Download Hearing aid users booklet - Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Hearing Aid Users Information Booklet
Audiology Department
Specialist Support
If you require this leaflet in another language, large print
or another format, please contact the Health Information
Centre Tel: (023) 9228 6757, who will advise you.
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Contents
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What should I expect from my hearing aid?
I have a hearing loss; what can I do to help
myself follow conversation?
I have a hearing loss; what can other people
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do to help me to follow conversation?
How do I contact my local
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Audiology Department?
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Where can I get new batteries from
on the Isle of Wight?
6
Where can I get new batteries from
in Hampshire and West Sussex?
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My hearing aid is not working properly;
is there anything that I can do to fix it?
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Where do I go if something goes
wrong with my hearing aid?
12
What should I expect from a
hearing aid repair clinic?
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What happens if my hearing aid goes wrong and I am unable to attend a repair clinic?
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I’m going on holiday; what happens if my
hearing aid goes wrong whilst I’m away?
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What happens if I lose or
damage my hearing aid?
What should I expect from my hearing aid?
There are benefits to having two hearing aids – if you have two aids
then you must wear them both together to get the most from them.
Digital hearing aids often do not require a volume control as
they attempt to adapt to the listening environment you are in.
• Quieter sounds will be raised to a level you can hear
• Loud sounds will not be made any louder:
by their nature they will of course still be loud
Communication will always be easier if you can see the person you
are listening to you.
• You will get clues from gestures, lip reading and
facial expressions
• Your hearing aid will give priority to the loudest speech sound;
this is often the person in front of you
The hearing aid does not restore hearing; hearing loss is a result of
a physiological problem which is often irreversible.
There may be sounds you will never hear as clearly as you may
remember them. Hearing aids are designed to make the best of
your residual hearing.
The more you wear your hearing aid the more benefit you will
get. Wear it even in situations where you don’t think you need to it is easier to practice in quiet environments.
A hearing aid is not a ‘quick-fix’ solution – it takes time, practice
and perseverance. You will not get the full benefit of a hearing
aid if used infrequently. Your own voice may sound peculiar
initially. You will soon become accustomed to it.
Hearing aids can reduce amplification of some types of
background noise and can make listening more comfortable
in background noise, but no hearing aid is able to cut out
background noise completely.
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Remember that your brain has become used to not hearing many
sounds and will take time to adjust to any new situations. It is
normal to hear sounds you have forgotten. These sounds have
always been there and with time you will re-learn to filter them
out again.
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I have a hearing loss; what can I do to help myself
follow conversation?
When someone speaks, clues are gained from what we hear and
what we see. You may be able to create a situation to maximise
these clues.
Best conditions for listening
• A room of soft furnishings to absorb sound and reduce echoes
• Reduce background noise Ask others to face you, to speak
clearly and a little louder
Tips to assist communication
• Don’t be afraid to tell people you have a hearing impairment
as there are communication tactics which they can use to
make things a little easier for you (please see overleaf)
• Ask others to face you, to speak clearly and a little louder
• Make sure the room is well lit so you can clearly see the
speaker’s face
• Watch the speaker’s lips for additional clues
• Sitting 1-2 metres from the speaker is ideal for lip-reading
• Make sure your eyesight has recently been checked as you do
not want to strain your eyes
• You lip-read better if you are relaxed so try not to let yourself
get too tired or tense
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I have a hearing loss; what can other people do to help
me follow conversation?
When someone speaks, clues are gained from what is seen as well
as what is heard. These clues compliment and supplement each
other, helping the hearing impaired person to piece together
the conversation.
For the hearing impaired the visual clues of speech become very
important. Simple actions on your part will help these visual clues
be followed. The following points will help:
• Attract the person’s attention before you start talking to them
so they can catch the beginning of what is said and not just
the ending
• Face the person and avoid speaking from another room
or as you are walking away from them
• Keep your face visible and ensure it is well lit
• Try to reduce background noise
• Do not hide your lip movement behind your hands
or other objects
• Use natural hand gestures but do not exaggerate them
as this can be distracting
• Do not shout – speak clearly and not too fast. Shouting and
‘over-mouthing’ will alter the lip pattern and speaking too
slowly may destroy the natural rhythm of speech
• Try to make the subject of conversation as clear as possible
• Try to use full sentences rather than short phrases as these can
be easier to understand
• Be patient
• Do not wear sunglasses as this makes it more difficult to gauge
expression and emotion
• Repeat or rephrase the sentence if necessary
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How do I contact my local Audiology Department?
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
(01243) 865418
Gosport War Memorial Hospital
(023) 9252 4611
Queen Alexandra Hearing Aid Department, Portsmouth
(023) 9228 6289
St Mary’s Hearing Aid Department, Isle of Wight
(01983) 552205
St Richard’s Hearing Aid Department, Chichester
(01243) 831536
Where can I get new batteries from on the Isle of
Wight?
Brading
Beech Grove Surgery, The Mall
Brighstone
Brighstone Surgery, New Road
Cowes
Cowes Health Centre, 200 Newport Road
East Cowes
East Cowes Health Centre, York Avenue
Freshwater
Brookside Health Centre, Moa Place
Godshill
Godshill Medical Centre, Yarborough Close
Newport
St Mary’s Hospital, Main Reception or The
Audiology Department.
The Dower House Surgery, Pyle Street
Niton
Niton Surgery, Blackgang Rd
Ryde
Argyll House, 78 West Street
Outpatients Department, Swanmore Road
Sandown
Sandown Medical Centre, The Heights
Shanklin
Arther Webster Clinic, Landguard Road
St Helen’s
St Helen’s Medical Centre, Upper Green Road
Ventnor
Ventnor Health Clinic
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Where can I get new batteries from in Hampshire and
West Sussex?
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
Bognor Regis Health Centre, West Street
The Croft Surgery, Barnham Road, Eastergate
Flansham Park Health Centre, Felpham
Grove House Surgery, Pryors Lane, Rose Green
Maywood Surgery, Hawthorn Road, Bognor
Middleton Medical Centre, Elmer Road
West Meads Surgery, The Precinct, Bognor
Yew Tree Surgery, North End Road, Yapton
Arundel
The Surgery, Green Lane Close
Chichester
St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester
Cathedral Medical Centre, Cawley Road
Parklands Road surgery, Parklands Road
Lavant Road Surgery, Lavant Road
Tangmere Medical Pratice, Tangmere
Emsworth
Emsworth Surgery, North Street
Midhurst
Riverbank Medical Centre, Dodsley Lane
Selsey
Selsey Medical Practice, High Street
Witterings
Wittering Medical Centre, East Wittering
Southbourne
Southbourne Surgery, 337, Main Road,
Southbourne
Denmead
Denmead Health Centre
Fareham
Fareham Community Hospital
Gudgeheath Lane Surgery
Highlands Road Medical Centre
Jubilee Surgery, Titchfield
Lockswood Daycare Centre
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Fareham
Gosport
Lockswood Surgery, Locks Heath
Portchester Health Centre
Stubbington Medical Practice
Shopmobility, Osborn Road
Whiteley Surgery
Gosport War Memorial Hospital
Lee-On-The-Solent Health Centre
Havant
Bosmere Medical Centre
Havant Health Centre
Hayling Island
Hayling Island Health Centre
Petersfield
Petersfield Community Hospital
Portsmouth
Age UK, The Bradbury Centre, Kingston Road
Battenburg Avenue Clinic
Cosham Health Centre
Eastney Health Centre
Lake Road Health Centre
Queen Alexandra Hospital,
Audiology Department
Somerstown Health Centre
Waterlooville
Waterlooville Health Centre
Please dispose of your old batteries responsibly. Battery recycling
bins can be found at some of the larger centres listed above.
Battery recycling bins are also available in the community, for
example in supermarkets or your local council recycling plant.
Please bring your brown record book with you to obtain
new batteries.
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My hearing aid is not working properly; is there
anything that I can do to fix it?
If your hearing aid is not working properly there are some simple
checks that you can do.
Symptom
No sound
coming from
hearing aid
Possible Cause
Battery not working
or
incorrectly inserted
Aid not switched on
Earmould blocked
with wax
Earmould tube
blocked by
condensation
Hearing aid faulty
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Possible Remedy
Replace battery, make sure
sticker is removed and it is
the correct way up
Check battery door is fully
closed or the aid is switched
to ‘M’ position
Disconnect earmould from
aid and wash earmould in
warm water
Disconnect earmould from
aid and blow out moisture
Return aid to repair clinic
Buzzing,
crackling or
frying noise
Symptom
Aid
whistling
Aid is on the
Telecoil (Loop)
setting
Faulty connections
in aid
Possible Cause
Wax in ears
Poor fitting
earmould
Split / brittle tubing
Internal fault
Aid not loud Earmould not
enough
inserted correctly
Wax / condensation
in tubing
Intermittent
1. For aids with a button; press
program button until a
single beep is heard
2. For aids with a switch;
reset to ‘M’ position
Return aid to repair clinic
Possible Remedy
Get ears checked for wax with
practice nurse at your local GPs
Check earmould is inserted
correctly. If mould does not
fit well then attend repair
clinic for new impression
Replace tubing
Return aid to repair clinic
Reinsert earmould carefully
Disconnect earmould from aid,
wash earmould in warm water
and blow out moisture
Faulty aid
Return aid to repair clinic
Hearing down
Ask to be reassessed
Condensation in
Remove earmould and blow
tube
out moisture
Kink in tube
Replace tube
Aid has been
Disconnect aid from mould and
exposed to moisture leave out to air in a warm place
Faulty aid
Return aid to repair clinic
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Where do I go if something goes wrong with my
hearing aid?
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every
Monday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm
Wednesday from 9.00am until 12.00am
Friday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm at:
Bognor Regis War Memorial
Hospital
Shripney Road
Bognor Regis
PO22 9PP
Please phone (01243) 865418
to book an appointment.
Patients will not be seen
without an appointment.
Gosport War Memorial Hospital
Hearing aids can be left with the receptionist at Gosport War
Memorial Hospital any morning (Monday - Friday) between
8.30am and 11.30am and collected later. Hearing aids can also be
repaired by appointment.
Gosport War Memorial
Hospital
Bury Road
Gosport
PO12 3PW
Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to
arrange an appointment
Patients will not be seen
without an appointment.
St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight
Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every
Monday to Thursday at:
Audiology Department
St Mary’s Hospital
Newport
Isle of Wight
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Please phone (01983) 552205 or
visit the Audiology reception
to book an appointment.
Patients will not be seen
without an appointment.
St Richard’s Hospital Chichester
Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every
Monday to Friday from
9.00am until 12pm and 1.30pm until 4.30pm at:
Hearing Aid Department
Waiting Area D
St Richard’s Hospital
Spitalfield Lane
Chichester
PO19 6SE
Please phone (01243) 831536
to book an appointment.
Patients will not be seen
without an appointment.
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Hearing aids can be repaired without an appointment every
Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 12.00pm at:
The Audiology Department
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Cosham
PO6 3LY
There are no repair sessions
in the afternoon.
Fareham Community Hospital
Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at:
Fareham Community Hospital
Brook Lane
Sarisbury
Fareham
SO31 7DQ
Please phone (023) 9228 6289
to arrange an appointment.
Highlands Medical Centre
Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at:
Highlands Medical Centre
102 Highlands Road
Fareham
PO15 6JF
Please phone (023) 9228 6289
to arrange an appointment.
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What should I expect from a hearing aid repair clinic?
Most simple problems can be solved during the hearing aid
repair clinics. For example:
• Retubing your ear mould
• Issuing batteries
• Reducing whistling
• Replacing lost / damaged or faulty hearing aids
• Making new ear moulds
If the audiologist feels that your problem is more
complicated and requires more time, an appointment
will be arranged for a future date. Repair clinics are not
intended for more complex problems. No hearing tests
can be carried out during these sessions.
What happens if my hearing aid goes wrong and I
am unable to attend a repair clinic?
Some simple hearing aid repairs can be completed by post.
In a padded envelope, send your;
• Hearing aid
• Ear mould
• Brown hearing aid record book
• A description of the problem
• A self-addressed envelope with a large letter stamp
Please note: Hearing aids are sent through the post at your
own risk. Lost hearing aids will incur a charge.
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I’m going on holiday; what happens if my hearing
aid goes wrong whilst I’m away?
If you are going away and feel you might benefit from
a spare hearing aid, a loan can be arranged.
You will be asked to fill in a loan form and to sign it with
an agreed return date. You will also be asked to give a
post-dated cheque.
If the hearing aid is not returned by the pre-agreed date,
your cheque will be cashed.
What happens if I lose or damage my hearing aid?
The hearing aid you have been issued with remains the property
of the NHS – you will be charged for lost or damaged aids
• Charges are a nominal fee towards covering the lost or
damaged hearing aid and the expense of issuing a new one –
you are not purchasing a new hearing aid
• Charges are based on individual circumstances which will be
discussed with a member of staff
• The Department does not handle payments – you will be billed
from the Finance Department once your replacement hearing
aid has been issued
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How do I comment on my treatment?
We aim to provide the best possible service and staff will be
happy to answer your questions. However, if you have any
concerns you can also contact the Patient Experience Service on
0800 917 6039 or E-mail portsmouthhospitals.patientexperience@
porthosp.nhs.uk
Information we hold about you and your
rights under the Data Protection Act
Please refer to the booklet ‘Your Healthcare Information –
Your Rights! Our Responsibilities! for further guidance.
Author: Audiology Department
Date: Sept 2009/2011/2013
Review Date: Sept 2015
Ref: AUD/01
MPI Ref: 09/1889
© Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust