Using Your Hearing Aids

Parts of the Hearing Aid

Custom Styles (In-The-Ear, In-the-Canal and Completely-In-The-Canal hearing aids):

Behind-The-Ear Styles

Inserting the battery

• Using the fingernail of either your thumb or forefinger, pull the tab on the battery compartment outward until the compartment swings open all the way.
• Place the proper size of battery into the battery compartment, observing the correct polarity. The “+” sign on the battery must match the “+” sign stamped on the top of the battery compartment door
• Gently close the battery compartment door. Avoid forcing the battery door shut. If it does not close easily, check to see if the battery was inserted properly. Once the battery is in its proper position, your aid is ready to operate.

Turning the Hearing Aid On and Off

To turn the aid on: insert the battery and close the door.
To turn the aid off: open the battery door fully so that no contact remains.
Make it a habit to open the battery door every time you take off your hearing aid.

Inserting the Hearing Aid

Custom Styles (In-The-Ear, In-the-Canal and Completely-In-The-Canal hearing aids):

To insert the aid: Hold the shell between your thumb and index finger. Insert the canal end of the aid into the ear, then work the aid into its proper position by gently pushing on the shell until it sits firmly an comfortably in your ear. For a secure fit, you may wish to pull down on your earlobe while inserting the aid.

To remove the aid: for in-the-ear styles, gently push back on the ear to help release the shell and gently pull it out. For in-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal styles, grasp the small plastic wire attached to the hearing aid and gently pull it out.

Behind-The-Ear Styles

To insert the aid: Take the earmold between your thumb and index finger. Gently work the aid into its proper position by slightly adjusting it until the earmold sits firmly and comfortably in your ear. For a secure fit, you may wish to pull down on your earlobe while inserting the earmold. Then lift the hearing aid over the top of your ear and adjust it to fit behind your ear.

To remove the aid: gently push back on the ear to help release the ear mold and gently pull it out.

Adjusting the Volume of the Hearing Aid

If your hearing aid has automatic volume control, the volume will change according to the environment without any effort on your part.

If your hearing aid has an on-off/volume control wheel or stick, you can control the volume as follows, depending on the style of hearing aid you wear:

Custom Styles (In-The-Ear, In-the-Canal and Completely-In-The-Canal hearing aids):

To increase the volume: use your index finger to rotate the wheel toward your face. Full volume has been reached when the wheel stops.

To decrease the volume: use your index finger to rotate the wheel away from your face. The hearing aid is off (or muted) when the wheel stops.

Behind-The-Ear Styles:

To increase the volume: use your index finger to rotate the wheel upward. Full volume has been reached when the wheel stops.

To decrease the volume: use your index finger to rotate the wheel downward. The hearing aid is off (or muted) when the wheel stops.