Dr. Ronna Fisher, Founder of the Hearing Health Centers in Chicago, demonstrates how to insert and remove a Lyric Hearing Aid. To learn more about Hearing Aids, visit https://hearinghealthcenter.com/hearing-aids-chicago/
Dr. Ronna Fisher, Founder of the Hearing Health Centers in Chicago, demonstrates how to insert and remove a Lyric Hearing Aid. Learn more about Hearing Aids here
It can be frustrating to physically handle and manipulate hearing aids for someone who has poor dexterity. Fortunately, recent technology in hearing aids has made this much easier!
First, there is the Lyric hearing aid. The audiologist inserts the Lyric hearing aid in the office; there is absolutely NO maintenance required by the patient. The user does not have to remove the Lyric, put it in the ear, clean the hearing aid, or change batteries! For someone with limited dexterity, the Lyric can be the perfect solution!
There are many styles of hearing aids, some of which are easier to insert in the ear than others. Custom in-the-ear hearing aids tend to be easier for many patients to insert. They can come with a large battery, making it easier to handle.
Changing batteries in a hearing aid can be time-consuming and inconvenient. In the past, there was no way around changing a battery when using a hearing aid. Now, almost all manufacturers have a rechargeable option that eliminates the need to change batteries.
There are many solutions to help make wearing a hearing aid easier for individuals with limited dexterity. It is important that you discuss these options with your hearing care professional. If you would like more information, please contact us!
-Dr. Jaclyn Riel, Au.D., CCC-A
Hearing aids, like all electronic or mechanical devices, need routine maintenance! No matter what style of hearing aid you have, they are all electronic devices that are put in a sweaty, waxy, moist environment for an average of 18 hours a day so they need daily maintenance to function properly and consistently.
Below, are some tips to help keep your hearing aids functioning well:
- Wipe down hearing aid and/or dome daily with a tissue or moist wipe
- Brush microphones, receivers, and other parts of hearing aid daily– you can use what was given to you by your audiologist, or a small soft baby toothbrush
- Hearing aids that have wax guard systems—check and change at least once month, or anytime the wax guard is clogged and you’re not hearing well. Wax guards are available for purchase at all offices!
- Domes should be replaced if they start to get loose or saggy, so they don’t get stuck in the ear canal. Consider changing your domes every couple of months to prevent this from happening.
- Open battery door at night to turn your hearing aids off and let air into the battery compartment. This should also save you some battery life!
- Do not store the hearing in a humid environment (i.e. bathroom).
- Put the hearing aids in a Drying Unit at night! Most units have fans to circulate the air, UV lights to kill bacteria, and a desiccant to remove moisture and humidity from the hearing aids. If you don’t have one, GET ONE!
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Remember—daily maintenance will improve the performance of the hearing aid, but it will not necessarily extend the life of a hearing aid. National average lifetime of a hearing aid is 3.8 years—at that point it is time to consider upgrading technology so that you can continue to hear as best as you can!
Author: Dr. Alissa Nickerson
We live in a digital age. With a click of a button, you can download your favorite movies. You can order the latest clothing trends. You can even have your groceries delivered right to your door. So what about having your hearing aids delivered to you? Sure, the convenience and relative ease might be convincing. But how do you know you’re really getting the hearing help you need?
The hearing industry has grown tremendously in the last 25 years. We no longer see the “big beige bananas” that plagued those with hearing problems in the past. Now, hearing aids are small, discrete and more technologically advanced than ever. But, it’s not just the hearing aids that help the user. It’s the trained Doctor of Audiology fitting the hearing aids. This is true in not just the hearing industry but many health-related fields. Consider a doctor performing a knee surgery: sure, the prostheses helps the patient, but it will only work well if the doctor performs the surgery appropriately. The same is true for your hearing! Unless your hearing aid is programmed directly for your needs—your physical ear, your lifestyle, your audiometric hearing loss—you won’t be getting the hearing help you need.
In addition to the knowledge the Doctor of Audiology can provide in a professional appointment, there are so many other aspects of hearing health that need to be addressed when you get hearing aids:
- Diagnosis: Before ever discussing hearing aids with you, Doctors of Audiology perform extensive testing to determine the root cause of your hearing problems. In some instances, hearing problems can be easily fixed, such as removing a build-up of earwax from the ear. Without a doctor’s diagnosis, you could be scammed into paying for a hearing aid online that you do not need.
- Programming: Hearing aids are not just volume controls. Hearing aids have to be specifically programmed to help you hear the sounds you are missing. Without a comprehensive test, even the best hearing aids can’t help you because they won’t be programmed to your needs.
- Fit: The fit of the hearing aids has to be customized to you. If you buy online, there is no guarantee that the hearing aids will fit your ears.
- Repairs: Hearing aids can, and do break, just like any piece of technology. When this happens, it’s important to have a professional nearby to help you with issues.
So are you really getting a bargain online? Is it really convenient if you aren’t hearing your best? I’ll let you be the judge. The Doctors of Audiology at the Hearing Health Center are here for you— we look forward to evaluating your hearing and balance problems.
Anyone that has a behind-the-ear hearing aid will use either a dome or a custom mold- this is the piece of rubber or plastic that goes directly into the ear. These pieces of your hearing aid live in a wet, humid environment- so it’s important to know when to change them out! Additionally, sometimes the dome or ear mold just doesn’t fit right, which will not only affect the quality of your hearing, but it will also affect your experience with the hearing aids themselves.
DOMES
The dome is the rubber tip that sits inside the individual’s ear canal. Domes are usually clear or black, and can range in a wide variety of sizes- one for every possible ear canal! As the dome is the first point of contact with your ear canal, it can very easily become blocked with wax or debris, and prevent sound from coming out of the hearing aid. We see a lot of patients whose hearing aids have “stopped working”- when upon closer inspection, they just need a clean dome! When the dome becomes plugged, you can use a cleaning tool with a brush on the end to brush off any debris or wax. So, when should you change your dome with a new one? You should change your dome if it is ripped or yellow. If you see that your dome is ripped or has turned a yellow color, it is time to visit your audiologist and change your dome- or, change it at home!
CUSTOM EAR MOLDS
Many patients with behind-the-ear hearing aids have custom molds that fit into their ear.
You may need to get a new ear mold if:
- Your ear mold is not fitting right or coming out of your ear.
- Your ear mold is ripping or very discolored.
- You are getting feedback or whistling from your hearing aid. If your ear mold is not fitting in your ear correctly, sound may be leaking out of your ear and getting picked up by the microphones of your hearing aid.
In any of these cases, call your audiologist to see if it’s time for a new ear impression!
Technology requires special care during the summer months, and your hearing aid is no exception. You need to maintain your hearing aids as you normally would, but because of the added humidity in the air and the heat of June, July, and August, you’ll need to take extra care when you’re having summer fun. Take care of your investment and your health with these four tips.
Tip 1: Remove your hearing aids before swimming.
Anytime you’re around water, it’s best to leave your hearing aids behind. You do need to consider your own safety though. If you won’t be able to hear warnings, it might be safer to leave them in. If they do get wet, use a lint-free towel to dry them off, remove the battery, and place the aid itself in a hearing aid dryer or desiccant jar.
Tip 2: Protect them against sweat and humidity.
After a workout, remove your hearing aids and wipe them off. Even water-resistant sets are vulnerable to the bacteria which grows faster when it’s hot and humid. Use disinfectant towelettes and a dry and store solution designed to keep your aids clean and dry. Ask your audiologist about getting your set of hearing aids professionally cleaned more often in the summer.
Tip 3: Keep your hearing aids secure.
Summer activities are often much more risky than those you undertake the rest of the year. Use special clips to keep your hearing aids attached to your clothing or your glasses. If something does come out of place, it won’t go too far.
Tip 4: Get hearing aids suited to your lifestyle.
Talk to your audiologist about the style of hearing aid that fits your needs. Hearing aids that reduce wind noise because they sit completely in the ear canal are ideal for golfers. If you wear a helmet that reduces the effectiveness of your aid, your audiologist has solutions. Take care of your expensive equipment by following proper care and use.
Has your hearing aid ever suddenly stopped working? Most often, you might try changing the battery and then wind up coming in to the audiology office for an appointment. During that appointment, have you been told that your hearing aid was just plugged with wax? Well, I know that I have told many patients this in the past. The great news is that you have the ability to unclog your hearing aid at home by changing the wax guard.
What is a wax guard and why is it important?
Depending on the type and style of hearing aid you have, there is a wax guard located at the sound outlet or at the receiver. The wax guard acts as a protective cover to stop ear wax from going deep into the hearing aid. Typically it is a white circle that is located on the portion of the hearing aid that you insert into your ear.
When should I change my wax guard?
The amount of earwax produced by each individual can vary. It is recommended that we check the wax guard daily. If your hearing aid starts to sound weak/silent or wax is visible, it’s time to change the wax guard.
How do I change my wax guard?
First, wipe off any visible wax from the hearing aid, and make sure you have the necessary wax removal sticks to change it at home.
Next, insert the open ended portion of the removal stick into the sound outlet (usually encompassed into a stainless steel bushing), twist, and pull it straight out.
Now, turn the removal stick to the other side (that has the new white end on it) and insert the new white end into the sound outlet and remove. Make sure the wax guard is sitting flat against the stainless steel bushing of the sound outlet.
All that’s left to do is throw out your old wax guard and removal stick, which can’t be reused. And you’re done! Are you hearing better now?
Hearing Health Center presents My Invisible Hearing Aids featuring Walter Jacobsen
In order for your hearing aid to work properly, you need- you guessed it!- a quality hearing aid battery. Many of our patients have asked to learn more about batteries; below are our informational tidbits and FAQs.
Throw away dead batteries. They do not spontaneously regenerate!
Are there different types of batteries?
- There are two different types of hearing aid batteries: zinc-air (disposable) and rechargeable batteries. Most hearing aids still utilize zinc-air disposable hearing aid batteries as rechargeable batteries are just starting to gain popularity.
- Helpful tip: Zinc-air batteries are activated when the factory seal sticker is removed. Wait at least one minute after you remove the sticker to place the battery in your hearing aid- this will allow the battery to fully activate.
How will I know when to change my batteries?
- Most hearing aids have a beeping signal to tell you when your battery is about to die. However, if you notice that the sounds you are hearing are distorted or if you need to raise the volume more than normal, that could also be a good indication that it’s time to change your batteries.
- Always try to carry an additional battery with you if you are out and about!
How long should my batteries last?
- Every hearing aid user has a different lifestyle and experience, so there is no hard and fast rule of how long your batteries will last. A good rule of thumb is the following:
- Size 10 (yellow label): 3-5 days
- Size 312 (brown label): 5-7 days
- Size 13 (orange label): 6-14 days
- Size 675 (blue label): 9-20 days
- If you feel like you are running through batteries more quickly than you should be, there are several factors that can lead to battery drain; chief among them are moisture, wearing time, and remote usage. You can read more here.
Can I do anything to extend my battery life?
- When not in use at night, open your hearing aid battery door (pro-tip: also use a drying unit overnight to cut down on moisture found in your hearing aids!)
- Make sure to store your batteries at room temperature (heat and humidity can cut down on battery life!)