Who is the leaflet for? What is its aim?
This guide is written for patients recently fitted with new hearing aid(s) by the Addenbrooke’s Audiology department. It aims to guide you through some of the key aspects of how to use and maintain your hearing aid(s), as well as listing the additional services the department and its partners provide.
Further information is available on the Audiology webpage
What happens next?
- You will need time for your brain to adjust to the new sounds you can hear through your hearing aid(s). This may take up to a few months.
- Try to build up usage, wearing them consistently every day, increasing the amount of time worn and the types of situation you are in. For example, begin wearing them in quiet environments at home where you can control the noise level, and build up to more noisy situations such as social events.
- It is also important to allow your ear to get used to wearing the earmould.
- Sounds may seem different to how you are used to hearing them, such as your own voice. This will improve with time as you acclimatise to the hearing aids, but if this is still a problem after a few weeks then speak to your audiologist.
- Familiarise yourself with the leaflets given to you at your appointment, ensuring you know how the controls work on your hearing aid(s) and practise inserting and removing the hearing aids. This may feel awkward at first, but keep practising and speak to your audiologist if you continue to have difficulties.
- Explain your communication needs to friends and family members so that they are better able to help you hear as well as possible. The “Communication tactics” section of this leaflet provides some handy tips.
- A follow up appointment to see how you are getting on with your hearing aid(s) may be arranged if required. Please contact the department if needed.
Using your hearing aid(s)
We recommend you read the instruction booklet provided for your hearing aid(s) as it contains important information about the care and controls specific to your hearing aid(s).
For more information on how to use your hearing aids please see:
Insertion and removal
Make sure the top part of the earmould is in your ear correctly. Incorrect insertion may cause whistling and discomfort in the ear.
Batteries
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.
Battery lifespan will also be affected by your prescription – the stronger your prescription, the more quickly your battery will go flat.
If your hearing aids are connected to your mobile phone through Bluetooth streaming, this can also drain the battery more quickly.
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.
Replacement batteries
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 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 the Chemist or Lloyds Pharmacy.
*Warning: Be cautious about buying batteries via the internet; always use a reputable supplier and brand.
Battery disposal and safety
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
Care and maintenance
Cleaning your hearing aid(s)
Daily
- Your earmould should be kept clean to avoid wax build up.
- Wipe the earmould with a damp cloth or wet wipe.
- Check forany blockages in the tubing or damage to the hearing aid
Weekly
- You can separate the hearing aid from the earmould by pulling the flexible tube from the rigid hook, taking care not to pull the tubing from the earmould.
- Place the hearing aid somewhere safe and dry, such as your hearing aid box.
- Wash the earmould in warm soapy water.
- You may use a small brush to help remove any wax.
- Rinse with fresh water.
- Shake or blow out excess water.
- Leave the earmould somewhere to dry, preferably overnight before reattaching the tubing to the hearing aid.
Hearing aid(s) repairs
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.
Postal repair service
Repairs and servicing can be acquired 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 4-6 months.
Signs the tubing needs changing:
- The tubing has become discoloured (yellowed)
- The tubing has become hard or stiff
- The tubing easily pulls out of the earmould
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.
Basic troubleshooting
Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
---|---|---|
Problem
No sound, or reduced sound |
Possible Cause
Flat battery, or battery inserted incorrectly |
Solution
Ensure your battery is in correctly. Your hearing aid instruction leaflet will show you how to this. Replace the battery. |
Problem | Possible Cause Blocked tubing |
Solution
Clean the earmould. Check the tubing for any blockages. Replace the tubing if you know how. |
Problem | Possible Cause Faulty hearing aid |
Solution
Book a repair appointment, or post the hearing aid in for repair |
Problem Whistling | Possible Cause Earmould not inserted correctly | Solution Check your earmould is inserted properly. |
Problem | Possible Cause Wax in ear |
Solution
Attend your GP practise to check your ears for wax |
Problem | Possible Cause Poorly fitting earmould |
Solution
Request an appointment for a new earmould (please make sure your ears are clear of wax before attending this appointment). |
Problem
Earmould hurting your ear |
Possible Cause
Earmould not inserted correctly |
Solution
Check your earmould is inserted properly. |
Problem | Possible Cause Earmould rubbing | Solution Book a repair appointment. |
Hearing aid(s) accessories
There are a number of accessories you can purchase to help with the maintenance of your hearing aid(s). A few commonly used ones are listed below:
Earmould puffer
Useful for drying out condensation in the earmould and attached tubing.
Tubing threader
Allows anyone to rethread the tubing in an earmould.
Wax tool
A multi-purpose tool which includes a brush, wire loop and a magnet. Useful to help clean the earmould. The magnet can be used to help with fitting and removal of batteries.
Drying kits
Because hearing aid(s) are worn on the body, they absorb moisture internally which can sometimes cause damage them. Drying out the hearing aid(s) overnight will improve their reliability and help extend their life.
Maintenance pack
A Hearing Aid Care Kit, supplied in a resealable pouch, with
- a guide to hearing aid care
- an earmould puffer
- pre-bent tubes
- an earmould threader
- an oto-fresh wax brush with magnet and loop
- a stetoclip hearing aid listener complete with a variable attenuator
- cleaning wipes
All these items can be purchased from:
Connevans
Deaf equipment (opens in a new tab)
Telephone: 01737 247571
Fax: 01737 223475
Text/Mini-com: 01737 644016
Using the telephone with your hearing aid(s)
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 to certain mobile phones. This will allow you to stream phone calls directly from your mobile to your hearing aids. Please ask Audiologist about this if you are not sure on this.
Assistive listening devices
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.
Communication tactics for everyone
The following section is a quick guide as to how you can help yourself and others to hear well:
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 furnishings 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 your 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.
- Move closer to the listener.
Local voluntary services
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.
Other support and advice services
Access to Work (opens in a new tab)
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)
Charities
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)
Important information
Useful contacts
Address:
Audiology Department
Box 94
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone: 01223 217797
We are smoke-free
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the hospital campus. For advice and support in quitting, contact your GP or the free NHS stop smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169.
Other formats
Help accessing this information in other formats is available. To find out more about the services we provide, please visit our patient information help page (see link below) or telephone 01223 256998. www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessible-information/
Contact us
Cambridge University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Telephone +44 (0)1223 245151
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/