Digital hearing aids - open fit

• Your hearing aid(s) is on loan to you from the NHS. It’s a valuable piece of equipment so please take care of it.
• If you lose or damage (beyond repair) your hearing aid/s you must report this to the Audiology Department. If the loss or damage is due to carelessness you will be charged £75 per hearing aid. You can make an appeal against this charge.
• If the hearing aid becomes faulty of its own accord there is no charge for a replacement.
• If your hearing aid is no longer required, please return it to us.
• Keep the hearing aid clean and dry.
• Keep the device away from water. Take it out when in the bath/shower or at the hair dresser.

• A hearing aid does not restore your hearing; it is an aid to your remaining hearing.
• A hearing aid works by amplifying (making louder) the sounds/frequencies that you can no longer hear due to your hearing loss.
• It can take up to 3 months to get used to your hearing aid.
• The aim is to be able to wear the hearing aid/s from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. Some people may benefit from building up usage gradually.

If hearing aids have been programmed as a pair it is recommended that you wear them as a pair. This will help with:

• identifying where sounds are coming from
• better understanding of speech
• improved speech understanding in noise
• improved sound quality

If your hearing aid is not working please see our website for advice and troubleshooting instructions on how to undertake self-maintenance of your hearing aid/s. Almost all routine maintenance can be carried out at home. If you are unable to resolve the problem, please contact the department to arrange an appointment.

All hearing aid maintenance and repairs are carried out by appointment only.

Please contact the department either by phone on 01709 423145 or email rgh-tr.earcarecentre@nhs.net. Please leave your name, address and date of birth.

Or complete the request form online.

You can also attend local drop-in sessions, please speak to your audiologist.

No sound

Whistling / buzzing / feedback when in the ear

• Your battery should last approximately 7-10 days.
• Your hearing aid will beep to let you know when your battery is running out.
• Batteries are activated by air, so allow up to 30 seconds after you’ve taken one from the packet, before putting it in your hearing aid.
• Take care with the batteries - they can be harmful if swallowed. Tamperproof solutions are available; If you require this, speak to your audiologist.

Some people struggle to use the phone when they have a hearing loss and/or use hearing aids.

One way to get around this, where appropriate, is to use the loud speaker option on your phone. This allows you to use both hearing aids at once.

Some phones are compatible with hearing aids. They may have a built-in loop system, so, remember to change to this programme if you have it available. Connect your phone to your hearing aid and stream the call. See connectivity below.

If your hearing aid is not connected to your smart phone, ensure that you hold the phone/mobile to the hearing aid (the part at the back of your ear).

If you have been prescribed Nova PR you do not have to turn the device on/off when charging the device/s, it will be done automatically for you when you place them in the charger. In order to turn the device off without using the charger, please press and hold the bottom button until the red light shows (see information below).

The aid is switched on and ready to use when the battery compartment is closed.

The aid is switched off when the battery compartment is open. Leave it open when you’re not using your aid e.g. at night. Put it in the storage case provided.

• First, close the battery compartment.
• Place the hearing aid at the very top of your ear.
• The tube will sit at the front of the ear and the dome should be positioned at the entrance to the ear canal.
• Push the dome into the ear canal until the tube is flush with the side of the face.
• If you have a retention clip, place this in the bowl of the canal and it will help to keep the tube in place.
• Reverse the procedure to remove the aid, being careful not to pinch the tube.

There are lots of different programmes that we can put onto hearing aid/s in order to aid your hearing further.

Volume control

If enabled, this allows you to turn the volume of the aid/s up and down to a level which you find comfortable. There are limits on this control.

Programme button

Your device may have additional programmes added that will have been discussed with you at the time of fitting. To access the programmes please press the programme button (please see section below which describes your hearing aid for details). 

Speech in noise (directional) programme

This programme helps you in noisy places like restaurants and pubs. It works by changing how the microphones within the hearing aid work, by reducing the level of sound taken in by the microphones which are directed behind you. It’s important that you look at the person who you want to listen to.

Loop programme

This programme helps you to cut off background noise, and hear purely what is coming through a microphone. This is available in places like post offices, banks and theatres.

Your aids can be set to work separately or together. When you adjust one device, both will alter.

Volume control

Press the button as you would your TV remote, just a brief press.

• To increase the volume of the hearing aid, press the top part of the rocker switch.
• To reduce the volume of the hearing aid, press the bottom part of the rocker switch.

Loop programme

Press and hold the bottom of the rocker switch for two seconds. Listen for the beep which tells you that you are on the loop programme.

Speech in noise (directional) programme

Press and hold the bottom of the rocker switch for two seconds. Listen for the beep which tells you that you are on the directional programme.

Red for the right ear. Blue for the left ear. You need to use ORANGE/P13 batteries.

Your aids can be set to work separately or together. When you adjust one device, both will alter.

Volume control

To increase the volume of the hearing aid, press the top part of the rocker switch.

To decrease the volume of the hearing aid, press the bottom part of the rocker switch.

Loop programme

Press the button which is at the top of the hearing aid. Listen for the beep which tells you that you are on the loop programme.

Speech in noise (directional) programme

Press the button which is at the top of the hearing aid. Listen for the beep which tells you that you are on the speech in noise programme.

Red for the right ear. Blue for the left ear. You need to use BROWN/P312 batteries.

Volume control

To turn up your hearing aid press the top of the rocker switch.

To turn your volume control press the bottom of the rocker switch.

Speech in noise (directional) programme

Press the button which is at the top of the hearing aid. Listen for the beep which tells you that you are on the speech in noise programme.

A ‘long’ press for 3 seconds switches off the device

Oticon Engage/P Open Fitting

Daily

Wipe down the tube with a wet-wipe and allow it to dry.

Weekly

• Pull the tube away from the hearing aid.
• Push your cleaning rod (green/red) through the top, all the way through, so that it comes out of the dome at the end.
• Push the tube, being careful not to pinch it, into the hole at the top of the hearing aid.
• Wipe the cleaning rod down - you can reuse this.

Phonak Nova M or Nova PR Open Fitting

Daily

Wipe down the tube with a wet-wipe and allow it to dry.

Weekly

• Twist the tube away from the hearing aid.
• Push your cleaning rod (green/red) through the top, all the way through, so that it comes out of the dome at the end.
• Twist the tube, being careful not to pinch it, into the hole at the top of the hearing aid.
• Wipe the cleaning rod down - you can reuse this.

Assistive listening devices are pieces of technology which can help you to improve your listening, and to make things easier for you especially when the listening environments are more difficult.

It doesn’t matter which type of hearing aid/s you have, you can purchase additional accessories to help improve your listening at home or at work. These devices typically work in conjunction with your hearing aids.

If you are working, and you are having difficulties at work in particular, you can get in touch with the Access to Work team, who can assess your personal situation and put things in place to help you.

An example of an ALD is an additional microphone which you can clip onto whoever you are wanting to hear clearer, such as someone you are with in a restaurant. They work by improving the level of the sound compared to the noise/ background noise around you.

Where can these devices help me?

ALDs can be useful in challenging listening environments such as restaurants or work environments.

Connectivity

Your hearing aids can connect to ‘smart’ devices. Dependant on your hearing device and your smart phone, you may be able to use your phone as a remote to alter the volume/ change programme. Another function is streaming calls and media such as music.

If you have a Nathos Nova M/PR/Naida SP, go to the app store and download the app ‘myPhonak’. If you have an Engage/ Engage P go to the app store and download ‘OticonON’.

Follow the instructions within the app to connect your hearing aids to your smart device. Any difficulties please contact tech support for the relevant manufacturer (Phonak or Oticon).

For more details please contact the department.

Where can I get the devices from?

If you have an Oticon or Phonak hearing device you can get ALDs and more information from Connevans.

Check that your hearing aid/s are suitable for the ALD that you are wishing to purchase.

Speak to your audiologist about this if you would like more details.

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (previously Action for Hearing Loss)
British Tinnitus Association
Sight and Sound
C2Hear

Sensory Services Department
Telephone: 01709 822330

Connevans
Telephone: 01737 247571

Ear Care & Audiology Department
Rotherham Community Health Centre
Greasbrough Road
S60 1RY

Appointment only.
Clinics are held in the green area.
Batteries, tubing and other supplies can be ordered online.

Audiology Department
C level Outpatients Department
Rotherham Hospital
Moorgate Road
S60 2UD

Appointment only.

We’re the first left when you enter via the main entrance, just after reception D on your right-hand side. We do not have a reception so please ensure you let someone know you are there.

Rotherham Sight and Sound
8 Ship Hill
Rotherham
S60 2HG
Repairs and battery collection - 9.30am to 3.30pm