Hearing aids are electronic devices that provide hearing impaired individuals with more functional levels of sound input. They come in a number of forms, including behind-the-ear models, in-ear models and models that fit down inside the ear canal. The best use of hearing aids requires appropriate fitting and regular listening checks to ensure the devices are in proper working order.
Basic Equipment and Schedule
If you are fitted with a hearing aid, your audiologist (hearing specialist) will help you obtain a special stethoscope designed to check your device's output, as well as a tester to ensure proper battery function. Your audiologist may also suggest a regular schedule for testing. If so, follow this schedule closely, and perform additional checks as needed if your device malfunctions. If you have hearing impairment in both ears, ask a third party with good hearing to perform your listening check for you. Please note that if your child wears a hearing aid, St. Jude Children's Hospital recommends performing listening checks daily.
Testing Your Battery
Begin your listening check by placing your hearing aid battery in the battery tester. If there is any decrease in power output, replace your battery immediately. You may want to keep spares on hand for this purpose. Be aware that leaving an old battery in your hearing aid may lead to corrosion, which may cause permanent damage to your unit.
Testing Your Hearing Aid
Once you have a properly working battery, you may continue your listening check. Attach your hearing aid to your stethoscope and turn it on. Hold the aid at a short distance from your head and speak in a normal voice while rotating the aid's volume control. Use the stethoscope to listen for any abnormalities in volume, static, feedback or distortions in your speaking voice. If there are any significant disruptions to a clear signal, your hearing aid may require servicing or cleaning.
Assessing Potential Problems
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, you may also experience difficulties that are not related to the performance of your unit. In order to perform an effective listening check, you will need to distinguish these situations from actual hearing aid malfunction. Potential problems include significant background noise, overall discomfort or an unnatural amplification of your own voice when you speak. You may be especially prone to these difficulties if you are unfamiliar with hearing aid use, or if you are adjusting to a new device.
If you are initially bothered by background noise, you may experience a lessening of distraction as you become accustomed to focusing on specific sounds in your hearing range. If you are distracted by discomfort, your audiologist may suggest limiting daily use of your unit until you adjust to its presence. If you are initially bothered by the amplification of your voice, it is likely that you will adjust to this as well. Consult your audiologist if problems of this nature persist, as well as for additional advice on properly perform your regular listening check.
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