Hearing Aid Accessories
Some of the more popular hearing aid accessories include:
- Wireless accessories. Utilizing Bluetooth® technology, wireless accessories enable you to hear better in situations where there is a lot of background noise or distance between you and the speaker. These include wireless microphones, remotes and television headsets.
- Transmitters and receivers. These are helpful in educational situations (a teacher’s words are transmitted directly into the student’s ears) and for children. Transmitters and receivers work together to overcome background noise, distance and reverberation, and contribute to a better learning experience.
- Power adaptors and cords. These add versatility by allowing direct input from various audio sources (FM systems, MP3 players, TVs and computers). Available with both monaural and binaural cords.
- Earwax filters. Filters prevent earwax, a leading cause of damage to electronic components, from entering the hearing aid. This helps prolong the life of the instrument and provides you with clear, natural sound.
- Cleaning kits. Keeping your hearing aids clean can result in a longer life for your instruments. Cleaning kits give you a leg up on keeping your device in prime working condition. They typically include a wax removal brush and pick, a tube and vent cleaner, battery door opener and battery replacement magnet.
- Charging stations. For those with rechargeable hearing aids, a charging station is essential. Instead of having to fiddle with the battery compartments, users can simply place their hearing aids in the cradle for a few hours to get a full day’s worth of listening time.
Batteries
Most hearing aids use disposable zinc-air batteries that are color- and number-coded for easy replacement. The type of battery needed depends on the style and size of your hearing aids and includes: 5 (red), 10 (yellow), 13 (orange), 312 (brown) and 675 (blue). On average, batteries last five to seven days depending on the size and style of your hearing aids, your degree of hearing loss, the amount of time your hearing aids are used and your listening environment.
Most drugstores carry replacement batteries; they can also be purchased from your audiologist at Hillcrest Hearing & Balance Center or ordered online.
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable hearing aids are one of the top most requested features that hearing aid uses are asking for. They free users from having to deal with the tiresome task of changing the batteries, performing daily battery tests and always carrying around extra batteries. Rechargeable batteries are also environmentally friendly as they save users from throwing away nearly 100 hearing aid batteries per year.
The benefits of rechargeable batteries are plentiful:
- Your charger can be your devices’ overnight home so you don’t have to worry about losing them.
- You don’t need to worry about having extra batteries on hand.
- You will save time and money by not having to purchase disposable batteries.
Many rechargeable batteries can provide up to 24 hours of hearing from a single charge. The hearing aid may also include a fast-charging option, which gives uses a few hours of immediate use.
Assistive Listening Devices
We offer a full range of assistive listening devices (ALD). ALD’s are designed to bring the desired sound source directly to the ear of the person with a hearing loss. They reduce the effects of noise, distance and reverberation and can be used alone or in conjunction with a hearing instrument. ALD systems are available for telephones, televisions or other group situations. These products are also available with touch or visual signals in place of auditory signals such as smoke alarms, doorbells and alarm clocks.
Custom Ear Plugs
Custom ear plugs are available for a variety of applications. Following ear surgery, custom made swim molds are often recommended to protect the ear(s) from water.
Patients exposed to high levels of noise at home, in the workplace or during recreational activities, including high levels of music exposure, may find custom ear plugs beneficial.
Custom made molds for cell phones and IPods are also available.
Repairs
We recommend routine hearing aid servicing every six to eight months for as long as you own your hearing aid. We are fully equipped to handle minor repairs in our office. We can also evaluate the performance of your hearing aid with our state-of-the-art equipment.
Call Hillcrest Hearing & Balance Center at (937) 222-0022 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
