New Users

Using Your Hearing Instruments Now that you have your new hearing instruments, you may notice sounds you haven’t heard in a long time. Background street noises, a chirping bird, children playing … these are all sounds that gradually faded out of your life as your hearing worsened. It will take some time to adjust to your new world of sound. Eventually, you will get used to these noises and to unconsciously use the same selective hearing process that people with normal hearing use each day. The key is to remain optimistic. Except in rare cases, hearing loss occurs over an extended period. You must give yourself time to adjust to better hearing. Daily use of your hearing instruments will be essential to that process. Through it all, your hearing aid dispenser will be there to:

• instruct you on the proper insertion of your new hearing instruments
• show you basic care and maintenance for your instruments
• provide an individualized program to help you adjust to your newfound ability to hear
• consult with your family and others to help them better communicate with you and help you adjust to your new hearing system

Service and Repair

A hearing instrument is a delicate, high-tech, electronic device and its operating lifespan depends greatly on its proper care. Gentle handling, occasional preventive maintenance, and a few simple precautions will result in longer life and less expense to its owner. It is important that your instrument be serviced by the office where you purchased it. Hearing aid dispensers who are members of the Oklahoma Hearing Aid Association will provide you with continuing service. Here are a few general suggestions for the proper care of your hearing instrument:

• Keep the hearing instrument dry and avoid excessive heat.
• Remove spent batteries immediately.
• Do not drop on hard surfaces.
• Protect the hearing instrument from hard knocks.
• Do not use hair spray while wearing the instrument.
• Turn the instrument off each time you take it off.
• Do not attempt to repair the instrument yourself. If it is not working properly, consult your hearing aid dispenser.
• Your hearing aid dispenser can explain the proper procedure for keeping the earmold clean.
• Never use alcohol or cleaning fluid to clean the earmold or instrument.

Proper care and maintenance will significantly extend the lifetime of your hearing system. A hearing aid dispenser uses a video otoscope as part of the hearing aid candidate’s evaluation.