Receiver-in-the-Ear BTE Hearing Aids
Daily Care:
Throughout the day, hearing aids are exposed to moisture through your perspiration and the environment. Although your hearing aids have been treated for moisture protection, accumulation of moisture is harmful to the electronics of the hearing aids. It is important to reverse the daily effects of moisture by storing the hearing aids in a dry environment overnight.
Your audiologist may provide an electronic dryer, called a Dry and Store. This is a special unit that combats the harmful effects of moisture. The Dry and Store is a unit that contains two compartments inside. One compartment holds a disposable desiccant block called a “Dri-Brik”. This Dri-Brick will absorb moisture from the air and the hearing aids inside the unit. It will absorb moisture effectively for 2 months, and then you will have to replace the brick. To activate a brick simply remove the protective covering of the new brick and write the date on the top so you will know when to replace it. The second compartment holds your hearing aids. Underneath this tray is a fan that will circulate warm air through the devices. At night take out your hearing aids, open the battery doors to turn the aids off, and place the aids in the tray. You may keep the batteries in the hearing aids while they are in the Dry and Store. Next, turn on the fan by pressing the power button. A green light will indicate that the unit is on. The fan will run for 8 hours then automatically shut off.
Every morning, you should gently brush the domes or custom earmolds and tube openings with a toothbrush or small hearing aid brush to remove any wax. Also, brush over the microphones on the hearing aids to remove any dust or debris.
You may also use a hearing aid sanitizing solution to remove excess wax and bacteria from your earpieces. Simply spray this solution onto a tissue or soft paper towel and wipe down the exterior of the earmolds and hearing aids. It is important to only use hearing aid sanitizer provided by your audiologist. Do not use alcohol or other cleaning agents as they will damage the hearing aids.
Your hearing aids are equipped with wax guards that will protect the receivers from wax. The wax guards should be replaced every two to four weeks, depending on how much wax your ears produce. Your audiologist will provide you with additional wax guards. If there are domes over the speaker of your hearing aids, first remove the domes by pinching the tip with one hand and gripping the receiver with the other hand. If there is wax on the domes, you can wipe it off with a tissue and reuse it.
If the domes are old and torn, you should throw it away and use new domes. Your audiologist can supply you with new domes. Once the domes are removed, you will see the wax guards. It is the tiny white circular object at the end of the receiver. If you have custom earmolds, the white wax guards will be visible on the earmolds, where the earmolds insert into the ear.
Once the wax guards are visible, insert the empty end of the tool straight into the wax guard on the hearing aids. Twist and pull out the black tool. Photo 50 The wax guard should come out with the tool. Next, insert the end of the tool with the new wax guard attached to it straight into the opening of the receiver. Apply pressure, twist, and pull the black tool out. The wax guard should remain in the receiver. To ensure the wax guard is securely in the receiver, press down with your finger.
Now you may need to place the domes back onto the receivers. Hold the domes by the tip and grip the receivers of the hearing aids with the other hand. Push the domes completely onto the receivers.
Troubleshooting:
Sometimes, your hearing aids may stop working unexpectedly. Usually, you will be able to restore hearing aid function by following these basic troubleshooting techniques.
- Replace the batteries
- When your hearing aids stop working, replace the batteries.
- After replacing the batteries, check to see if the hearing aids are working by either checking for feedback by cupping the aids in your hand or by listening through the hearing aids.
- Check the domes and wax guards for blockage
- If changing the battery doesn’t restore hearing aid performance, then check the domes and wax guards for blockage. If debris is present, then sound cannot leave the receiver. b.
- Remove this debris by brushing the domes with a brush and replacing the wax guard.
Using these two troubleshooting steps will likely restore your hearing aids. If the hearing aid continues to malfunction, call your audiologist for a hearing aid check.
