How to maintain and get the most from your hearing aid

HEARING AID CARE

The benefits of maintenance

Taking care of your hearing aid means it will work better, last longer, and even save you the expense and trouble of repeated visits to an audiologist to get it repaired. If you dont keep your hearing aid maintained, you wont be able to hear as clearly. If you think of it as part of your body and treat it with the same respect, then hopefully youll continue to benefit from your hearing aid for many years to come. This brochure and our range of tools will help you: clean your hearing aid keep it free of moisture replace its tubing change the batteries.

This product is very useful and will help me keep my aid in good condition. I will recommend it to all my friends with hearing aids. Mr David Hale, Ashford

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Cleaning your aid

Ear wax regularly builds up on your earmould, especially the bit that fits into your ear. It can also build up in the hearing aid tubing. Dont worry its perfectly normal. But it can cause the mould and tubing to become hard and brittle, which leads to splitting or breaking. If you regularly clean them, this wont happen so often, and youll maintain your hearing aids performance for longer. You can use the tools below to clean your earmould and carefully remove the wax. Toolset This little kit of three tools is ideal for cleaning different areas of your earmould and tubing. You can sweep away or pick out wax, or gently push the vent cleaner down your ventilation hole to remove any blockages. Product code: H126 1.44 not VAT exempt Anticer brush This small brush is ideal for removing debris and wax, and for cleaning the nooks and crannies of the earmould. Product code: H137 2.40 not VAT exempt

Multi-bristle vent cleaner The vent cleaner has four bristles to help you clear the blocked vents of your hearing aid. Product code: H140 4.48 not VAT exempt Hearing aid cleaner This is five tools in one it has a brush, pick, tube/vent cleaner, battery-door opener and a magnet for extracting the hearing aid battery. Product code: H112 7.00 not VAT exempt Wax loop and magnet stick The loop helps you remove wax and the magnet is useful for removing your hearing aid battery. Product code: H139 2.40 not VAT exempt Nano pro cleansing stick Use this to coat your hearing aid and earmould with an antimicrobial coating that lasts for five days. Keeping them clean like this means youre less likely to be irritated by itchy ears.
Brilliant gadgets. Just what every hearing aid user needs. Miss A Avery, Edinburgh

Product code: H124 4.20 not VAT exempt

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Wax loop and magnet stick The loop helps you remove wax and the magnet is useful for removing your hearing aid battery. Product code: H139 2.40 not VAT exempt Cleansing tablets These tablets remove stains and disinfect your earmoulds with active oxygen. Simply dissolve them in water and soak the earmoulds twice a week. Please note: these are for soaking your earmoulds only, not your hearing aid. Product code: H122 4.20 not VAT exempt Cleaning tissues These wipes are ideal for giving your earmoulds a quick clean and can be used every day. Product code: H121 4.20 not VAT exempt

Regular cleaning and special care To ensure consistent performance of your hearing aid, use our maintenance packs. These packs contain everything you need to help you keep your hearing aid clean on a regular basis. Pack one is ideal if you wear behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. It contains: two drying capsules, drying beaker, brush, tool with wire loop, two plastic vent cleaners, 10 x cleansing tissues, air blower, 6 x cleansing tablets, Nano pro cleansing stick, carry bag and user manual. Product code: H119 11.88 not VAT exempt

Pack two is perfect for in-the-ear (ITE) and behind-the-ear aids. This pack is the same as pack one, but without the cleansing tablets and air blower. Product code: H120 8.88 not VAT exempt

I have found this so good at cleaning I have ordered three more for friends. Two of them are to go in with Christmas presents, but the other one I have given over already and she loves it. Ms Margaret Foy, County Down

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Removing moisture
Warm weather and outdoor activities can increase condensation and moisture in your earmould tubing and your battery compartment, preventing your hearing aids from working properly. You should regularly check the tubing to see if there are any water droplets inside. Dehumidifier Storing your hearing aid in a dehumidifier keeps it dry and free of damaging moisture. Replace after six months. Product code: H113 5.48 not VAT exempt Air blower Gently place the puffer into the end of your hearing aid tube and squeeze to blow any moisture from the tubing. Product code: H125 3.78 not VAT exempt Hearing aid drying box This mains-powered dehumidifier saves you money buying disposable drying products and is kinder to the environment. Its easy to use, you just press a button! It uses a UV light to inhibit bacteria which can cause itchy ears. It includes a hearing aid battery tester, so you wont waste money throwing away batteries prematurely. Product code: H168 49.99 not VAT exempt 8

Replacing your hearing aid tubing

You should do this every three to six months to avoid wax, debris and condensation building up. Your tubing will start to go hard over time, which may cause it to split and your hearing aid to whistle (you may not notice the whistling, but others will). Heres everything you need to replace your tubes and save yourself a trip to the audiologist: Hearing aid tubing We supply a variety of pre-bent and Libby horn hearing aid tubes in a range of sizes: 3mm, 4mm, medium or thick wall. Youll need to ask your audiologist which type of tube you need. Libby horn tubing (3mm) Product code: H153 6.48 not VAT exempt Libby horn tubing (4mm) Product code: H152 6.48 not VAT exempt Libby horn moisture-free tubing (3mm) Product code: H151 7.50 not VAT exempt Libby horn moisture-free tubing (4mm) Product code: H150 7.50 not VAT exempt Pre-bent tubing medium (25-pack) Product code: H155 9.12 not VAT exempt Pre-bent tubing standard (25-pack) Product code: H156 9.12 not VAT exempt Pre-bent tubing thick wall (25-pack) Product code: H154 9.12 not VAT exempt Pre-bent moisture-free tubing medium (5-pack) Product code: H148 9.12 not VAT exempt Pre-bent moisture-free tubing thick (5-pack) Product code: H149 9.12 not VAT exempt

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Bent nose pliers These pliers will help you pull out old tubing and are useful too for pulling through the new replacement tubing. Product code: H132 4.08 not VAT exempt

Checking and replacing batteries

Your hearing aid battery will generally last between 10 days and two weeks, depending on use. When your battery runs out, you should replace it quickly to avoid any corrosion or rust build-up. Hearing aid batteries are small and fiddly, so we can offer a few tools to help you remove them. Hearing aid battery tester and magnetic stick This helpful pen-like tool can help you remove batteries thanks to its retractable magnetic tip. The tester helps you check the power of your battery. Product code: H118 5.21 not VAT exempt Wax loop and magnet The little loop at one end is great for removing wax from the earmould tubing of your hearing aid. The magnet at the other end helps you remove your hearing aid battery. Product code: H139 tool 2.40 not VAT exempt

Scissors Use these scissors to taper the end of the earmould tubing before fitting it and to cut the tubing to the correct length. Product code: H134 4.80 not VAT exempt

Tubing threader Use this tool to rethread an earmould with new tubing. Product code: H138 4.48 not VAT exempt

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Hearing aid batteries Our batteries have the convenience of a tab that helps you insert them. It then comes off easily once the battery is in place. Battery size 13 (pack of 6) Product code: XB06 5.21 not VAT exempt Battery size 312 (pack of 6) Product code: XB07 5.21 not VAT exempt Battery size 675 (pack of 6) Product code: XB08 5.21 not VAT exempt Battery size 10 (pack of 6) Product code: XB09 5.21 not VAT exempt

More handy tools

Magnifier This 4-inch (10.2cm) magnifying glass is useful for looking at hearing aid controls and other small products. Product code: H133 4.20 not VAT exempt Stetoclips These are useful for people with standard hearing who want to check that a hearing aid is working. Product code: H141 6.36 not VAT exempt Ear Gear Ear Gear is a range of little protective covers that you pop over your hearing aid or cochlear implant to shield it from rain, wind, dirt and humidity. Made from washable Spandex, they come in five different sizes and a variety of colours, see the below.

Very useful and I am almost 92 and the fingers arent too nimble when removing batteries! All of the products I have had over the years have been good as has the service. Mrs B Newham, Boston, Lincolnshire

The price per ear gear ranges from 13.38 to 13.79 (depending on size).

Brown Beige

Pink Black

Grey Orange

Camouflage Blue

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Need some extra help? Its free.

If youre finding using your hearing aid a bit overwhelming, then our Hear to Help service might be just what you need. If you wear NHS hearing aids, our Community Support Officers and volunteers may be able to help you manage and maintain them through home visits and drop-in services. They can: replace your hearing aid tubing make minor repairs show you how to clean your earmould and tubes show you how to replace your hearing aid battery p  rovide basic training and tips on how to get the most from your aid provide information on other equipment and services. As yet, the service doesnt cover the whole of the UK but its growing all the time. Call us to find out if there is a Hear to Help service in your area and to receive a free copy of the brochure Life with Hearing Aids: Telephone 0808 808 0123 (freephone) Textphone 0808 808 9000 (freephone) Email helpline@hearingloss.org.uk Hearing aid maintenance is just a tiny slice of all the products available. Our Solutions catalogue includes hundreds of products including amplified telephones, TV listeners, loops, flashing doorbells, vibrating alarm clocks and much more. To request a copy: Telephone 01733 361199 Textphone 01733 238020 Email solutions@hearingloss.org.uk

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Were the charity taking action on hearing loss since 1911. We cant do this without your help. There are a number of ways to buy our products. Shop online at: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/shop Call our Customer Services Team: Telephone 01733 361199 Textphone 01733 238020 Or write to us at: solutions@hearingloss.org.uk Action on Hearing Loss Products Team 1 Haddonbrook Business Centre Fallodan Road Orton Southgate Peterborough PE2 6YX Fax 01733 361161

Action on Hearing Loss is the trading name of The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. A registered charity in England and Wales (207720) and Scotland (SC038926) A0282/0112