Maintaining hearing aids

We recommend you perform a daily check and listening test to identify problems, many of which are easy to fix.

An audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) can show you how to check hearing aids and give you a care kit.

Visual check

• Check the casing for damage or cracks.
• Make sure the microphone cover (if fitted) is secure and free from blockage.
• Check the elbow. Does it have any holes, dents or cracks? Is it loose or wobbly?
• Is the filter still in place (if fitted)?
• Check that the flap covering the programming controls hasn't been opened or lost.
• Check the battery compartment. Is there damage to the battery contacts? Are there signs of rust?
• Gently shake the hearing aid. Is there a rattling sound? If so, a part might be loose.
• Look for condensation or moisture in the tubing or elbow.

If you notice any issues, contact your audiologist for advice.

Video: How to look after hearing aids: Step-by-step tips (YouTube).

Listening test

Your audiologist should have provided a maintenance kit and shown you how to do a listening test. If unsure, contact them for another demonstration.

The kit should include a stetoclip, which is a plastic headset that lets you listen to the hearing aid. If the hearing aid is powerful, use the included attenuator with the stetoclip to keep the sound at a safe level while you test it.

If you’re deaf yourself, you can ask an audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf (ToD) to do the listening test.

If you have hearing, you can do the following listening test every day:

1. Place the stetoclip over the meatal tip (the part of the earmould that goes furthest into the ear canal), or remove the earmould tubing from the elbow and push the end of the elbow into the stetoclip tubing.
2. Turn on the hearing aid and talk to it throughout the listening test. If you don't hear your voice, check the batteries are facing the right way and make sure the stetoclip tube isn't kinked or blocked. If there's still no sound, contact your audiologist or hearing aid clinic.
3. You should not hear crackling or volume changes. If the hearing aid has a volume control, gently press it – the sound shouldn't turn off. If issues persist, contact your audiologist or hearing aid clinic.
4. Gently squeeze the hearing aid case, especially near the battery compartment. If this affects the sound, contact your audiologist or hearing aid clinic.
5. Check that the aid switches on and off by opening and closing the battery door.

Even working hearing aids may sound a little strange to someone with hearing. Regular listening will help you become familiar with how the hearing aids sound. If you notice any change in sound or volume, get the hearing aids checked by your audiologist or Teacher of the Deaf.

1. Detach the flexible tubing from the hearing aid’s hard plastic elbow.
2. Wash the earmould in warm soapy water.
3. Run water through the tubing to remove any debris. If there’s wax at the end of the tubing, use a small brush or the eye of a sewing needle to remove it.
4. Dry the earmould using the puffer or by leaving it overnight. Make sure it is completely dry before reattaching it to the hearing aid.

Never clean earmoulds with disinfectant or bleaches. If you do need to sterilise an earmould, you can use baby bottle sterilising fluid, such as Milton. Avoid leaving hearing aids in or on direct heat sources (like on radiators). Chemicals and heat can damage the earmould.

If you notice a strong or unusual smell from an earmould, it could be a sign of an ear infection. Visit your GP, and tell your audiologist. A child should not wear a hearing aid while their ear is infected.

Tubing should be replaced regularly, usually every 4 to 6 months. Ask your audiologist or hearing aid clinic to show you how to do this. They can also provide spares for practice.

To replace the tubing yourself:

1. Remove the old tubing from the elbow of the hearing aid.
2. Gently pull the tubing from the outside face of the earmould. If it's glued in place, use a tiny screwdriver to loosen it carefully.
3. Cut one end of the new tubing at an angle to make a point.
4. Feed the tubing through the back of the earmould and continue pulling it through until it stands upright on its own.
5. Once it's in the right position, cut the tubing flush with the earmould tip (meatal tip). Then, pull it back about half a millimetre.
6. Fit the earmould in the ear and position the hearing aid to see how much you need to trim for a good fit. Make sure the tubing is not crushed or kinked at the bend where it leaves the earmould.

For earmoulds using 'libby' tubing, the process is reversed, and you should start retubing from the earmould tip (meatal tip).

If needed, you can buy an earmould threader from places like Connevans.

Video: How to change tubing in hearing aids: Step-by-step instructions (YouTube).

For other types of fit, such as dome or open-fit, ask your audiologist how to change the tubing.

Remove the stickers before inserting batteries. Check that they've been put in correctly: the ‘+’ symbol on the battery should match up with the one in the battery compartment. If it still does not work, use the battery tester from your hearing aid kit to check if the battery has power.

Batteries are extremely dangerous if swallowed. If you think your child may have swallowed a battery or inserted it into their ear or nose, take them to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department. Bring the battery packaging with you so that the doctors know what they’re dealing with.

More on battery and hearing aid safety.

Hearing aids can sometimes make a whistling noise, called feedback. This happens when the microphone picks up the sound coming out of the hearing aid and makes it louder.

The most common cause of feedback is a poor-fitting earmould which lets sound leak out. As children grow quickly, earmoulds need to be replaced regularly. For babies, this can be as often as once a month.

Video: Fix whistling in hearing aids (YouTube).

Other causes of feedback include:

• Earwax: Earwax can reflect sounds back out of the ear. Don’t try to remove earwax yourself – ask your audiologist or GP to check.
• Faulty elbow: If the plastic hook (elbow) is cracked or damaged, replace it with the same type from the clinic.
• Feedback from the aid: Gently pull the earmould tubing from the plastic elbow. Press a finger over the end of the tubing to make a seal and turn on the hearing aid. If you can still hear feedback, return it to the clinic for repair.
• Jaw movement: If jaw movement causes feedback, try using a small amount of petroleum jelly or special cream like Otoferm to help make a seal between the earmould and ear. If this doesn’t work, ask your audiologist.
• Old earmould: Over time, earmoulds can crack or harden. Replace it if needed.
• Small ear canal: Narrow ear canals can cause feedback as sound reflects off the ear canal walls more easily. A different earmould or a bone conduction hearing aid may help. Ask your audiologist for advice.
• Feeding babies: Babies may experience feedback when held close during feeding or when they’re lying down. Try changing positions or removing the hearing aid briefly. Talk to your audiologist if the issue persists.

Even though some hearing aids are water resistant, never submerge them in water. Always remove them before swimming, bathing or showering. You can wipe the casing with a dry cloth if needed.

If your hearing aid gets wet, follow these steps:

1. Remove the hearing aid from the water immediately and gently dry it with a soft cloth.
2. Take out the battery and check for water in the battery compartment.
3. Put the hearing aid in a drying kit to remove any moisture. If you do not have a drying kit, you can put it in a box with rice or leave it in a warm, dry area like an airing cupboard (but avoid direct heat sources like radiators).
4. If the hearing aid stops working, contact your audiology department for assistance.

If you find a problem with a hearing aid that you can’t fix, contact your audiologist. They can replace the hearing aid or lend a similar one while the fault one is repaired.

NHS hearing aids

If you lose an NHS hearing aid, your audiologist should be able to offer an immediate replacement. If the earmould is also lost, a new one will be made, usually within a week.

If the hearing aid was bought by the NHS from a third-party supplier, your audiologist will need to order a new one from the manufacturer, unless one is already in stock. The replacement will be the same make and model, and you will be offered a loan hearing aid while waiting for the replacement.

NHS hearing aids are on permanent loan and remain the property of the NHS rather than the wearer. You’re expected to take reasonable care of hearing aids. In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the NHS may charge for lost or damaged equipment, but charges for children's aids are rare. The cost is usually between £50 to £150 for each hearing aid, but families receiving certain welfare benefits cannot be charged.

If the hearing aid is provided by a school or education service, different rules may apply.

Private hearing aids

Private hearing aids are your property, and you’re responsible for the full cost of any repair or replacement. If you have them insured, contact your insurance provider to make a claim.

NHS hearing aids cannot be insured as they belong to the NHS. However, some people choose to insure against the risk of being charged for any loss. Most household insurance covers this. Inform your insurance provider and list the hearing aids as a named item on your policy.

When travelling abroad, you can buy travel insurance to cover hearing aids.