Hearing Aids Clinic in Tucson

Arizona Hearing Specialists Helps You Hear Your Best

Arizona Hearing Specialists has a reputation for solving hearing problems by creating personalized treatment plans for each patient.

No matter if you have slight hearing loss or severe, Arizona Hearing Specialists can diagnose the problem and find the right solution for you.

Our certified audiologists are well versed in the latest hearing loss treatments and our offices have the equipment and technology to help you hear your best.

Arizona Hearing Specialists is a private audiology practice that has been helping Tucson residents hear better since 1981. With three locations in the Tucson area, Arizona Hearing Specialists is conveniently located to make visiting us easier.

Our Office Locations

Here are quick links to the hearing aid topics discussed on this page:

• Hearing FAQs
• Hearing Test & Evaluations
• Hearing Loss
• Hearing Protection
• Choosing Your Hearing Aids
• Hearing Aid Styles
• Extended Wear Hearing Aids
• Technology
• Hearing Aid Counseling & Fittings
• Hearing Aid Care
• Hearing Aid Repairs
• Hearing Aid Accessories

Hearing Aids Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing aids consist of three parts:

1. The Microphone
   The microphone picks up sounds from the environment and translates those into an electrical signal; that signal is sent to the amplifier.
2. The Amplifier
   The amplifier increases the volume and sends this newly altered signal to the receiver.
3. The Receiver
   The receiver (also known as the speaker) converts the electrical signal back into sound where it travels through the ear and is sent to the brain.

How do I know if I need a hearing aid?

Contact us at Arizona Hearing Specialists to schedule a hearing assessment. Your audiologist will perform a number of tests to determine if a hearing aid is the correct treatment for your hearing loss.

What causes hearing loss?

The most common cause of hearing loss is aging. Continued exposure to loud noises, injury and infection can also cause hearing loss.

Do I have to wear my hearing aids all the time?

The more you wear your hearing aids, the quicker you will get used to them. You should take your hearing aids out before you shower or go to bed

How long does a hearing aid battery last?

The life of a hearing aid battery depends on a lot of factors including the amount of amplification you need, how many hours a day you use the device, the temperature outside and the altitude.

How often should I get my hearing checked?

You should visit your audiologist for a hearing evaluation at least once a year.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a noise or ringing in the ear. Tinnitus is usually a symptom of something else, rather than a condition itself. If you experience a ringing in the ears, contact us at 520-399-7630 to schedule an appointment.

What are signs my child may have a hearing issue?

Does your child not startle at loud noises? Does your child turn their head when they see you but not when you call their name? Is your child’s speech unclear? Does your child say “huh” a lot? If you answered yes to any of these questions, contact us at 520-399-7630 to schedule an appointment immediately. Childhood hearing loss can often be corrected if caught early.

How Is Hearing Loss Tested?

Audiology evaluations consist of a series of tests used to determine whether a hearing loss exists and, if so, measure its type, degree and configuration.

An audiologist will assess the results of each individual test in order to develop a treatment plan geared toward your unique hearing loss.

Who Should Be Given an Audiology Evaluation?

An audiologic (or hearing) evaluation can benefit patients of all ages, even those who do not exhibit signs of hearing loss.

Hearing loss is a progressive condition that often develops slowly. Many people are not aware of a change in their hearing because they gradually adapt to the subtle changes in their hearing ability over time. Studies indicate that it takes seven years, on average, for a hearing impaired individual to seek treatment.

An audiologic evaluation should be the first course of action for anybody who suspects a hearing loss. The sooner a diagnosis of hearing loss is made, the more successful treatment will be. Early detection means more options for the patient.

Many physicians urge making audiology evaluations a routine part of your overall health care, much like regular vision exams and dental checkups. They are quick, painless and provide immediate results.

What Does Diagnostic Testing Entail?

A comprehensive audiologic evaluation consists of a series of individual diagnostic tests that measure different aspects of your hearing. Following a physical examination and a review of your medical history, you will be given any or all of the following tests:

• • Pure Tone Testing

Air Conduction testing (also known as pure tone audiometry) uses air conduction to measure your ability to hear sounds of various pitches and volumes. Wearing headphones, you will be asked to identify a series of tones by raising a hand, pressing a button, or responding verbally.

The results are charted on an audiogram, a graph that shows the type, degree and configuration of your hearing loss by comparing pitch (frequency) with loudness (intensity). The pattern recorded will help your audiologist determine your hearing threshold.

• • Bone Conduction Testing

Bone conduction testing is another type of pure-tone test that measures the inner ear’s response to sound. If there is damage or a blockage in the outer or middle ear, bone conduction audiometry testing may be used.

Instead of sending the tones through the ear, this type of testing is able to bypass the outer and middle ear and send the tone directly to the inner ear. A small vibrator is placed behind the ear. The device sends out a vibration that passes through the skull bone to reach the inner ear.

If the results of this test are different than the air conduction test, your audiologist can use this information to determine whether you have a conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.

Bone conduction testing is often used in place of air conduction testing when an obstruction in the outer or middle ears is present.

• • Speech Testing

Speech (or word recognition) testing is used to measure your speech reception threshold (SRT), or the faintest speech you can understand 50 percent of the time. This is compared with your pure-tone test results to confirm the diagnosis. In addition, your ability to separate speech from background noise will be recorded.

Speech testing may be administered in either a quiet or noisy environment; results are recorded on the audiogram for easy visual reference.

• • Tympanometry

Tympanometry is a test of the middle ear used to detect fluid, wax buildup, eardrum perforations and tumors. It measures movement of the eardrum in response to air pressure; the results are recorded on a chart called a tympanogram.

• • Acoustic Reflex Testing

The acoustic reflex test measures involuntary muscle contractions of the middle ear, and is used to determine the location of your hearing problem (the ossicles, cochlea, auditory nerve, etc.) as well as the type of hearing loss.

A Quick Review of Hearing Loss

Most people take their hearing for granted, giving little thought to this vital sense until there is a problem. For the 48 million Americans who contend with hearing loss on a daily basis, everyday life can be a struggle

Hearing loss affects people of all ages–even children and teenagers. In fact, two-thirds of patients are under the age of 65. Hearing loss isn’t just caused by aging; it can result from noise exposure, disease, trauma, or ototoxic medications.

The Parts of the Ear

Before you learn more about the types and causes of hearing loss, it is important to understand how the ear works.

The ear consists of three parts:

• • The Outer Ear

Which is the visible portion and includes the bowl-shaped concha where sounds enter the ear.

• • The Middle Ear

Which contains the ear canal, ear drum (tympanic membrane) and three tiny bones called ossicles.

• • The Inner Ear

Which consists of the cochlea and semi-circular canals structure. The inner ear is responsible for sound direction and balance.

In addition to the ear, your auditory system contains a bundle of auditory nerves that transmit signals from the inner ear to the brain’s hearing center.

The Types of Hearing Loss

There are three main types of hearing loss, depending on which part of the ear is damaged.

• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Conductive hearing loss
• Mixed hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is by far the most common type, making up 90 percent of all cases. Often referred to as nerve deafness, sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear. It is most commonly caused by aging or noise exposure, but may also occur due to:

• Viral infections
• Trauma
• Hereditary factors
• Autoimmune disorders
• Diseases
• Malformations of the inner ear
• Ototoxic medications
• Benign tumors

There is no cure for sensorineural hearing loss, but most patients can be treated successfully with hearing aids.

Conductive hearing loss involves damage to the middle or outer ear and in many cases, may be treatable. Conductive hearing loss is caused by:

• Excess fluid
• Earwax buildup
• Ear infections
• Allergies
• Objects in the ear
• Bony growths known as otosclerosis
• Benign tumors

Patients may benefit from medications or surgery, depending on the exact cause of their conductive hearing loss.

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive and involves damage to the inner and middle or outer ear. Treatment options depend on the extent and degree of hearing loss, as well as the underlying cause.

Hearing with Two Ears

Hearing loss typically affects both ears equally, but many people experience different severities of hearing loss in each ear. While it may be intuitive to only treat the worse ear for these patients, there are many reasons why treating hearing loss in both ears is beneficial.

Binaural hearing is a term that refers to hearing the same in both ears. Healthy hearing in both ears is advantageous for many reasons, including:

• It takes advantage of our ears’ natural ability to localize sound and determine which direction it’s coming from.
• It improves hearing in noisy situations where there is distracting background noise.
• It reduces stress on the cognitive system, which lowers the risk of cognitive decline and even conditions like dementia.
• It improves ability to decipher speech in any setting.

Why Do We Need Hearing Protection

All ears are not the same; each of us have different grooves and shapes that make our ears unique. In order to get the best fit possible for your hearing aid, earplug, hunting and swimming protection and even headphones, a custom earplug is ideal.

Included in the price for each custom earmold is the office visits to take the impression and fit the finished product. Earplugs can be created in a variety of colors; glitter can even be added to the mix!

Reduce Damage to Your Hearing

Unfortunately, sometimes the things we love can cause damage to our hearing. This is the case when riding a motorcycle, hunting, shooting, attending concerts and swimming. Some of these activities can damage your hearing because of the continued exposure to loud noises.

Custom Earmolds Protect Your Hearing

A custom earmold can provide the correct level of protection, drastically reducing the loudness of sounds that enter the ear. Some of these activities leave us exposed to the elements, such as high winds from riding a motorcycle and the water from competitive swimming. These can all cause damage to the ear.

Earmolds can also be utilized to make a better fitting in-the-ear headphone. Instead of those cheaper models that constantly fall out of your ear and require you to raise the volume to an unsafe level in order to hear the music, custom earmolds for electronic devices can be the solution to these issues.

The headphones will fit securely and comfortably in your ear, never accidently falling out. A great fit also ensures all the music enters your ear, which means you can listen to your favorite tunes at a safe level.

Musician’s Earmolds

Exposure to loud music is one of the leading causes of noise-induced hearing loss. Musicians spend many hours practicing and performing and depend on good hearing in order to compose their music. Unfortunately, consistent exposure to loud music carries a high price. Damaging sounds can lead to a host of hearing disorders including long-term hearing loss, tinnitus and more. Musician’s earplugs can help prevent noise-induced hearing loss while allowing musicians to enjoy the music and reduce their risk of developing permanent hearing damage.

Unlike traditional earplugs that block out noise, resulting in music and speech that is muffled or distorted, musician’s earplugs are high-fidelity, meaning they reduce sound levels evenly while keeping the original quality of the music intact. This translates to music and speech that is clear and natural, and allows musicians to hear their own instruments and how well they blend in with the other band members.

Musician’s earplugs are made up of a diaphragm and earmold that work together to produce attenuation (reduction in sound) that is smooth and flat across the entire frequency range. Many feature interchangeable attenuators that provide multiple levels of sound reduction for different listening situations (e.g., private rehearsals vs. full-scale concerts). They can be used in place of loudspeaker monitoring systems, which typically crowd the stage and increase noise levels significantly. Despite their name, these earplugs aren’t solely for the use of musicians; they also benefit concertgoers, allowing them to enjoy live performances while protecting their hearing. Musician’s earplugs can be used in other noisy environments such as airshows and sporting events.

Hunter’s Earmolds

Guns are one of the biggest threats to your hearing. They can cause instant, permanent and irreversible damage to your ears. Understandable, given the fact that a gunshot produces sounds at 120 to 160 decibels – louder than a jet engine.

Many hunters, police officers, sharpshooters and military personnel avoid wearing basic earplugs because they block out both important, safe sounds and damaging sounds simultaneously. Military and hunter’s molds solve this problem by distinguishing between good and bad sounds using advanced digital and mechanical technologies.

Earmolds for hunters, soldiers and police officers can be customized for your ears or purchased in universal forms. Custom hunter’s molds offer the benefit of a tight, secure fit specific to your ears. Universal models are a less expensive alternative that still offers better protection than earmuffs, headphones or fingers.

How Do Hunter’s Earmolds Work?

Hunter’s molds use specialized features that eliminate loud sounds that may damage your hearing, while still letting important, subtle sounds enter your ears. These earplugs can be created using individual molds from your ears or bought as generic plugs. They use an acoustic filter to block out loud sounds while amplifying those at low decibel levels. This way, you can hear rustling twigs, quiet speech and other important but subtle noises while protecting yourself from permanent hearing loss.

Hunter’s molds also have a tiny valve opening that is designed to automatically close when hit with sound waves at damaging decibel levels. This valve means your hearing is protected even if you’re not the one shooting a firearm. This feature is highly useful for the police force, military members and people shooting at a range with other gunmen.

If your work or hobbies bring you around firearms often, it’s vital to protect your ears and prevent substantial damage to your hearing. At Arizona Hearing Specialists, hunter’s molds are one of our custom earmold specialties. Give us a call to find out about our available models today.

Protect Young Ears, Comfort and Soothe Young Children

Lucid Audio has released devices to protect the hearing of children without compromising the ability to take in sounds. The product is called HearMuffs and the features include active compression of harmful sounds, the unique ability to let in outside voices at a comfortable level and the choice to play four soothing sounds.

Click Hearing Topic Link to Jump to Section Quickily :

• Hearing FAQs
• Hearing Test & Evaluations
• Hearing Loss
• Hearing Protection
• Choosing Your Hearing Aids
• Hearing Aid Styles
• Extended Wear Hearing Aids
• Technology
• Hearing Aid Counseling & Fittings
• Hearing Aid Care
• Hearing Aid Repairs
• Hearing Aid Accessories

Choosing Hearing Aids

48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. Fortunately, at Arizona hearing specialists we work with you through every step of the process from diagnosis to treatment to ensure you have made the right decision.

Selecting the right hearing aid can be overwhelming as there are countless styles, brands and features to choose from. Fortunately, your Arizona hearing specialist will work with you through every step of the process from diagnosis to treatment to ensure you have made the right decision.

Selecting a Hearing Aid

The hearing aid selection process:

1. Visit the audiologist. At your first visit, you and your audiologist will review your medical and hearing history. The audiologist will examine your ears and perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation to determine the type and extent of your hearing loss. Based on your specific hearing needs, your audiologist will be able to make a recommendation on what treatment plan is right for you.
2. If hearing aids are included in your treatment plan, we would then select the style. There are several styles of hearing aids. We will help select the one best suited for your needs.
3. Choose the features. Technology is continuing to evolve – hearing aids included. These devices can now be equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, noise reduction and additional microphones. Your audiologist will explain each available feature and help you decide which ones are best suited for your lifestyle.
4. Professional Services. In order to ensure your hearing aids are meeting your listening needs, specialized testing and follow-up visits are necessary.

Our doctors of audiology can help guide you through the process to achieve success.

Hearing Aid Styles

Hearing aid styles range from practically invisible to those that wrap around the outside of the ear. There are six main styles, each of which comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Your Arizona hearing specialists will work with you to discuss each option to determine what works best for your type and severity of hearing loss as well as your cosmetic preference.

Regardless of the style, all hearing aids have the same three parts:

• • Microphone

The microphone picks up sounds from the environment and translates those into an electrical signal; that signal is sent to the amplifier.

• • Amplifier

The amplifier increases the volume and sends this newly altered signal to the receiver.

• • Receiver

The receiver (also known as the speaker) converts the electrical signal back into sound where it travels through the ear and is sent to the brain.

Different Hearing Aid Styles

While all hearing aids may have the same basic parts, their shape, size and performance all differ.

The receiver-in-canal (RIC) and open fit models are similar to the RITE, as they have two parts connected with a thin wire. The portion that sits in the ear canal is much smaller, meaning the ear canal is not fully blocked. This enables low-frequency sounds to enter the ear naturally; high-frequency sounds are still amplified through the hearing aid. These models are appropriate for high-frequency mild to moderate hearing loss.

The behind-the-ear (BTE) model consists of two parts, one that fits inside the ear canal and one that hooks behind the ear. This is the largest and most powerful of all the devices. The BTE can fit the most additional features and uses the largest battery. This device is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss.

The completely-in-the-canal (CIC) model fits entirely inside the ear canal, making it almost invisible. The small size means there are very few additional features and the device requires a small battery with a short battery life. This model can treat mild to moderate hearing loss.

The in-the-ear (ITE) model comes in two versions; one that fills only the lower part of the outer ear (half shell) and one that fills most of the outer ear (full shell). Since this model is even larger than the last few, it can contain significantly more features and a larger battery. This device is more visible than the others and picks up more background noise, like wind. This model is appropriate for mild to severe hearing loss.

The receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) model is similar to the BTE but the two parts are connected with a thin wire instead of tubing. This model is less visible than the BTE. It is appropriate for moderate to severe hearing loss.

The behind-the-ear (BTE) model consists of two parts, one that fits inside the ear canal and one that hooks behind the ear. This is the largest and most powerful of all the devices. The BTE can fit the most additional features and uses the largest battery. This device is appropriate for almost all types of hearing loss.

The invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) model is the smallest device currently available. The entire hearing aid sits inside the ear canal, making it practically invisible. Since this model is so small, it cannot fit any additional features and also takes the smallest batteries. The smaller the battery, the quicker they drain. Since this device sits so deep inside the ear, it is less likely to pick up background noise, such as wind, but is prone to earwax blockage. This model can treat mild to moderate hearing loss.

LyricTM – Extended Wear Hearing Aid

Arizona Hearing Specialists was one of the first providers in the country to offer the Lyric(r) hearing device.

Lyric is the world’s first and only 100 percent invisible extended wear hearing device.

It has been featured on CNN, Fox News, and in the New York Times.

What to Expect

Getting started on the path toward better hearing is easy. With Lyric, you get your own customized devices in one simple office visit. Lyric is a non-surgically placed device; no anesthesia is required. Sizing and fitting you for new Lyric devices should take less than one hour.

To begin your experience, schedule an initial appointment with one of our doctors of audiology.

Initial Patient Visit

Your initial visit will begin with an evaluation of your hearing loss.

Based on this evaluation, your trained Lyric hearing professional will determine if Lyric is the best option for your hearing and lifestyle needs.

Your audiologist will complete the following at your first visit:

• Perform hearing exam to assess your hearing loss
• Conduct ear exam to check the size and shape of your canal and ear health
• Evaluate your lifestyle and hearing needs

Once we have determined that Lyric is the right solution for you, you will be sized and fit with Lyric. This process has three simple steps that enable you to leave the office with your

Sizing and Fitting Steps

Your audiologist will complete the following at your fitting appointment (this may be the same appointment as your initial visit):

• Size and place Lyric
• Program Lyric
• Discuss how to use Lyric, answer and questions you may have and schedule follow-up visits

After completing the steps above, you will start to experience the benefits of Lyric Hearing.

Follow-up Visits to Receive Your New Lyric Devices

Lyric devices may be used until they cease to function or for a maximum of 120 days. Individual replacement needs may vary. Patients should expect to return to Arizona Hearing Specialists for 10-minute replacement visits.

Benefits of Lyric Hearing Device

The benefits of Lyric include:

100% invisible

No one will know why you’re hearing better except you. Unlike traditional hearing devices, Lyric’s small size and placement in the ear canal make it totally invisible. Lyric allows you to enjoy the benefits of better hearing without anyone ever knowing you’re using a hearing device.

Effortless hearing, 24/7

With Lyric, you can forget the hassles of traditional hearing aids. Lyric allows you to hear 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can use Lyric during your activities such as sleeping, showering, exercising, using external headphones, and talking on the phone.

There are no batteries to change, no maintenance is needed and no daily insertion is required.

Natural placement, natural sound

Lyric is designed to take advantage of your ear’s anatomy. Lyric’s unique design and placement work with your ear’s anatomy to deliver exceptional sound quality.

Lyric uses your outer ear to naturally direct sound into the ear canal without the need for multiple settings or complicated programs.

The exterior of Lyric is made of a soft material specifically designed to contour to your ear canal. Lyric is comfortably placed in your ear canal during a routine visit to your Lyric trained hearing professional.

Your audiologist will work to make sure your Lyric system is fitted and adjusted specifically for your individual hearing needs. Once you are wearing Lyric, you can still adjust the volume if needed, as well as turn the device on and off.

How Lyric Works

Lyric(r) is sold on a subscription basis, meaning you will purchase a year’s worth of Lyric devices at a time. You will be guaranteed to have the most advanced Lyric hearing technology currently available, since you will be receiving new devices at each follow-up visit.

Uniquely designed and placed, Lyric works with your ear’s anatomy to deliver exceptional sound quality. Lyric uses your outer ear to naturally direct sound into your ear canal without the need for multiple settings or complicated programs.

Lyric will be programmed for your specific hearing needs. You will be able to adjust the settings and volume on your device as needed, as well as turn the device on and off.

Developed by ENT physicians and audiologists, Lyric was built around three key concepts that hearing

professionals have known for years:

• Sound quality improves with proximity to the eardrum.
• Many people with hearing loss are dissatisfied with their hearing aid options.
• Consumers desire a hassle-free, invisible solution.

Lyric Technology features:

• Biocompatible soft foam seals engineered to contour to the ear canal; safe to wear 24/7, months at a time.
• Proprietary mechanical and coating technology developed to protect the device from moisture and ear wax.
• A proprietary battery designed to last up to 120 days.
• A programmable sound processing system designed to work millimeters from the ear drum and allow for both microphone and receiver placement in the ear canal and out-of-sight.

Hearing Aid Technologies

Hearing aid technology has improved drastically over the past couple of decades.

Early devices relied on vacuum tubes and bulky batteries, but today’s instruments take advantage of digital signal processing, microchips and computerization.

Keeping track of the latest technological features can be challenging, but we’ll cover a few of the more popular options here.

What Are Analog Hearing Aids?

Analog technology still exists, but fewer and fewer manufacturers offer these devices, and many have phased them out entirely. Analog units employ a particular frequency based on your audiogram and all sounds are amplified in the same manner, whether speech or background noise. Some analog hearing aids can be programmed for different listening environments.

How Are Digital Hearing Devices Different?

Digital programmable hearing aids use digitized sound processing to convert sound waves into digital signals. A computer chip determines whether the signals are speech or noise and converts them into clear, amplified signals. Advantages in digital processing are significant: it offers improved programming ability, a more precise fit and a number of features designed to improve or enhance functionality, including:

• Gain processing reduces background sounds and microphone noise to offer a clearer sound for the listener, with less clinical adjustment needed.
• Digital feedback reduction (DFR) relies on cancellation systems to eliminate or reduce feedback.
• Digital noise reduction (DNR) reduces background noises for improved speech recognition.
• Directional microphones utilize dual microphones, focusing one on the sound source while the other decreases background noise, to enable the user to better determine directionality.
• Wireless connectivity with Bluetooth(r) devices provides great flexibility.

Which Is Right for Me?

While the choices may seem overwhelming, working closely with your audiologist at Arizona Hearing Specialists can help you figure out which technology and features are perfect for your needs.

Click Hearing Topic Link to Jump to Section Quickily :

• Hearing FAQs
• Hearing Test & Evaluations
• Hearing Loss
• Hearing Protection
• Choosing Your Hearing Aids
• Hearing Aid Styles
• Extended Wear Hearing Aids
• Technology
• Hearing Aid Counseling & Fittings
• Hearing Aid Care
• Hearing Aid Repairs
• Hearing Aid Accessories

Hearing Aid Fitting & Counseling

Hearing Aid Fitting & Counseling – 4-Step Process

Our experienced audiologists have the education and experience to evaluate and treat hearing related issues.

Through our 4-step process, your concerns will be addressed and we will find a treatment plan that is right for you.

1. Hearing, health assessment & family history

   We will review your general medical history. By learning about any medical issues you’ve dealt with in the past, we can understand their potential impact that it might have on your hearing ability.

2. Assess your listening needs

   We will assess your listening lifestyle. This will help us determine whether you are generally in quiet or more varied listening environments. We will also discuss your specific communication needs and identify the situations where you would like to improve your hearing abilities.

3. Examination and diagnostic evaluation

   Your audiologist will conduct an examination of your ears and perform a battery of audiometric tests to assess your hearing ability and identify the areas which may be impacting your speech comprehension.

4. Results and personalized treatment plan

   We will thoroughly review your hearing evaluation results and how they may be affecting your communication ability. Treatment solutions will be made based on your specific needs and lifestyle.

Hearing Aid Care

Hearing aids are a major investment, and you’ll want to get the most out of them that you can.

Regular maintenance can help extend their life, and is a must considering the conditions they are exposed to on a regular basis. Moisture, heat, earwax and dirt can all damage electronic components unless cleaned properly.

Routine Maintenance Procedures

Ideally, your hearing aids should be cleaned on a daily basis. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe all surfaces. Do not use water, solvents, cleaning fluids or alcohol, as moisture can damage your devices. Don’t overlook the microphone inlet, which can become clogged with debris, and the battery contacts, which attract dust and dirt.

Most hearing health care providers sell a multi-tool, a versatile cleaning tool that consists of a wire loop, magnet and brush. This is useful for removing wax and dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies in your hearing aids, and the magnet aids in battery removal. If a multi-tool is not available, you can usually buy each component separately.

Be sure to apply hairspray and facial lotions before inserting your hearing aids. The same applies to face washing.

Troubleshooting Tips

Despite your best efforts, your hearing aids might still cease functioning normally on occasion. Before taking them in for repair, there are steps you can take at home that might resolve the problem.

• If there is feedback or whistling when your hearing aids are inserted, the devices might have been inserted improperly. Try removing and reinserting to see if that solves the problem. If not, earwax might have accumulated and clogged the ports; clean them thoroughly with your multi-tool or wax pick.
• If the sound is distorted or unclear, your battery or contacts might be dirty or corroded. Try cleaning the battery surfaces or replacing the battery. Sometimes merely opening and closing the battery compartment door will help. Make sure your device hasn’t inadvertently been switched to T-coil mode.
• If there is no sound at all, make sure the battery isn’t dead. Check for a clogged microphone or sound outlet, or try changing the wax filter.

If these tips do not solve your problem, you’ll have to take your hearing aids in for repair. Cost will depend on what is damaged, which replacement parts are needed and whether your device is still under warranty.

Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearing aid repairs can be costly. If you begin experiencing any issues, try some home remedies before taking your hearing aid in to be serviced.

Check to make sure the hearing aid is on and the volume is up. It is easier than you would think to accidentally change these settings.

Check the battery. The batteries used in hearing aids do not drain like normal mercury batteries. Hearing aid batteries will go from full charge to completely dead in an instant.

Inspect the tubing (if you use a BTE model), as it can become damaged from normal use.

Clean the hearing aid using a dry cloth. Remove any earwax that has become trapped.

If you have tried these home repairs and your hearing aid continues to have trouble, contact us to schedule an appointment.

Hearing Aid Accessories

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) include a wide array of products designed to enhance telephone communication, TV and audio reception or improve speech and understanding and reduce the impacts of distance on your hearing.

Many ALDs use Bluetooth(r) technology to connect with iPhones(r) and other devices.

Some ALDs include:

• Amplified telephones
• Caption telephones
• Assistive TV devices (Bluetooth or infrared)
• FM systems
• Pocket Talkers
• Bluetooth connectivity to cell phones
• Amplified alerting systems (doorbells, fire alarms, alarm clocks, etc.)

Click Hearing Topic Link to Jump to Section Quickily :

• Hearing FAQs
• Hearing Test & Evaluations
• Hearing Loss
• Hearing Protection
• Choosing Your Hearing Aids
• Hearing Aid Styles
• Extended Wear Hearing Aids
• Technology
• Hearing Aid Counseling & Fittings
• Hearing Aid Care
• Hearing Aid Repairs
• Hearing Aid Accessories