Whether you think you might have hearing loss or you’ve just been diagnosed with hearing loss, it’s normal to have questions. How do you put in hearing aids? Are they uncomfortable? What do you have to do to maintain them?
As your Toronto hearing clinic, we want to make sure you know everything about your new hearing aids, including how to put them in and how to make sure they are comfortable at all times. Knowing how to put in a hearing aid is especially important for young children with hearing issues and seniors who may be experiencing reduced dexterity.
When you buy hearing aids in Toronto, we’ll make sure you’re comfortable and confident, no matter what style of hearing aid you use.
How to Put in a Hearing Aid
There are several different types of hearing aids, and how you put them in may change with the style, but they typically all have three basic parts: a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker. How do hearing aids work with these three parts? The microphone receives sound from the outside world, converting it to electrical signals that are sent to the amplifier. The amplifier enhances those sounds and transmits them to the ear through the speaker. Wearing a hearing aid correctly makes sure all these parts function at their best and you’re comfortable while they do.
Wearing a hearing aid should never be painful. At first, it may feel awkward walking around with something in your ear all day. It may take a bit of adjusting before it feels entirely natural, but it’s not that different from wearing glasses or putting in contact lenses for the first time.
How to Put in Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
First, let’s take a look at how to put in a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aid:
- First, hold the body of the hearing aid upright by the bottom with the hand that matches your ear (right hand for right ear, left hand for left ear).
- Place the body of the hearing aid gently over the ear, around where you would you place your glasses.
- Next, take the earpiece and place it in the ear canal by lining it up with your ear canal and pressing it in for depth.
- Press the hearing aid deep enough so that there is no gap between the wire and the side of your head just above your ear. Once those are flush, the earpiece is in deep enough.
- If your hearing device has a retention tail, grab the tail and fold it in into the bowl of your ear, which is the lower part of your ear just above the lobe.
There is also an alternative method as well. You can hold the hearing aid upside-down by the earpiece that goes into the canal. Place the earpiece in the canal first, push it in for depth, and then grab the body of the hearing aid and flip it over your ear. Give it a final press for depth, and you should be set.
How to – Insert Completely-In-the-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aids
Another style of hearing aids is completely-in-the-canal, meaning the hearing aids go directly into the ear canal without any parts resting above and behind your ear. This can make them more difficult to place, especially for young kids or people suffering from dexterity issues.
During hearing aid fittings, audiologists find the right measurements for your custom earpiece, making sure that it fits snugly and comfortably in the ear canal.
To put in a CIC hearing aid, hold it upright around the battery door. Next, rotate the device slightly forward with the speaker directed down toward the canal while gently pulling up your outer ear to open up your ear canal. Make sure it’s seated well.
How to Wear Modern Hearing Aids
Modern hearing aids come in a number of different styles. Some of our more popular modern hearing aid styles include slim fit hearing aids, which include a fashionable behind-the-ear piece, as well as instant fit hearing aids, which are completely in the canal and do not require an earmold impressionHow to wear a modern hearing aid depends entirely on the style you opt for.
At Toronto Hearing, we want to make sure you get the right device for you. We offer patients a complimentary in-office demo. We offer a take home hearing aid trial for a small fee if the patient is interested, before they decide on their device. We want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the hearing aid that you choose.
Troubleshooting Hearing Aids
What if the hearing aid is slipping out of your ear?
If your hearing aid keeps slipping out of your ear, there are two possible solutions. You may want to get a smaller or a larger earpiece if your hearing aid comes with one, or you can get a retention wire that should help the device stay securely in place. Hearing aids may slip out due to moisture in the ear canal, or change position due to your jaw’s movements.
What if the hearing aid sounds weak?
When you get your hearing aids, hearing aid programming is completed to ensure the devices match your needs. If the hearing aid sounds weak or dead, it likely needs a fresh battery or a charge. They could also be clogged with wax or debris that can muffle the sound, and they just need to be cleaned. If none of these work, talk to us, and we can take a look to see if we can repair them . Hearing aids are warrantied for three years; any issues unable to be resolved in the clinic can be resolved at the hearing aid manufacturer under warranty.
What if the hearing aid is uncomfortable or painful?
Hearing aids should never be painful Check to make sure that you are putting the hearing aid in right. Wax buildup can also result in discomfort. If discomfort or pain persists, you may need to have the physical features of the hearing aid modified. Bring them to Toronto Hearing Consultants for us to take a closer look.
We’ll make sure you know everything there is to know about your hearing aid when you purchase them. We’ll show you how to put in your hearing aids and when to know if they need to be adjusted.
