Hearing Aid Safety Tips and Checking for Feedback

• Read the booklet that comes with the hearing aids.
• Use hearing aids only as directed and set by your child’s audiologist. Misuse can lead to long-lasting hearing loss.
• Hearing aid parts and batteries are not toys. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
• Never let the hearing aids or batteries in anyone’s mouth for any reason.
• Don’t let others wear your child’s hearing aid. It could be misused and damage someone else’s hearing.
• Try not to drop hearing aids on a hard surface.
• Never get the hearing aids wet. Don’t let your child wear them in the bathtub or in a swimming pool. Don’t let your child wear the hearing aids in the rain without an umbrella or a hat. Never wash the hearing aid.
• Do not put the hearing aids on a radiator, in an oven or in a microwave. They will melt, and the electronic parts will be damaged forever.
• Do not open the case of the hearing aid. This may cause costly damage and the repair guarantee would not pay for it.

• Do not change the battery in front of babies, small children or people who will not understand the dangers.
• Always check medicines before swallowing. Batteries may be mistaken for small pills.
• If you think a battery has been swallowed, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (anywhere in the U.S.).

If you have questions about caring for the hearing aids, please call your child’s audiologist.

To learn more, view video “My Child was Fit with Hearing Aides, Now What?” 
youtube.com/watch?v=5TPr0KcFCYc

Whistling feedback noise happens when the amplified sounds leak out around the earmold and reach the microphone.

Here are some things you can check if feedback happens:

• Is the earmold put in the right way? It should be securely in place.
• Is the volume turned up higher than the right setting for your child? If yes, adjust it to the recommended setting.
• Is there a lot of wax in your child’s ear canal? If so, go to your child’s primary care doctor to have the wax removed. 
• Are there holes or cracks in the tube?
• Are the threads worn where the hook attaches to the main part of the hearing aid? If so, contact your child’s audiologist.
• Does the earmold fit badly? If so, call the Audiology Clinic to schedule a visit for new earmold impressions to be taken.
• Is the hearing aid still making feedback? Check by removing the earmold and putting your finger firmly over the end of the hook. If you still hear feedback, call your child’s audiologist.
• Use the listening tube to listen to the hearing aids to see that they are working.
• Put the hearing aids securely on your child’s ears. Put in the earmolds and switch on the hearing aids.

If a hearing aid is still not working right, and you have checked that the battery is good, call your child’s audiologist.