits or apertures. On a RIC or BTE they will be part way down the back of the aid. On a custom product they will be on the face plate or sometimes adjacent to the battery door.
If you can hear the ‘start up tune’ and then just hissing, or nothing at all, try cleaning the microphones.
Microphones are susceptible to blockage by debris such as wax or more usually skin deposited during the insertion and removal process. Wearers who use skin creams and hairspray should be especially vigilant that their microphones are kept clean.
In the kit provided with your hearing aids you will find a small brush. Simply brush across the microphone slits and ensure that the slit is not blocked.
Smart Phone and App connectivity issues.
go to our dedicated page for help
Battery dead.
Wax guard and or dome blocked
speaker wire broken on RIC
tubing blocked on BTE
Amp failure - needs to be repaired at the lab
The battery is fine
parially blocked wax guard or dome
The battery is fine
speaker and dome unafffected
microphone blocked
OVERALL TOPIC
Most users find it easiest to turn the hearing aid on (by closing the battery door) before they insert it into the ear. Note that by doing so you might not always hear the ‘start up tune’ that your hearing aid plays.
Not applicable for rechargeable aids, as they will automatically turn on when you remove them from the charger. (and automatically turn off when you place them back in the charger).
Before you begin, make sure you know which aid goes in which ear.
The instrument can be fitted in 2 ways, and generally only required thumb and index finger.
Most users find it easiest to turn the hearing aid on (by closing the battery door) before they insert it into the ear. Note that by doing so you might not always hear the ‘start up tune’ that your hearing aid plays.
Before you begin, make sure you know which aid goes in which ear.
The instrument can be fitted in 2 ways, and generally only required thumb and index finger.
Grip the dome or custom made tip/speaker ensuring that the thin wire or tube is angled upwards.
Bring the speaker up to the ear maintaining the orientation of the hearing aid.
Introduce the speaker into the ear canal and use your thumb or a finger to push it gently into place. The perfect position is when the tube or thin wire fits snugly to the side of the face, but not every facial shape allows this, so don’t worry if you don’t quite achieve it.
Carefully and slowly reach up to the electronic device, which will be hovering near the top of your ear.
Without pulling, rotating or twisting, ease it gently over the top of your ear. Be careful not to pull it so as to avoid pulling the speaker out of your ear canal.
If you have a retention wire, tuck this into the bottom of the ear bowl (concha).
Gently firm the speaker into the ear if it has moved during the second half of the fitting process.
Take the electronic portion of your hearing aid and check its orientation. You must hold it so that the speaker wire or tube comes out in front of it and angles downwards.
Bring the device up to the ear maintaining the orientation, and place it on top of (not behind) the ear so that the wire or tube comes down in front of your ear and hovers by the entrance to your ear canal.
Grip the dome or custom made tip/speaker between thumb and finger, and introduce it into the ear canal without rotating or twisting.
Insert the speaker into the ear canal and use your thumb or a finger to push it gently into place. The perfect position is when the tube or thin wire fits snugly to the side of the face, but not every facial shape allows this, so don’t worry if you don’t quite achieve it.
Be careful not to pull it so as to avoid pulling the electronic portion off the ear.
If you have a retention wire, tuck this into the bottom of the ear bowl (concha).
If you have a removal filament on your custom tip or a retention wire, locate this (it will be just by the notch at the bottom of your ear bowl of your ear).
Gently pull backwards and downwards to remove the speaker section and then once it is clear, unhook the electronic portion from the top of your ear.
Alternatively unhook the electronic portion first and then pull downwards and backwards to remove the speaker from the ear.
If you experience any discomfort during any of this process it is possible you are doing something wrong, pushing too hard, inserting too far or you have the aid in the wrong ear. Stop, check what you are doing and try again.
If you experience any discomfort during this process it is possible you are doing something wrong, pushing too hard, inserting too far or you have the aid in the wrong ear. Stop, check what you are doing and try again.
Most users find it easiest to turn the hearing aid on (by closing the battery door) before they insert it into the ear. Note that by doing so you might not always hear the ‘start up tune’ that your hearing aid plays.
Not applicable for rechargeable aids.
Before you begin, make sure you know which aid goes in which ear.
The instrument can be fitted in 2 ways, and generally only required thumb and index finger.
For users of thin tube BTEs the RIC section below may be of use.
Grip the earmould ensuring that the tube is angled upwards.
Bring the mould up to the ear maintaining the orientation of the hearing aid.
Introduce the mould into the ear canal and use your thumb or a finger to push it gently into place. The perfect position is when the mould is tucked in underneath/behind the contours or the ear.
Pay particular attention to the 'helix' area, which is at the top of the earmould. The earmould fitting will be uncomfortable and the sound quality compromised if the helix portion is not fitted properly.
Carefully and slowly reach up to the electronic device, which will be hovering near the top of your ear.
Without pulling, rotating or twisting, ease it gently over the top of your ear. Be careful not to pull it so as to avoid pulling the mould out of your ear canal.
Gently check the mould is snugly fitted all the way round the ear.
Take the electronic portion of your hearing aid and check its orientation. You must hold it so that the speaker wire or tube comes out in front of it and angles downwards.
Bring the device up to the ear maintaining the orientation, and place it on top of (not behind) the ear so that the wire or tube comes down in front of your ear and hovers by the entrance to your ear canal.
Grip the moould between thumb and finger, and introduce it into the ear canal without rotating or twisting.
Insert the speaker into the ear canal and use your thumb or a finger to push it gently into place. The perfect position is when the tube or thin wire fits snugly to the side of the head, but not every facial shape allows this, so don’t worry if you don’t quite achieve it.
Be careful not to pull it so as to avoid pulling the electronic portion off the ear.
If you have a retention wire, tuck this into the bottom of the ear bowl (concha).
Unhook the electronic portion from behind your ear and then pull downwards and backwards to remove the mould from the ear. You might find it helpful to ease a finger behind the earmould to help remove it from the ear.
If you experience any discomfort during any of this process it is possible you are doing something wrong, pushing too hard, inserting too far or you have the aid in the wrong ear. Stop, check what you are doing and try again.
Most users find it easiest to turn the hearing aid on (by closing the battery door) before they insert it into the ear. Note that by doing so you might not always hear the ‘start up tune’ that your hearing aid plays.
Not applicable for rechargeable aids.
Before you begin, make sure you know which aid goes in which ear.
The instrument can be fitted in 2 ways, and generally only required thumb and index finger.
Your hearing aid will have a serial number and/or model details embossed on the to the shell. this not only helps you identify left and righy, but enables to you ensure you have the hearing aid the correct way round in the ear.
The coloured writing will always face forwards when the aod is in place.
if you have a removal filament, this will always be at the bottom of the aid.
Grip the aid ensuring that the tube is facing the right way and not upside down. Do not grip the aid by the removal filament as you will weaken it.
Bring the aid along the side of the face and up to the ear maintaining the correct orientation.
bring the aid slightly past the entrance to the ear canal and then begin to bring it back forwards but pushing gently into the ear canal at the same time.
You will effectively be fitting the aid starting from slightly behind the ear.
Introduce the mould into the ear canal and use your thumb or a finger to push it gently into place. The perfect position is when the mould is tucked in underneath/behind all the contours or the ear.
Pay particular attention to the 'helix' area, which is at the top of the ear if you have a full shell device.
The aid fitting will be uncomfortable and the sound quality compromised if the helix portion is not fitted properly. make sure the aid tucks in underneath the skin.
The ear canal curves gently upwards and slightly backwards from the entrance so pushing the aid at the bottom will help it travel into the ear in the correct direction.
It won't go too far in but be careful not to push too hard as it will cause discomfort.
Gently check the aid is snugly fitted all the way round the ear.
If you experience any discomfort during any of this process it is possible you are doing something wrong, pushing too hard, inserting too far or you have the aid in the wrong ear. Stop, check what you are doing and try again
If you have a removal filament grip this firmly and pull the iad out backwards over your shoulder (the reverse of insertion).
If there is not filament, place your finger in between the aids and your ear bowl and gently ease it out until you can grip the other side of the aids and remove it fully.
You can ease the aid out of the ear if you push the ear up gently by placing a finger behind your jaw bone and psuhing the ear upwards.
You can open the battery door and use that as a handle in an emergency!
It is advisable to change batteries at a table or over a clean surface, at least until you get proficient.
The battery is located and held in place by a specially designed door. This is to be found at the bottom of the RIC or BTE style aid, and mounted in the face plate (the outer face) of a custom product. There will be a finger nail notch or a small raised area which allows you to open the battery door.
Depending on the make the battery will either remain in place when you open the door or will fall out readily. Note that the battery will have a positive and negative. The positive surface is flat and is the one with the sticker on when viewing a new battery. The negative surface has a step in it.
When viewing a battery correctly placed in the battery door, you will note that it locates in a ridge that fits neatly round the step on the negative face. You must check the battery is correctly orientated in the door to avoid the possibility of damaging the body of the aid when closing the door, as well as to ensure the aid works correctly.
Every hearing aid with the exception of the standard or thin tube BTE style will have a guard to help prevent the ingress of wax into the speaker system.
It is a small (usually) white insert that locates in the end of the sound outlet. there is a guaze mesh at the bottom which is designed to collect the wax and block up.
You will lmow there is a blockage either by visual inspection or the simple fact that there is minimal or no sound output.
NOTE: this is what is supposed to happen - it keeps the expensive speaker unit protected!
Almost all hearing aid failures can be sourced to the wax trap, so regular maintenance here will prevent annoying failures.If you do get a failure it is quickly and easily remedied.
Whilst there are a variety of wax solutions on the market, they all do the same thing and the process of replacing them is very similar across the whole hearing aid spectrum.
The image shows a blocked wax guard.
Note the brown colouredwax in the centre of the white wax guard.
There are several manufacturers who use a match stick looking device to enable you to remove the old blocked wax trap and replace it with a new clean one.
Starkey /Audibel
Signia/ Audio Service
Widex
Phonak/Unitron
They may differ in make and slightly in design, but the operation is the
same on all types
Firstly, remove your dome
Your replacement guards are in a pack containing 8 matchstick sized sticks.
Open the pack as you would a purse to reveal the black sticks containing the replacement C stops
Remove one stick.
One end will have a barb on it, the other will have the white replacement wax guard.
DO NOT APPLY TOO MUCH PRESSURE
Insert the empty barbed end squarely into the guard you are going to replace.
You do not need much pressure and should feel a gentle click
Pull the whole stick backwards which will then come away from the receiver with the old C stop attached.
Turn the stick through 90 degrees and offer up the new guard to the now empty receiver. Push it squarely but gently into the receiver.
You may feel another small click as it locates.
Pull the stick backwards squarely leaving the new guard in place, and discard the whole stick with the old blocked guard still attached.
Replace your dome
These are specific to Oticon and Bernafon aids. they have been called various other names previously.
The methodology is the same.
Your replacement Pro wax filters are in an oval pack containing 6 small finger nail sized inserts.
Because of its shape, this is sometimes known as a 'turtle'. Depending on the model you have, the turtle may be light blue or more recently, black in colour.
Remove your dome.
Remove one of the inserts from the holder.
One end will have a barb on it, the other will have the white replacement filter
Insert the empty barbed end squarely into the filter you are going to remove.
You do not need much pressure and should feel a gentle click
Pull the whole insert backwards which will then come away from the receiver outlet with the old'No Wax' filter attached.
Turn the insert around and offer up the new filter to the now empty receiver/speaker outlet. Push it squarely but gently into the receiver.
You should feel another small click as it locates.
6. Pull the insert backwards squarely leaving the new 'No Wax' in place, and discard the whole insert with the old 'No Wax' still attached.
The dome must be replaced securely before re-using your hearing aid.
These are exclusive to Phonak and Unitron brands from around 2019/20 onwards.
Your wax solution is fitted slightly deeper in to the receiver than on other brands and your replacements filters are stored in the circlular holder.
Remove your dome
Turn the bezel on the Crushield holder to reveal an empty chanber adjacent to the number 1
insert the end of the receiver squarely and gently into the chamber.
A small click should tell you that the old blocked wax guard ahs be securely collected.
Your new wax trap is a small white item which should be sitting in the chamber adjacent to the number 2.
If there isn't one there, turn the bezel until one is revealed.
Remove the aid from the chamber and insert it squarely and gently in to the chamber adjacent to the number 2.
another click should tell you that the new Cerushield is safely in place in your receiver.
Replace your dome
Removing the dome
The dome is designed not to come off accidentally.
It should not be remove by simply pulling it off the receiver (speaker).
Pinch the dome between thumb and forefinger so that it is ‘bunched up’.
Peel the dome off the receiver in a similar motion to peeling a banana.
Replacing the dome
It should be noted that each dome should not be removed and replaced more than 2 or 3 times before it is discarded for a new one.
Find the hole in the rear of the dome.
Locate the receiver into the hole and push the dome straight down onto the receiver.
You should feel the dome locate on the fixing barbs.
Finally push down on the dome to ensure it is firmly in place.
General Pairing Tips.
The most common connectivity options and connection processes are illustrated in the video section however if there is something you require that isn't here, just ask. we can give you instructions or add a video to the collection.
This link will help with the pairing of Oticon aids to various devices, however the process of pairing a hearing aid to an i-phone is the same whichever aid you have. (as long as the aid has bluetooth and the phone is i-phone 7 or above - some lower models may give some limited connectivity)
https://www.oticon.com/support/how-to/connect-to-wireless-accessories
General Pairing Tips. Please see the panel above before you start pairing.
Apple have built in a dedicated, generic hearing aid remote control into their software. You do not need a manufacturers app to use it.
With i-phones, the pairing process is done through the 'Accessiblitly' menu; not through the bluetooth pairing dialogue and not using the manufacturers app.
the process will vary slightly depending on which i-phone you have and which IoS operating system you have.
How to pair
PROBLEMS?
If you change aids, change phones or are just struggling to connect, you can delete the paring and start again.
Go to stage 7. above and you will see your aids specfified. Click on the aids and click on the 'Forget' button to delete the aids.
Secondly you should also check your bluetooth list for paired devices and delete the aids in there if they appear.
General Pairing Tips. Please see the panel above before you start pairing.
The process will vary slightly depending on which Android phone you have and which operating system you have.
You can only controla nd stream from your Android Smarty phone if you are using the manaufacturers App.
Please also note that you must be running Android 10 or newer and your phone must be compatible (see here). Android is comparitivley new to the idea of connecting to hearing aids and so the reliabilty and stabiltiy of connection is nowhere near as good as with Apple.
The process will vary slightly with each phone but the basics below should get you through.
How to pair
PROBLEMS?
If you change aids, change phones or are just struggling to connect, you can delete the paring and start again.
Go to stage 3. above and you will see your aids specfified. Click on the aids and click on the 'Forget' button to delete the aids.
Secondly you should also check your bluetooth list for paired devices and delete the aids in there if they appear.
