Hearing Aid Users Information Booklet

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Specialist Support

If you require this leaflet in another language, large print or another format, please contact the Health Information Centre Tel: (023) 9228 6757, who will advise you.

Hearing Aid Users Information Booklet

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What should I expect from my hearing aid?

There are benefits to having two hearing aids – if you have two aids then you mustwear them both together to get the most from them. Digital hearing aids often do not require a volume control as they attempt to adapt to the listening environment you are in. • Quieter sounds will be raised to a level you can hear

• Loud sounds will not be made any louder: by their nature they will of course still be loud

Communication will always be easier if you can see the person you are listening to you.

• You will get clues from gestures, lip reading and

facial expressions

• Your hearing aid will give priority to the loudest speech sound; this is often the person in front of you

The hearing aid does not restore hearing; hearing loss is a result of a physiological problem which is often irreversible.

There may be sounds you will never hear as clearly as you may remember them. Hearing aids are designed to make the best of your residual hearing.

The more you wear your hearing aid the more benefit you will get. Wear it even in situations where you don’t think you need to - it is easier to practice in quiet environments.

A hearing aid is not a ‘quick-fix’ solution – it takes time, practice

and perseverance. You will not get the full benefit of a hearing aid if used infrequently. Your own voice may sound peculiar

initially. You will soon become accustomed to it.

Hearing aids can reduce amplification of some types of background noise and can make listening more comfortable in background noise, but no hearing aid is able to cut out background noise completely.

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Remember that your brain has become used to not hearing many sounds and will take time to adjust to any new situations. It is normal to hear sounds you have forgotten. These sounds have always been there and with time you will re-learn to filter them out again.

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I have a hearing loss; what can I do to help myself

follow conversation?

When someone speaks, clues are gained from what we hear and what we see. You may be able to create a situation to maximise these clues.

Best conditions for listening

• A room of soft furnishings to absorb sound and reduce echoes • Reduce background noise Ask others to face you, to speak

clearly and a little louder

Tips to assist communication

• Don’t be afraid to tell people you have a hearing impairment as there are communication tactics which they can use to make things a little easier for you (please see overleaf) • Ask others to face you, to speak clearly and a little louder • Make sure the room is well lit so you can clearly see the

speaker’s face

• Watch the speaker’s lips for additional clues

• Sitting 1-2 metres from the speaker is ideal for lip-reading • Make sure your eyesight has recently been checked as you do

not want to strain your eyes

• You lip-read better if you are relaxed so try not to let yourself get too tired or tense

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I have a hearing loss; what can other people do to help

me follow conversation?

When someone speaks, clues are gained from what is seen as well as what is heard. These clues compliment and supplement each other, helping the hearing impaired person to piece together the conversation.

For the hearing impaired the visual clues of speech become very important. Simple actions on your part will help these visual clues be followed. The following points will help:

• Attract the person’s attention before you start talking to them so they can catch the beginning of what is said and not just the ending

• Face the person and avoid speaking from another room or as you are walking away from them

• Keep your face visible and ensure it is well lit • Try to reduce background noise

• Do not hide your lip movement behind your hands or other objects

• Use natural hand gestures but do not exaggerate them as this can be distracting

• Do not shout – speak clearly and not too fast. Shouting and ‘over-mouthing’ will alter the lip pattern and speaking too slowly may destroy the natural rhythm of speech

• Try to make the subject of conversation as clear as possible • Try to use full sentences rather than short phrases as these can

be easier to understand • Be patient

• Do not wear sunglasses as this makes it more difficult to gauge expression and emotion

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How do I contact my local Audiology Department?

Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital

(01243) 865418

Gosport War Memorial Hospital

(023) 9252 4611

Queen Alexandra Hearing Aid Department, Portsmouth

(023) 9228 6289

St Mary’s Hearing Aid Department, Isle of Wight

(01983) 552205

St Richard’s Hearing Aid Department, Chichester

(01243) 831536

Where can I get new batteries from on the Isle of

Wight?

Brading Beech Grove Surgery, The Mall

Brighstone Brighstone Surgery, New Road

Cowes Cowes Health Centre, 200 Newport Road

East Cowes East Cowes Health Centre, York Avenue

Freshwater Brookside Health Centre, Moa Place

Godshill Godshill Medical Centre, Yarborough Close

Newport St Mary’s Hospital, Main Reception or The Audiology Department. The Dower House Surgery, Pyle Street

Niton Niton Surgery, Blackgang Rd

Ryde Argyll House, 78 West Street_{Outpatients Department, Swanmore Road} Sandown Sandown Medical Centre, The Heights

Shanklin Arther Webster Clinic, Landguard Road

St Helen’s St Helen’s Medical Centre, Upper Green Road

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Where can I get new batteries from in Hampshire and

West Sussex?

Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital Bognor Regis Health Centre, West Street The Croft Surgery, Barnham Road, Eastergate Flansham Park Health Centre, Felpham

Grove House Surgery, Pryors Lane, Rose Green Maywood Surgery, Hawthorn Road, Bognor Middleton Medical Centre, Elmer Road West Meads Surgery, The Precinct, Bognor Yew Tree Surgery, North End Road, Yapton

Arundel The Surgery, Green Lane Close

Chichester

St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester

Cathedral Medical Centre, Cawley Road Parklands Road surgery, Parklands Road Lavant Road Surgery, Lavant Road Tangmere Medical Pratice, Tangmere

Emsworth Emsworth Surgery, North Street

Midhurst Riverbank Medical Centre, Dodsley Lane

Selsey Selsey Medical Practice, High Street

Witterings Wittering Medical Centre, East Wittering

Southbourne Southbourne Surgery, 337, Main Road, Southbourne

Denmead Denmead Health Centre

Fareham

Fareham Community Hospital Gudgeheath Lane Surgery Highlands Road Medical Centre Jubilee Surgery, Titchfield Lockswood Daycare Centre

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Fareham

Lockswood Surgery, Locks Heath Portchester Health Centre

Stubbington Medical Practice Shopmobility, Osborn Road Whiteley Surgery

Gosport Gosport War Memorial Hospital Lee-On-The-Solent Health Centre

Havant Bosmere Medical Centre

Havant Health Centre

Hayling Island Hayling Island Health Centre

Petersfield Petersfield Community Hospital

Portsmouth

Age UK, The Bradbury Centre, Kingston Road Battenburg Avenue Clinic

Cosham Health Centre Eastney Health Centre Lake Road Health Centre Queen Alexandra Hospital, Audiology Department Somerstown Health Centre

Waterlooville Waterlooville Health Centre

Please dispose of your old batteries responsibly. Battery recycling bins can be found at some of the larger centres listed above. Battery recycling bins are also available in the community, for example in supermarkets or your local council recycling plant.

Please bring your brown record book with you to obtain new batteries.

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Symptom Possible Cause Possible Remedy No sound

coming from hearing aid

Battery not working or

incorrectly inserted

Replace battery, make sure sticker is removed and it is the correct way up

Aid not switched on Check battery door is fully closed or the aid is switched to ‘M’ position

Earmould blocked

with wax Disconnect earmould from aid and wash earmould in warm water

Earmould tube blocked by condensation

Disconnect earmould from aid and blow out moisture Hearing aid faulty Return aid to repair clinic

My hearing aid is not working properly; is there

anything that I can do to fix it?

If your hearing aid is not working properly there are some simple checks that you can do.

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Buzzing, crackling or frying noise Aid is on the Telecoil (Loop) setting

1. For aids with a button; press program button until a single beep is heard 2. For aids with a switch; reset to ‘M’ position Faulty connections

in aid Return aid to repair clinic

Symptom Possible Cause Possible Remedy Aid

whistling Wax in ears Get ears checked for wax with practice nurse at your local GPs Poor fitting

earmould Check earmould is inserted correctly. If mould does not fit well then attend repair clinic for new impression Split / brittle tubing Replace tubing

Internal fault Return aid to repair clinic

Aid not loud

enough Earmould not inserted correctly Reinsert earmould carefully Wax / condensation

in tubing Disconnect earmould from aid, wash earmould in warm water and blow out moisture

Faulty aid Return aid to repair clinic Hearing down Ask to be reassessed

Intermittent Condensation in

tube Remove earmould and blow out moisture Kink in tube Replace tube

Aid has been

exposed to moisture Disconnect aid from mould and leave out to air in a warm place Faulty aid Return aid to repair clinic

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Where do I go if something goes wrong with my

hearing aid?

Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital

Hearing aids can be repaired by appointment only every

Monday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm Wednesday from 9.00am until 12.00am Friday from 1.30pm until 4.30pm at: Bognor Regis War Memorial

Hospital Shripney Road Bognor Regis PO22 9PP Please phone (01243) 865418 to book an appointment.

Patients will not be seen without an appointment. Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Hearing aids can be left with the receptionist at Gosport War Memorial Hospital any morning (Monday - Friday) between 8.30am and 11.30am and collected later. Hearing aids can also be repaired by appointment.

Gosport War Memorial Hospital Bury Road Gosport PO12 3PW Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment

Patients will not be seen without an appointment. St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight

Monday to Thursday at: Audiology Department St Mary’s Hospital Newport

Isle of Wight

Please phone (01983) 552205 or visit the Audiology reception to book an appointment.

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St Richard’s Hospital Chichester

Monday to Friday from

9.00am until 12pm and 1.30pm until 4.30pm at: Hearing Aid Department

Waiting Area D St Richard’s Hospital Spitalfield Lane Chichester PO19 6SE Please phone (01243) 831536 to book an appointment.

Patients will not be seen without an appointment.

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Hearing aids can be repaired without an appointment every

Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 12.00pm at: The Audiology Department

Queen Alexandra Hospital Cosham

PO6 3LY

There are no repair sessions in the afternoon.

Fareham Community Hospital

Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at: Fareham Community Hospital

Brook Lane Sarisbury Fareham SO31 7DQ

Highlands Medical Centre

Hearing aids can be repair by appointment at: Highlands Medical Centre

102 Highlands Road Fareham Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment. Please phone (023) 9228 6289 to arrange an appointment.

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What should I expect from a hearing aid repair clinic?

Most simple problems can be solved during the hearing aid repair clinics. For example:

• Retubing your ear mould • Issuing batteries

• Reducing whistling

• Replacing lost / damaged or faulty hearing aids • Making new ear moulds

If the audiologist feels that your problem is more complicated and requires more time, an appointment will be arranged for a future date. Repair clinics are not intended for more complex problems. No hearing tests can be carried out during these sessions.

What happens if my hearing aid goes wrong and I

am unable to attend a repair clinic?

Some simple hearing aid repairs can be completed by post. In a padded envelope, send your;

• Hearing aid • Ear mould

• Brown hearing aid record book • A description of the problem

• A self-addressed envelope with a large letter stamp

Please note: Hearing aids are sent through the post at your own risk. Lost hearing aids will incur a charge.

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I’m going on holiday; what happens if my hearing

aid goes wrong whilst I’m away?

If you are going away and feel you might benefit from a spare hearing aid, a loan can be arranged.

You will be asked to fill in a loan form and to sign it with an agreed return date. You will also be asked to give a post-dated cheque.

If the hearing aid is not returned by the pre-agreed date, your cheque will be cashed.

What happens if I lose or damage my hearing aid?

The hearing aid you have been issued with remains the property of the NHS – you will be charged for lost or damaged aids

• Charges are a nominal fee towards covering the lost or

damaged hearing aid and the expense of issuing a new one – you are not purchasing a new hearing aid

• Charges are based on individual circumstances which will be discussed with a member of staff

• The Department does not handle payments – you will be billed from the Finance Department once your replacement hearing aid has been issued

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How do I comment on my treatment?

We aim to provide the best possible service and staff will be happy to answer your questions. However, if you have any concerns you can also contact the Patient Experience Service on 0800 917 6039 or E-mail portsmouthhospitals.patientexperience@ porthosp.nhs.uk

Information we hold about you and your rights under the Data Protection Act

Please refer to the booklet ‘Your Healthcare Information – Your Rights! Our Responsibilities! for further guidance.

Author: Audiology Department Date: Sept 2009/2011/2013 Review Date: Sept 2015

Hearing Aid Users Information Booklet