Tech Talk

Hearing aids have come a long way over the past decade.  They now have better noise reduction technology, directional microphones to help in noisy environments, and feedback managers to keep the whistling noise away.  They also have faster processing chips to allow hearing aids to analyze sound and make better decisions about how to process the sound, keeping it more natural and more comfortable than hearing aids in the past.  However there are still some components on hearing aids that are relatively low tech that can interfere with the sound quality without some regular maintenance.

Those of you with behind-the-ear hearing aids need to consider replacing the tubing that runs between the earmold and the hearing aid on a regular basis (generally about every 6 months to 1 year).  These tubes, over time, will harden, which causes them to become a bit shorter.  This can lead to feedback or whistling issues, and it can also lead to some discomfort because the tube may pull on the earmold or even the hearing aid.  The tubes can also become clogged with debris or moisture so that only limited sound or sometimes no sound at all will travel through the tube to your ear.  You can remove the tube and earmold from the hearing aid and wash it - but if you aren't sure how to do this, book an appointment with your clinician for maintenance. 

All hearing aids have microphones.  If the microphones become clogged from things like dirt, oils from our fingers, skin or hair, or from other debris (like hairspray), the hearing aid will no longer work properly.  The sound quality may be reduced or it may seem like the hearing aid isn't working at all.  Some hearing aids have small covers to protect the microphones that can also become clogged up.  The microphone ports can be cleaned or the microphone covers can be replaced in-clinic. 

For some people a check-up appointment for hearing aid maintenance will be necessary every 6 months - for others once a year will do.  These are small but important issues that can make a big difference to sound quality.