Hearing care

Sometimes a little reminder of how to look after our hearing aids is useful. We have selected a few hints and suggestions to help you enjoy your hearing aids with ease.   Putting on and removing your hearing aids Whilst sometimes it can be fiddly, it’s important that we learn the correct way to safely put on and take off our hearing aids to prevent damage and ensure the lifespan of our aids. During your hearing aid fitting appointment, your audiologist will demonstrate the best way to put on your hearing aids so they sit comfortably inside or behind the ear, depending on the style and model of the aid. They will then demonstrate how to take off the aids, and how to store them when they are not in use - in most instances this is in a case or charging dock. Want to know more? - Here’s a useful video from Oticon demonstrating how to correctly put on and remove a RITE hearing aid. CLICK HERE Changing your hearing aids batteries Depending on the type of hearing aid you have, you may be required to change its battery. The frequency will depend on the type and size of the aid, typically larger hearing aids have a longer battery life. When it’s time to change the battery, you may hear two beeps. This will repeat at various intervals until the battery runs out. To change the battery you must first fully open the battery drawer and remove the battery. The location of the drawer will depend on the type of hearing aid you have. For in-the-ear aids, this will be found on the exposed part of the aid and lifted upwards. For behind-the-ear hearing aids, you can find the battery drawer on the body of the aid, typically on the edge that sits on your ear. Remove the new battery from the blister pack and any packaging that might be on the battery. Place the new battery into the battery drawer, making sure you match the ‘+’ symbol on the battery to the corresponding side of the drawer. You can then close the drawer, making sure it is clipped in place. Most hearing aids will play a small tune to inform you that the new battery is working, to check this hold the aid up to your ear.   Rechargeable hearing aids If your hearing aid doesn’t have a removable battery then it will be a rechargeable aid. These will come with their own charging dock. Your audiologist will demonstrate how these work during your fitting appointment and will be able to answer any questions you may have at the time. Typically a rechargeable hearing aid battery will last between 18-24 hours on a full charge, this will depend on a number of different factors including streaming, level of loss and the age of your battery. We recommend that you charge your hearing aids every night, making sure that the aids are correctly placed within the dock. For more information on rechargeable Oticon hearing aids, please see below. For information about other manufacturers please speak to your audiologist. CLICK HERE Cleaning your hearing aids We recommend regular cleaning of your hearing aids to maintain their performance and prevent any damage. It is however important that you clean your aids in the right way. When you purchase your hearing aid, you’ll receive a cleaning kit which your audiologist will talk you through. If you have behind-the-ear hearing aids, clean the surface of your hearing aid with an alcohol-free wet wipe. This is because they are coated with a hydrophobic coating that is sensitive to alcohol. For in-the-ear hearing aids, all kinds of wet wipes can be used to clean them. You can also use a mild soap solution on a cotton cloth to wipe the surface. Make sure you leave your cleaned hearing aids to dry for one hour before putting them in and avoid using excess water that can enter and damage the hearing aids.   Changing the domes For receiver-in-the-canal and behind-the-ear hearing aids, unless custom moulded, will need the domes changed every one to two months. This is an easy process that your audiologist will demonstrate at your fitting appointment should you need to know. To remove your old dome, hold onto the thin tube and gently pull the dome off. Remove your new dome from any packaging and align the tube to the centre of the piece. Push the dome firmly to ensure it is securely attached.   How to change a wax filter Excess ear wax can clog up your hearing aids, and it is one of the main causes of problems that can occur in hearing aids. To keep your hearing aids clear of wax you should use a wax protection system daily to remove any excess wax. The method used to change the filter will depend on the style and manufacturer of the hearing aid. For Oticon hearing aids click the button below. For other aids speak to your audiologist. CLICK HERE If you have any questions or issues with your hearing aid, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can call our team on 0800 40 20 20 or book a hearing aid review online. BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Do you have an emotional reaction to everyday sounds, like someone eating with their mouth open, chewing loudly, or tapping a pen on a desk? This could mean you have acute sensitivity to sound – or, in medical terms, misophonia or hyperacusis. What is misophonia? The definition of misophonia is hatred of sound. People with the condition find their hearing is particularly sensitive to certain sounds, which can trigger responses ranging from moderate discomfort to panic or distress. Support group Misophonia UK has published an activation scale, which grades the severity of misophonia responses. To understand what it’s like living with misophonia, we spoke to Louise, a lifelong sufferer of the condition. “When I hear a trigger sound, I feel an unbearable feeling of rage inside, I get stressed out, my heart beats faster. I have a fight or flight response.” “It’s a very visceral, powerful response. It can range from sheer hatred of the sound to outright panic. I can get highly emotional, or very angry, depending on the situation.” “For me, it’s all about repetitive noises, like tapping sounds or irregular buzzes, beeps or pings. Snoring, eating noises, whistling, nose whistling or wheezing sounds, certain types of music, birdsong, even distant muffled TVs or radios – they all drive me crackers. They make me feel panicked.” How to live with misophonia Louise has some useful tips for other sufferers. “If I hear a trigger sound, I find that mimicking the sound out loud can help to distract my mind from the feelings of panic and anger. I’d also recommend people speak to other sufferers, through the Misophonia Support Group Facebook page, which has 17,000 members across the world, or Misophonia UK.” What is hyperacusis? Hyperacusis is a similar condition, whereby intolerance to particular frequencies of sound can cause severe pain or panic attacks. Hyperacusis is often caused by exposure to excessively loud noise earlier in life. There are some common trigger sounds for people living with misophonia and hyperacusis. These include: Sounds made with the mouth including chewing, nail-biting and talking while eating Breathing sounds such as snoring, loud breathing and yawning Animal noises like dogs barking, pets licking their fur and claws scratching Sounds made by heavy equipment including lawn mowers and air conditioning units What causes sensitive hearing? There is not one known cause of misophonia and hyperacusis, but doctors think they could be related to the way sound enters your brain and triggers responses in your body. The conditions can be linked to a number of other problems, including: Tinnitus Hearing loss Damage to the ear or brain, for example, from ear surgery, regular exposure to loud noises or a head injury Migraines Bad reaction to medication How to get help for misophonia and hyperacusis Sensitivity to sound often has a real impact on everyday life. Although there are no specific medicines or surgical interventions that can treat misophonia and hyperacusis, it is possible to manage them – and treating underlying causes may also help. Start by going for a hearing test, to determine whether you have hearing loss or another problem with your ears. If the problem persists you may consider seeking counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Book your free hearing test at Leightons If noise sensitivity is having a negative effect on your daily life, you should think about booking a free hearing test at Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care. You can book an appointment online, or you can call us on 0800 40 20 20 to arrange a free hearing test at your nearest Leightons branch. We also offer our Free Online Hearing Test For immediate, discreet audiogram results from home. Use our quick 5 minute online hearing test to find out about your hearing health. For specific queries on hyperacusis and misophonia, we recommend making an appointment.