Checking behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids - batod

The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf
Audiology Refresher: C1
Checking behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
Margaret Glasgow
Hearing aid users who have significant hearing losses need appropriate, working hearing
aids, which are worn all the time. It is therefore important that the hearing aids are checked
regularly whilst the child is young or is an inexperienced user and cannot alert anyone to the
fact that they are not working satisfactorily.
Hearing Aid
A hearing aid consists of three parts:
Earmould and tubing
Hook
Hearing aid (plus
audio shoe if used
with a radio aid)
If one of these parts is not working the whole system breaks down. When the earmould
becomes too small or worn and the hearing aid starts to whistle, a new earmould impression
should be taken immediately. The situation will not get better (only worse) and it may take
two or more weeks to get new earmoulds. Turning the hearing aid down to stop the whistling
means the child/pupil cannot hear sufficiently well to discriminate speech correctly.
Look at......
1 earmould and tubing
a) Is earmould discoloured, rough, torn, chipped
If so: make an appointment for impressions for new earmoulds.
b) Is earmould blocked with wax or secretion
Is earmould dirty
If so: wash in hot, soapy water, rinse and dry.
Clear droplets of water in the tubing with earmould puffer.
c) Is the tubing split, squashed, twisted or hard
If so: re-tube earmould
d) Is there condensation in the tubing (You may notice little drops of water in the tubing
when the child becomes hot after playing or on a warm day)
If so: clear droplets of water with earmould puffer.
Website: www.BATOD.org.uk email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk Answerphone / fax: 08456435181
© BATOD 2009 page 1 of 2

The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf
Audiology Refresher: C1
2 hook
a) Is the hook split, broken etc
If so: take/send hearing aid to the hospital so that the correct hook can be
replaced (ensure that it is the same number eg PD1000 and size
of hook eg mini).
b) Is there condensation in the hook
If so: clear droplets of water by removing the hook and blowing through with the
earmould puffer.
!!!!!! BEWARE !!!!!!
There may be what looks like small pieces of tissue in the hook.
These are filters.
DO NOT REMOVE
3 hearing aid
a) Is casing damaged
b) Is battery compartment tight
c) Is the on/off switch broken or jammed
d) Is the microphone blocked
If so: Take the hearing aid to the hospital and if it needs repairing get a loan aid.
Ensure that the make, model, hook and settings are the same as the
original hearing aid.
Listen to......
a) Turn hearing aid on and turn the volume control to maximum. The hearing aid should
whistle.
This information indicates that the battery is working – it does not give information
about the quality of sound heard.
No whistle Check that there is a battery; that it is fully charged; and the right way
round in the compartment.
b) Listen to the hearing aid through a stetoclip (with an attenuator for high powered aids).
Switch hearing aid on. Turn volume up slowly from off and then back down to child’s
listening level. Squeeze hearing aid to make sure there is not an intermittent fault or
distortion.
IS SPEECH CLEAR
If not: Take/send hearing aid to the hospital and ask for a loan aid as above.
CHILDREN WHO WEAR TWO HEARING AIDS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE TWO.
Website: www.BATOD.org.uk email: secretary@BATOD.org.uk Answerphone / fax: 08456435181
© BATOD 2009 page 2 of 2