Hearing aid and Audiology Services guide (thin tube)

NB: Please DO NOT remove the dome from the thin tube hearing aid(s) as suggested in some videos. Please visit a repair centre if your dome needs to be changed.

Step 1: Place the hearing aid behind your ear. Step 2: Gently guide the dome down your ear canal. (Tip: sometimes it help to widen the ear canal by gently pulling the pinna back at the same time)

The tube should lie flat against the side of the head. Removal Gently pull on the tube and lift off the top of the ear.

The typical lifespan of these batteries is 8-14 days

(This is based on the hearing aid(s) being used 12-18 hours a day, and switched off overnight, and is a rough guide only.) 4

Battery lifespan will also be affected by your prescription – the stronger your prescription, the more quickly your battery will go flat.

Tips for extending the battery life:

• Switch your hearing aid(s) off overnight. To do this, just open the battery drawer to disconnect the battery.
• Allow each new battery 2 minutes to ‘breathe’ before using it for the first time. This means removing the coloured sticker two minutes before you intend to use the battery. Doing so will add a day or two to the battery’s lifespan.

If your hearing aids are connected to your mobile through Bluetooth streaming, this can also drain the battery more quickly.

Replacement batteries can be obtained free of charge from the Addenbrooke’s Audiology Department in person, by post or online. Batteries are also available free from local voluntary services. Please see the link at the back of this leaflet.

Batteries will only be supplied on presentation of your record card or brown book.

To obtain batteries by post please either

complete the ‘battery issue’ form on our website

or

send your record card with a written note detailing your request to the following address:

Audiology Department

Box 94

Addenbrooke’s Hospital Hills Road

Cambridge CB2 0QQ

Batteries can also be purchased from reputable retail outlets in-store or online* such as Boots the4

Chemist or Lloyds Pharmacy.

*Warning: Be cautious about buying batteries via the internet; always use a reputable supplier and brand.

Please store and dispose of your batteries safely using local recycling facilities. These are often available at supermarkets.

Keep batteries out of the reach of children and pets. If swallowed, seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

Do not attempt to heat or recharge the batteries.

Cleaning your hearing aid(s)

Daily:

Your earpiece should be kept clean to avoid wax build up. Wipe the dome and tube with a damp cloth or wet wipe. Check for any blockages in the tubing or damage to the hearing aid

Please DO NOT remove the dome from the thin tube hearing aid.

Weekly:

You can separate the hearing aid from the tube by unscrewing the tube from the hearing aid, taking care not to pinch the tubing

Place the hearing aid somewhere safe and dry, such as your hearing aid box.

You can then thread a cleaning wire down the tube, through the dome out of the bottom of the tube. This will pull through any wax in the tube.

Push or screw the tube back onto the hearing aid ensuring it is on tightly.

If you encounter problems with your hearing aid(s) which you are unable to resolve yourself or your hearing aid(s) need servicing:

• Contact the Audiology Department for an appointment via email or phone.
• Use our postal service

Repairs and servicing can be performed using our postal service. Please send your hearing aid(s) and record card with a written note detailing your request to the address below.

Audiology Department Box 94

Addenbrooke’s Hospital Hills Road

Cambridge

CB2 0QQ

New tubing

The tubing on your hearing aid(s) will need changing approximately every 4 to 6 months.

Signs the tubing needs changing:

• The tubing has become discoloured (yellowed)
• The tubing is kinked and a cleaning wire will not go through

If you think your tubing needs replacing, please attend one of the Local Voluntary Services, , use our postal repair service or request a booked repair appointment. You may be able to do this yourself so please ask if you would like some tubing and an instruction guide.

The tubing and dome on your hearing aid(s) will need changing approximately every 6 to 12 months.

You may notice the following when the tubing needs changing:

• The tubing has become discoloured (yellowed)
• The tubing is kinked or blocked and a cleaning wire won’t clear it.

If you think your tubing needs replacing, please attend one of the Local Voluntary Services, use our postal repair service or request a booked repair appointment. You may be able to do this yourself so please ask if you would like some tubing and an instruction guide.

The microphone ports for your hearing aid(s) are located at the top (see diagram). You will need to line your phone speaker up with the microphone ports to hear clearly. This means holding your phone slightly further up than usual, over the top of your ear. You may wish to practise this using the dial tone to ensure correct positioning.

Some hearing aids are now compatible with certain mobile phones. This will allow you to stream phone calls directly from your mobile to your hearing aids. Please ask the audiologist about this if you are not sure about this.

Hearing aids can be a great help but other devices, known as assistive listening devices, may also help with the following situations:

• Using telephones (landline and mobile)
• Watching television or listening to the radio
• Hearing alerting devices (doorbell, telephone ringing, baby monitor, smoke alarm)
• Listening to talks, lectures and in meetings
• Listening in the theatre, cinema and other events

These can be privately purchased, or in some cases equipment provided by social services. Please contact the Audiology department for further advice or information.

The following section is a quick guide as to how you can help yourself and others to hear better:

If you have a hearing impairment

• Don’t stand too far away from the speaker.
• Face the speaker and keep the light on their face.
• Make sure that you can see the face/lips of the speaker and watch for expressions and gestures.
• Ask the speaker to get your attention first.
• Encourage people when starting a conversation to start with the subject at the beginning.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the speaker to repeat themselves or to rephrase.
• Ask the speaker to slow down and speak clearly.
• Explain that you have a hearing loss and then tell people how they can help you.
• Be assertive.
• Try to keep calm and don’t panic.

Think positively

Simple considerations can help you to use your hearing more effectively, think about each situation and how you can improve things.

Manipulate the environment

• Reduce background noise where possible.
• Choose quiet surroundings wherever possible.
• Always speak to other people from the same room.
• Rooms with soft furnishings reduce echo.
• Sit where the light falls on the speakers face.
• Consider whether another part of the room would be quieter.
• Turn down the volume of your hearing aid(s) in noisy places.
• Sit so that you reduce any distraction from behind.
• Using soft furnishing such as mats and tablecloths can help to reduce echoes and harsh sounds.

If you are speaking with someone who has a hearing impairment

• Remember the listener is watching you closely because they are lip reading.
• Attract the listeners’ attention.
• Ensure the listener knows the topic.
• Do not shout.
• Do not over exaggerate lip movement.
• Speak clearly but not too slowly.
• Keep your hand away from your face.
• Keep the light on your face.
• Remove sunglasses.
• Try to keep items such as cups or cigarettes away from your mouth as these may prevent lip reading.
• Rephrase and don’t just repeat a single word.
• Remember the listener is watching you closely because they are lip reading.
• Move closer to the listener.

For basic on-going maintenance including re-tubing and general advice, local voluntary services run open clinics regularly throughout the East of England. Please see the leaflet “Local Hearing Help Sessions” for further details of these sessions or visit the website of your local provider.

• Cambridgeshire Hearing Help (opens in a new tab)
• Hearing Help Essex (opens in a new tab)
• Hertfordshire Mobile Advisory Service (opens in a new tab)
• Suffolk Hearing Advisory Service (opens in a new tab)
• Norfolk Deaf Association (opens in a new tab)

Access to Work

Access to Work provides grants to help people to overcome barriers they may be facing when looking for a job, or when working. This includes helping you to overcome any difficulties you are facing because of not hearing at work

If you would like further information please ask for a member of the Audiology team for an “Access to Work” leaflet or visit: Access to Work (opens in a new tab)

Local

Cambridgeshire Hearing Help (opens in a new tab)

Hearing Help Essex (opens in a new tab)

Hertfordshire Mobile Advisory Service (opens in a new tab)

Suffolk Hearing Advisory Service (opens in a new tab)

Cambridge Deaf association (opens in a new tab)

National:

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) (opens in a new tab)

Tinnitus (opens in a new tab)

Address

Audiology,

Clinic 10,

Box 94,

Addenbrooke’s Hospital,

Hills Road,

Cambridge,

CB2 0QQ

Telephone: 01223 217797

Email cuh.audiology@nhs.net

Website: Audiology Service