Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
General Information for New Hearing Aid Users Audiology Department __________________________________________________________________ Introduction This information leaflet will provide you with practical information and advice regarding your new hearing aid. There is lots of useful information enclosed, so it is important that you take time to read this leaflet in order to help you adapt to wearing your hearing aid. Getting Used to Your Hearing Aid It is normal for the hearing aid to sound strange at first. It can take a number of months for you to get used to the sound of the hearing aid. Common reports are that the hearing aid can sound hollow or tinny. We normally recommend that you start wearing the hearing aid for just a couple of hours a day, in an environment that you feel comfortable in, such as around the house. This allows you some degree of control of the sound level that you experience. Once you feel comfortable wearing your hearing aid in this environment, it is important to increase the hours that you use the hearing aid, as well varying the situations that the hearing aid is worn. You should build up your usage of the aid over the next couple weeks/months. Every time you use the hearing aid in a new situation you are exposed to lots of different sounds. It is important to continue to wear the aid in order to adapt to these new sounds. Hearing aids cannot give you perfect hearing, but they should help you hear everyday sounds and help you to follow what people are saying much easier. You will find that one-to-one conversations, in a quiet environment, are a lot easier. It is important to remember that wearing the hearing aid in a noisier environment will take longer to get used to. When you are used to the sound of the hearing aid, it is best to wear it as much as possible. This gives you the best chance of adapting to the sound of the aid. The only times you shouldn’t wear the hearing aid are when you go to bed and for any water-based activity (e.g. showering or swimming). ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 1 The way to adapt to a hearing aid quickly is to follow the 3 “Ps” PRACTICE - PATIENCE - PERSEVERANCE Using Your Aid in Noisy Places In noisy places like high streets, pubs and restaurants, you may still find it difficult to follow what people are saying. Most hearing aids are designed to adjust automatically when there is a lot of noise. Even with the best hearing aid, some situations may still be very difficult. Here are some things that you can do to make it easier:Position yourself so that you can look directly at the person that you are speaking to so that you can see their face. Sit with your back to the worst of the noise and select a Noisy Environments programme on your hearing aid (if applicable). Make sure that the room is as well-lit as possible, and that the person speaking knows that they should be facing you throughout the conversation. Wearing an aid in both ears will help you focus better on what you want to listen to (if appropriate). Hearing Aid Controls The NHS uses several different models of hearing aid, each with slightly different controls. Details of how your specific hearing aid works are found in the hearing aids instruction sheet. If you do not have an instruction sheet, please ask an audiologist for one. Please make sure that you are familiar with the following:How How How How to to to to turn your hearing aid on and off. select different hearing programs (if applicable). use the volume control (if applicable). change the battery. You should have been shown how to insert and remove your ear mould during your fitting appointment and given an opportunity to practise this. It can take a little while to get used to putting your ear mould into your ear. If, after a few weeks you are struggling to fit the ear mould you can attend our repair clinics for further support. Using Your Hearing Aid with a Telephone How to use your hearing aid with a telephone will have been demonstrated at your fitting appointment. ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 2 You will need to hold the telephone earpiece near the microphone on your aid, near the top of your ear. Many telephones also work with your hearing aid’s loop system (if this has been enabled on your hearing aid). If you continue to have difficulty using the telephone, the Audiology Department can recommend a suitable model of telephone to match your hearing loss. Care and Maintenance of your Hearing Aid Cleaning your Hearing Aid Clean the main part of the hearing aid by wiping it carefully with a soft, dry cloth or tissue. Take care not to get it wet. Cleaning your Ear Mould Wipe the ear mould with a damp cloth or tissue every night. Use a pin or similar item to remove any wax or debris that has got into the tube going through the ear mould. If you feel confident doing so, you can also wash the ear mould in soapy water once a week. To do this, you need to detach the ear mould from the hearing aid by holding the tube with one hand and the hook of the aid with the other and tugging gently. Do not pull the tube out of the ear mould as you will not get it back in again. Soak the ear mould for 10-15 minutes, rinse it well, blow down the tubing and allow it to dry overnight in a warm place. Cleaning your Open Ear fitting tubing If - instead of an ear mould – you have an ‘open ear fitting’ you should have been given a cleaning wire. Detach the thin tube from the hearing aid by unscrewing it. Thread the cleaning wire through the tube and out of the other side. This should clear any blockage in the tube. Re-attach the thin tube by screwing it back onto the hearing aid. Re-tubing Your Hearing Aid The clear plastic tube linking your hearing aid to the ear mould and the ‘open ear fitting’ need to be changed every 4-6 months. This can be carried out in our repair clinics. The tube needs changing when it becomes discoloured and brittle. If you would like to re-tube the mould yourself, please ask an audiologist to show you. ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 3 Replacement Batteries Free replacement batteries are available from many clinics and hospitals throughout the area. Battery recycling facilities are also available at some clinics. Please ask a member of staff for your nearest clinic. A postal service is also available. You have been issued with a battery record book/card which has details of your hearing aid and the type of batteries which it uses. You should post the book/card to the address given in the front of the book/card and we will send new batteries within 2 days of receipt of your request. Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of your batteries. Trouble-Shooting If your aid doesn’t seem to be working:Check that the battery has been inserted correctly. Try one new battery. Check that the tubing is not blocked with wax or moisture. If you are unable to clear this yourself, you can attend a repair clinic to have the tube changed. Check that the tubing is not twisted, squashed or split. If the tube is damaged, it can be replaced at the repair clinic. Whistling, squealing or buzzing noises are often caused by feedback. The most common causes of feedback are:The ear mould not being correctly inserted in your ear. Check that the ear mould has been fitted properly. Your ear being blocked with wax. Your GP can arrange wax removal, generally through the practice nurse. A loose-fitting ear mould. You can attend a repair clinic to ask an audiologist to check the fit of your ear mould. ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 4 Hearing Aid Maintenance and Repairs In order to help you maintain your hearing aid, or if you have any issues or problems with your hearing aid, you should attend a repair session in order to discuss your problem. We run repair clinics at the following sites without the need to make an appointment:Hearing & Balance Unit E Block Royal Gwent Hospital Monday – Friday: 9 am – 12.45 pm Audiology Department Nevill Hall Hospital Monday – Friday: 9 am – 12pm Audiology Department Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Ystrad Mynach Monday: 9.30am -12.15pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm Tuesday: 9.30am -12.15pm and 1.30pm - 4.30pm Thursday: 9.30am -12.15pm Routine repairs are carried out during these times. This includes re-tubing the ear moulds, taking new impressions for ear moulds, checking and replacing faulty hearing aids and providing general advice about the care and maintenance of your hearing aid. There are times when your reported problem cannot be resolved in the repair clinic. If this is the case it may be necessary to arrange an appointment with another member of staff to discuss the issues in more detail. If this is the case, we will advise you in the repair clinic. There are likely to be waiting lists for these appointments and you will be advised of the wait time. There are also weekly appointment-only repair clinics at Chepstow Community Hospital and Cwmbran Clinic. Please ring:- 01633 - 234390 to arrange an appointment. Limited repair clinics also operate at Monnow Vale Health Centre. Please ring:- 01600 - 773113 to make an appointment this clinic. ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 5 Hospital Telephone Numbers If you need to contact the department by telephone, the direct dial numbers are:Royal Gwent Hospital: 01633 234390 Nevill Hall Hospital: 01873 732800 Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr: 01443 802446 These phone lines are very busy throughout the day. Fax Number for all hospital sites: 01633 - 656299 Please look after your hearing aid. We will repair or replace it free of charge if it goes wrong. However, there may be a charge if it is lost or damaged through misuse. ABHB/PIU1079/2 – September 2014 Expiry Date:- September 2017 Page 6