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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for VA Health care VA
- Page 1 Your VA Hearing Aid...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents What is a hearing aid? ..............3 Loan Basis ..................4 Hearing Loss and Its Effects ............4 Adjusting to a Hearing Aid .............. 5 Speechreading - What Your Friends and Family Can Do to Help ................6 Hearing Aid Batteries .............. - Page 3 This booklet offers some suggestions to help you adjust to your new hearing aid. Please keep this booklet for future use. Contact Information If you have questions about your hearing aid, please contact the VA Audiology Clinic nearest you.
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Page 4: What Is A Hearing Aid
What is a Hearing Aid? A hearing aid is similar to a miniature public address system. It includes a: ➣ Microphone - picks up the sound. ➣ Amplifier - increases the loudness of the sound. ➣ Receiver - reproduces the sound and transmits it into your ear. -
Page 5: Loan Basis
Loan Basis As an eligible VA patient, you may be entitled to a hearing aid(s). These are given to patients on an “indefinite loan” basis. Please do not throw out your old or broken hearing aids. Any hearing aids you no longer use should be returned to the Audiology Clinic nearest you. -
Page 6: Adjusting To A Hearing Aid
Adjusting to a Hearing Aid How quickly you adjust to your hearing aid will depend on how often you wear it. If you wear your hearing aid every day, you will get used to it much faster. If you expect your hearing aid will help you understand all conversation, you will be disappointed. -
Page 7: Speechreading - What Your Friends And Family Can Do To Help
Speechreading - What Your Friends and Family Can Do to Help ➣ Do not speak unless you are in the same room with the listener. ➣ Get the person’s attention before you begin to speak to him/her. If necessary, call the person’s name or touch him/ her lightly to attract their attention. -
Page 8: Hearing Aid Batteries
Hearing Aid Batteries A small battery is the power source for your hearing aid. These batteries require replacement every one to three weeks. How often you change your batteries varies with your degree of hearing loss, the number of hours you wear your hearing aid(s), and the type/size of the battery. - Page 9 ➣ When your hearing aid is not in use, open the battery compartment. This will save battery power and allow the hearing aid to dry overnight. ➣ Keep the “tab” on zinc-air batteries until you are ready to use them. ➣...
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Page 10: Replacing Your Battery
Replacing Your Battery Open the battery door by swinging the door open with your finger. Take out the old battery. Peel the “tab” off of the new battery. Hold the battery between your thumb and forefinger with the positive (+) side up (this is the all silver side). Slide or push into battery door. -
Page 11: Inserting Your Hearing Aid
Inserting Your Hearing Aid Right = Red Left = Blue Your hearing aid(s) should be OFF. Hold the hearing aid along the side using your thumb and forefinger. For most in-the-ear hearing aids, insert with the volume control at the bottom. -
Page 12: Removing Your Hearing Aid
Removing Your Hearing Aid Shut your hearing aid off. This will stop it from whistling. Using your forefinger, apply slight pressure and turn it backwards. To take hold of the hearing aid, push down on earlobe with the thumb to create a space for your thumb. Grab with your forefinger at the top and your thumb at the bottom of the hearing aid. -
Page 13: How To Adjust Your Hearing Aid In Noise
How to Adjust Your Hearing Aid In Noise Some people assume once they turn their hearing aid on in the morning, it doesn’t need to be adjusted again. This is not always the case. You may find you need to adjust the volume on your hearing aid several times throughout the day. - Page 14 Adjusting Your Hearing Aid(s) in Noisy Situations Some hearing aids allow for a change in the acoustics of the hearing aid with the use of a small button or switch. This is used to adjust the hearing aid in noisy situations or for use with the telephone. Hearing aids can be adjusted by a button or toggle switch.
- Page 16 Telecoil Your hearing aid is equipped with a: _____ Telecoil button _____ Telecoil switch _____ Automatic Telecoil - see next page _____ NOTE: telecoils are compatible with hearing aid compatible telephones only. Currently, they do not work with digital cell phones.
- Page 17 Automatic Telecoil The telecoil in your hearing aid will automatically activate when you use a hearing aid compatible telephone. There are no adjustments for you to make on your hearing aid when using the telephone. The phone must touch the hearing aid to activate the magnetic telecoil.
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Page 18: Telephone Use
Telephone Use Hold the telephone receiver close to your ear - without touching the hearing aid. If your hearing aid “whistles,” tilt the telephone receiver away from the ear until the whistling stops. Experiment with the position of the telephone to find your hearing aid’s “hot spot.”... -
Page 19: Hearing Aid Care
Hearing Aid Care/Daily Care If your hearing aid is not kept clean, it will require more frequent repairs. ➣ Keep your hearing aid clean at all times. • When handling your hearing aid, be sure your hands are clean. • Before going to bed at night, clean your hearing aid(s). •... - Page 20 ➣ Store your hearing aid(s) in a cool, dry place. • A dresser or nightstand drawer is recommended. • Do not store your hearing aid(s) in the bathroom. ➣ Keep your hearing aid(s) away from children and small animals. • Dogs and cats WILL eat or destroy your hearing aid(s). •...
- Page 21 ➣ Do not drop your hearing aid. • Insert and remove your hearing aid(s) over a carpeted area. If you do not have carpeting, insert your hearing aid(s) while sitting on a bed. If you choose to insert your hearing aid(s) over a table, place a bath towel on the table before caring for the hearing aid(s).
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Page 22: Box Set-Up
If you already have had a VA hearing aid, you will not receive a supply of batteries unless your new hearing aid uses different size batteries than your old hearing aid. -
Page 23: Batteries For Eligible Outpatients
One order card is sent with each shipment of batteries. E-mail the DDC ddc.csd@mail.va.gov Be sure to include your name, address, hearing aid infor- mation, and battery size on your request. If you cannot find your “Battery Request Card,” and you do not have e-mail, you can also use the form on page 27 . -
Page 24: Hearing Aid Repairs For Eligible Outpatients Through Audiology Clinic
Hearing Aid Repairs for Eligible Outpatients - Through Audiology Clinic Before calling to request an appointment, please check the trouble- shooting guide in this booklet. Please call Audiology for an appointment for repairs. If no one is able to answer your call, please leave a message. Calls will be returned as soon as possible. -
Page 25: Hearing Aid Repairs For Eligible Outpatients Through Ddc
Hearing Aid Repairs for Eligible Outpatients - Through DDC May take an average of four to six weeks for hearing aid to be returned. ➣ Complete the “Veteran’s Request for Hearing Aid Repairs, Cords, or Tubing” form (page 25) and mail it to the DDC. ➣... -
Page 26: Repair Forms
MAKE MODEL SERIAL NUMBERS Regular Right Regular Left Spare Right Spare Left Upon completion of above, mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs Denver Distribution Center (905A) P.O. Box 25166 Denver, CO 80225-0166... -
Page 27: Troubleshooting Guide
Troubleshooting Guide Eventually, all electronic devices (including hearing aids) malfunc- tion. Before sending your hearing aid for repairs, try the following: ➣ If your hearing aid is dead or weak Possible Cause What to Do Dead battery Change the battery Earwax blocking the opening Using a dry tissue, wipe off wax or use wax remover tool... -
Page 28: Hearing Aid Battery Order Form
Hearing Aid Battery Order Form... - Page 29 Upon completing the Hearing Aid Battery Order Form on the reverse side, insert in envelope and mail to: Department of Veterans Affairs Denver Distribution Center (905A) P.O. Box 25166 Denver, CO 80225-0166...
- Page 30 4/03 Written by Nannette Gwinner, Audiologist Designed and printed by the Network Print Shop, Bath VA Medical Center Photos by Rick Small, Nannette Gwinner, and EyeWire Images Hearing aids in photographs used with permission by Siemens Hearing, Starkey Laboratories, and Phonak.
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