Information for hearing aid wearers

Battery warning!

National Safety notice - Please read:

Risk of harm to babies and children from coin/button batteries in hearing aids and other hearing devices.

Hearing aid batteries must be kept away from babies, children and anyone with additional risk factors.

Babies and young children can suffer serious injury if they swallow batteries or poke them in their ears or nostrils. This includes batteries used in hearing aids/cochlear implants/BAHA and bone conduction hearing aids or similar equipment. This group is at most risk of serious harm because they tend to explore the world by putting things in their mouths.

All children under 5 years old must have Battery locks fitted to their Hearing Aids. If there are other children under the age of 5 years in the house, battery locks also need to be fitted to older children’s hearing aids.

Older children with additional risk factors* and any children living with someone with additional risk factors*, also need battery locks fitted.

Please discuss this with your audiologist.

*Additional Risk factors: Adult or any child aged 5 years or over with health conditions or disabilities that might put them at increased risk of swallowing a hearing aid battery or pushing one into an ear or nostril.

Batteries can be disposed of at most main supermarkets where they will be recycled.

Replacement batteries can be collected from the Children’s Hearing Clinic reception. Alternatively, if you contact the clinic by phone or text, we will be happy to post some out to your home address. Please be advised that the batteries will be posted using 2nd class post.

Ear moulds

Impressions for new ear moulds can be arranged by telephone the clinic reception by telephone, text or email (see below). Ear moulds can be manufactured in a range of colours and some picture logos are available. Your ear moulds can be collected from the clinic reception on their return from the manufacturer, posted out to your home address from the children’s hearing clinic or if requested in advance the ear moulds can be posted to you directly from the ear mould manufacturer.

IMPORTANT – If you are a hearing aid wearer and you feel your hearing has changed or notice a change in your child’s hearing. Please telephone the clinic to arrange an appointment for the hearing aid and the ears to be checked. An appointment to re-test the hearing may also be required.

Childrens Hearing Clinic (Area K)
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Cliftonville
Northampton
NN1 5BD

Telephone: 01604 545810 (until 4pm) - An answer machine facility is also available. 
Mobile (Text only): 07864961718
Email: ngh-tr.childrens.hearing@nhs.net

What can you do to help look after your hearing aid?

• Maintain good ear hygiene to assist in keeping your ear mould clean and dry.

• If the hearing aid is not being worn eg bedtime, swimming, bathing. Please store your hearing aid in a safe container with the battery door open. Please keep your hearing aid out of reach from siblings and household pets to prevent damage.
• Make sure before touching the hearing aid, your fingers are clean and dry. Your hearing aid microphone is very small and can easily become blocked if handled without care.
• Try to avoid dropping your hearing aid which can easily happen if you are cleaning the aid or changing the battery.
• Please protect your hearing aid from excessive temperatures. Protect the hearing aid from direct sunlight and do not keep them within proximity of heaters.
• Avoid make-up, hair sprays and products coming into contact with your hearing aid as this may cause damage to the microphone and/or volume control.
• Protect your hearing aid from moisture. Water condensation may damage the hearing aid electronics. A drying pot is available from your hearing clinic on request.
• Your hearing aid can be wiped daily with a moist cleaning cloth. For your hearing aid to work efficiently it needs to be kept free of ear wax and other debris. 

 

Possible causes of hearing aid break down.

Hearing aid seems quieter than usual?

• The hole or tube of the hearing aid could be blocked - clean the tube of the hearing aid with a small brush or sewing needle. Blow out any condensation with a puffer (available in your hearing clinic on request).
• The microphone opening may be blocked - contact your hearing-care professional
• The battery level is too low - Replace the battery

 

The hearing aid is whistling during use?

Feedback (whistling) from your hearing aid occurs when the amplified sound from the hearing aid leaks out of the ear and back into your hearing aid microphone. Possible solutions for this are as follows:

• The hearing aid/ear mould is not inserted properly into the ear - Remove and insert again, ask your hearing clinic for advice if you require further instruction.
• The hearing aid is positioned in the wrong ear - insert it into the other ear
• The ear mould is possibly loose or damaged and you may require a new ear mould impression
• The sound tube is blocked and must be cleaned
• The sound tube on the ear mould is damaged and must be re-tubed
• The ear canal is blocked with wax - Ref to wax management advice

 

My hearing aid does not fit correctly

• Contact your audiologist

 

It is difficult to insert the hearing aid/ear mould

• Apply a small amount of lubricant to the ear mould. Your hearing clinic can offer you further advice regarding this.

The hearing aid isn't working properly

• The battery is empty - replace it with a new one
• The battery has fallen out - Replace battery in your hearing aid
• The battery compartment is not closed properly - close the battery compartment
• The ear mould is blocked with wax - if you are unable to clean contact the children’s hearing clinic

 

The hearing aid causes discomfort/pain

• The hearing aid/ear mould may not be positioned correctly in the ear - remove the hearing aid/ear mould and reposition it. If the problem persists, consult the children’s hearing clinic.

Cleaning your ear mould

Custom made ear moulds should be cleaned at least once a week. If the ear mould tubing becomes discoloured or hardens, the tubing needs to be replaced.

Separate the ear mould from the hearing aid by pulling the tubing away from the plastic elbow of the hearing aid. Hold onto the elbow with one hand and the tubing with the other as this will prevent the tubing coming out of the ear mould or any damage being caused to the hearing aid.

The ear mould can be washed in warm soapy water. You can use a nail brush to remove any wax and let the water run through the tube from the tap to clean the tubing through. Rinse the ear mould in clean water and shake the mould to help remove any excess water. Leave the ear mould to dry. When the ear mould is completely dry re-attach it to the hearing aid elbow making sure if using two hearing aids the left and right ear moulds are attached to the corresponding hearing aids.