Audiology - Adult Hearing Aid Service

Contact details

Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN
Telephone: 0161 206 1438
Email: NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk

We provide hearing aid services at the following clinics and can be contacted by telephone or email as above.

Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN

Phoenix Centre, Church Street, Heywood, OL10 1LR

Durnford Street clinic, Durnford Street, Middleton, M24 5UD

The Croft Shifa Centre, Belfield Road, Rochdale, OL16 2UP

Langley Clinic, Borrowdale Road, Middleton, M24 5QG

Radcliffe Primary Care Centre, Church Street West, M26 2SP

Townside Primary Care Centre, Knowsley Place, Knowsley Street, Bury, BL9 0SN

Tottington Medical Practice,16 Market Street, Tottington, BL8 4AD

Fairfield General Hospital, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7TD

The Integrated Care Centre, New Radcliffe Street, Oldham, OL1 1NL

Failsworth Health Centre, Ashton Road West, Failsworth, M35 0AD

QR codes with information on how to access some of our clinics are in this leaflet.

Battery collection

Replacement batteries can be obtained without charge by taking your battery book or battery card to any of the following clinics.

They can also be ordered online

• Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale
• Croft Shifa centre, Belfield Road, Rochdale
• Littleborough Health Centre, Featherstall Road, Littleborough
• Milnrow Health Centre, Stonefield Street, Milnrow
• Spotland Library, Ings Lane, Rochdale (closed 1pm-2pm and all day Wednesday)
• Phoenix Centre, Church Street, Heywood
• Durnford St Clinic, Durnford Street, Middleton (closed 12:30-1:30pm)
• Langley Clinic, Borrowdale Road, Middleton (closed 12:30-1:30pm)
• Radcliffe Primary Care Centre, Church Street West, Radcliffe
• Integrated Care Centre, New Radcliffe Street, Oldham, OL1 1NL
• Saddleworth Medical Practice, Smithy Lane, Uppermill, Oldham, OL3 6AH
• The Keppel Building, Failsworth District Centre, Ashton Road West, Failsworth, M35 0AD

Used batteries should be recycled at any battery recycling scheme including supermarkets and shops.

‘Click and Post’ service

Batteries and accessories (including tubing) can be posted out to you.

To request this, please visit: https://clickandpost.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Replacement tubing

Hearing aid tubing needs to be replaced every 6 months. You can use this on-line ‘Click and Post’ service to have
replacements posted out to you. Alternatively, you can email or telephone us for replacement tubing to be posted out to you.

Thin tube/corda is straightforward for most people to change themselves. Look for the red (right) or blue (left) small print near the rubber tip to ensure you connect them correctly.

If you have an earmould or thin tube/corda and are unable to replace the tubing, you can contact us to make an appointment for this to be done by an audiologist.

There are links to online instruction videos, including how to replace the tubes in this leaflet.

How to switch your hearing aid on and off

When the battery drawer is OPEN the aid is switched OFF.

When the battery drawer is CLOSED the aid is switched ON.

Open the battery drawer to the first hinge point to switch it off.

After closing the battery drawer there are a few seconds delay before the hearing aid plays a jingle. This tells you that the hearing aid is working.

When you are not using the hearing aid, open the battery drawer as this will make the battery last longer. The batteries usually last around 7-11 days. This will vary depending on your hearing loss and usage.

There are coloured markers located on the side (or inside) of the hearing aid battery drawer which indicates which hearing aid is for which ear:

Red marker = Right hearing aid
Blue marker = Left hearing aid

How to replace a battery

When the battery in your hearing aid is low, it will make a beeping sound. This indicates that it needs to be replaced. Please follow the instructions below:

• Open the battery drawer completely by pushing the raised edge at the bottom of the instrument and remove the old battery
• Remove the sticky label from the positive (+) side of the new battery
• Insert the new battery in the drawer with the positive (+) side up as indicated by the tiny positive sign on the battery drawer
• Close the battery drawer. The battery will take a few seconds to work

Program and volume switch

The hearing aid has a switch at the back which can be activated to alter the volume and/or change the listening programs depending on what is best for you. The audiologist will discuss this with you.

Binaural co-ordination

This allows you to adjust the program and/or volume on both hearing aids together by pressing the button on just one hearing aid. This can be easily activated or deactivated by the audiologist depending on your preference.

Please see the information below of any additional programs and/or active volume controls you may have on the hearing aids:

Program information

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Changing the program on the hearing aid

To change the program on your hearing aid, press the button at the back of your hearing aid for just over a second.

Changing the volume of the hearing aid

Apply short presses at the top of the switch to make the sound louder.

Apply short presses at the bottom of the switch to make the sound quieter.

When the hearing aid is switched off and then switched back on, the volume is reset to the middle.

Inserting the earmould

Inserting the slim tube/cords fit 

For video instruction, visit https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/hmr-audiology.

Cleaning the Hearing aids with earmoulds

Gently pull the soft tube off the hooked part of the hearing aid by holding on to the tubing with one hand and the hook of the hearing aid with the other. Do not pull the tube out of the earmould as it will not go back in securely.

Wash the earmould in either warm soapy water or if you are prone to ear infections, diluted Milton. Rinse well with fresh water. Shake or gently flick the mould a few times to dislodge excess water. Place the earmould somewhere safe to dry.

Push the tube back on to the hearing aid. It is important to ensure there is no water left in the tubing. It is possible to purchase a mould puffer to clear water from the tube. Ask the audiologist if you would like information about this.

Cleaning the Hearing aids with thin tube/corda

Detach the tube from the hearing aid by carefully pulling it. Be careful not to bend or squeeze the tube as this can cause damage.

Insert the cleaning wire into the top detached tube until it comes out the other end via the dome. This will clear any wax or debris. If the cleaning wire gets stuck, move aside the small plastic wax guard located at the end of the dome.

Securely reattach the tube to the hearing aid by double clicking it together.

Lost and damaged hearing aids

If the hearing aids are lost or damaged there may be a replacement charge. This is currently £68 per hearing aid or £75 per hearing aid with earmould. You can make an appeal against this charge. There are also charge exemptions. Please discuss this with the audiologist.

If you have a compatible smart phone, you may wish to download the ‘Oticon Companion’ app (see page 14) which has a ‘find my hearing aid’ feature.

Loop system

A loop system can help you hear more clearly in background. noise. It does this by sending a sound signal directly to your hearing aids. A loop or ‘T’ setting will need to be added as an extra program to the hearing aids for you to access this. Loop systems are found in many public areas such as meeting venues, reception desks and theatres and are clearly advertised by the loop system sign as pictured below.

After you have finished using the loop you will need to switch your hearing aids back to the everyday listening program.

Hearing aid connectivity

If you wish to connect the hearing aids wirelessly to a compatible Android or Apple device, you will need to download the Oticon Companion App. You can search for the free Oticon Companion App in Google play or in the App store.

The Oticon Companion App provides you with the option to remotely control features on the hearing aids. The App connects hearing aids wirelessly to mobile phones, remote microphones, television sound transmitters and other compatible devices, either directly or via an intermediate device which you may need to purchase.

The App also offers a ‘find my hearing aid’ search feature, low battery notifications and links to user instructions.

You can stream telephone calls and music directly to the hearing aids from compatible Apple devices only. You will need to ensure your device is compatible using the following link: https://www.oticon.co.uk/hearing-aid-users/support/faq/ compatibility

Select the hearing aid model you have been fitted with under the hearing aids tab. Then select the device you want the hearing aid to connect to. If you would like to stream directly to the hearing aids, tick the box under ‘mobile device.’
 
Further information about Oticon Companion App: https://www.oticon.co.uk/hearing-aid-users/support/apps/oticon- on

Further information about your Oticon Hearing Aids: https://www.oticon.co.uk/hearing-aid-users

Further information about pairing hearing aids with Oticon Companion App:
https://www.oticon.co.uk/hearing-aid-users/support/accessories/  smartphone

How to use hearing aids with the telephone

To obtain optimal hearing, the telephone must be held in the correct position when using hearing aids. The telephone should be positioned slightly away from the top of the ear where the hearing aid microphone sits. Move the handset until you find the best position for sound quality.

Some telephones are described as ‘hearing aid compatible’ and have small loops built into them. To use the loop, change the hearing aid to the loop program.

If you have hearing aids with built-in Bluetooth connectivity and a compatible telephone you will be able to connect these together.

Please see guide on the next page to pair your hearing aids to your iPhone (compatibility dependent).

Ensure you have already downloaded the Oticon Companion app.

Connecting your hearing aids to your Android phone

• Download the Oticon Companion app
• Pair now
• Allow location services which will enable the ‘Find my hearing aids’ option
• Allow Bluetooth
• Restart the hearing aids (switch off and then back on)
• Wait for the hearing aids to detect
• Click on ‘pair’
• Accept pairing when asked
• Click ‘continue’

Connecting your hearing aids to your iPhone

• Go to ‘settings’ on your iPhone
• Select ‘accessibility’
• Select ‘hearing devices’
• Restart the hearing aids (switch them off and back on)
• Your iphone will detect the hearing aids for pairing
• Select the hearing aids and confirm pairing
• If you have two hearing aids, you will need to confirm pairing for both

Please note, if one or both of your hearing aids are replaced, you will need to unpair these from your phone and repair both hearing aids together.

Unpairing the hearing aids from your Android phone

• Go to the Companion app
• Go to hearing aids tab
• Click ‘pair new hearing aids’
• Select ‘unpair current’

Unpairing the hearing aids from your iPhone

• Go to settings on your iPhone
• Select accessibility
• Select hearing devices
• Select ‘forget this device’ at the bottom of the screen

To connect any replacement hearing aids to your phone, follow the instructions above.

How to reduce the risk of swallowing a hearing aid battery

Store all small batteries out of sight and reach of young children and vulnerable adults.

Store batteries in a safe place to ensure children and vulnerable adults cannot access packets of batteries or loose batteries.

Make certain that the battery compartment of any device is securely closed and child-resistant, and/or the product is stored out of the reach of young children and vulnerable adults.

Avoid storing small batteries in pillboxes or setting them out with medication. Their shape and size make them easily mistaken for medication.

If you have children or vulnerable adults in your household, you can request lockable battery drawers be fitted to the hearing aids.

What to do if your child or a vulnerable adult has ingested a battery

In the event of battery ingestion, seek immediate medical attention.

Do not let your child or a vulnerable adult eat or drink until a medical professional has seen them.

If you still have the battery packaging or device, show this to the medical professional.

Adjusting to hearing aids

When you are issued with hearing aids for the first time or are updated with new hearing aids, you may find sounds to be louder or more tinny than usual. You may also find that your voice sounds a little different. This is normal as it can take several weeks to acclimatise to hearing aids. It is important to wear hearing aids for all waking hours to allow you to adapt to all sounds and to get the most benefit out of them. You will be offered a follow up appointment within 8-10 weeks of being fitted with hearing aids. If any sound issues are identified at the follow up appointment, we may arrange a further appointment to adjust the settings of the hearing aids.

Troubleshooting

Please use the guide below if there are any problems with the hearing aids.

The hearing aid is whistling

Little or no sound from the hearing aid 

Hearing aid repairs 

If you have problems with your hearing aids, please contact us to book an appointment.

You can email us at hearingaidrepair@nca.nhs.uk. 

Please tell us your full name, date of birth, where your hearing aid was issued (Bury, Oldham or Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale-HMR), your address and a brief description of the problem you are experiencing. An audiologist will phone you back, usually within 2 working days.  Alternatively, you can phone us to speak to a member of our admin team.

Audiology Support services

Hearing Aid Patient Involvement (HAPI) group

This group meets every two months and engages in service delivery, performance and improvement. If you would like to be involved in this group, please contact the service to register your interest.

Audiology Information

Please visit the audiology website at:
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/hmr- audiology for more information on our service.

Rochdale Adult Care Services

1 Riverside, Smith Street, OL16 9UP
Web: www.rochdale.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 303 8886
Drop-in sessions are available Friday 10am to 12pm

Hearing Link

Hearing link is a charity providing support and information to people with a hearing loss whose main method of communication is speech.

The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9NS
Telephone or text: 01844 348111
Web: www.hearinglink.org
Email: enquiries@hearinglink.org

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)

RNID provides information and advice about deafness, hearing aids, lipreading classes and tinnitus, including advice on rights, welfare and employment.
Freephone: 0808 808 0123
Text: 07360 268 988
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Web: www.rnid.org.uk
Email: contact@rnid.org.uk

Bury Hearing Hub

This is a charity for those who are deaf or hearing impaired
8 Tenterden Street, Bury, BL9 0EG
Telephone: 0161 763 4882
Email: info@BuryHearingHub.co.uk
Website: www.BuryHearingHub.co.uk

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

PALS is a free and confidential service for patients, their families, carers and friends.

They are there to respond to concerns about any aspect of your care or Trust services in the aim to resolve any problems as quickly and as early as possible.

You can contact the team by telephone or email:
Telephone: 0161 778 5665
Email: pals@nca.nhs.uk

Alternatively, you can write to:

PALS Department, The Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton Street, Oldham, OL4 1DB.

Comments and complaints

We want to learn from comments and complaints about our services. If you have any, please speak with a member of staff. Every effort will be made to resolve any concerns and complaining will not cause any difficulties in your care with us.

You can also write to: Complaints Department, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Unit 7/8 Whitney Court, Southlink Business Park, Hamilton Street, Oldham, OL4 1DB.

E-mail: office.complaints@nca.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0161 656 1141
 
The QR codes below provide information on how to access these clinics.

Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN  

The Croft Shifa Health Centre, Belfield Road, Rochdale, OL16 2UP

The Phoenix Centre, Church Street, Heywood, OL10 1LR 

Radcliffe Primary Care Centre, Radcliffe, M26 2SP

Additional information:

• We accept calls from Relay formally known as Type talk
• Please contact the department in advance if an interpreter is required
• We are an accredited training centre and it is possible that a student may undertake some aspects of the appointment under supervision
• There is limited availability for parking
• If you would like any further information or have any specific requirements, please contact the department using the details above

Email address for all sites: NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk

Find us on Facebook for more updates and advice @BuryOldhamHMRAudiology
http://c2hearonline.com/

We are an accredited UKAS Service

8172 in accordance with the UKAS schedule of accreditation that can be found at https://www.ukas.com/download-schedule/8172/ IQIPS/

Get involved

For regular updates, follow us on Twitter@NCAlliance_NHS, or like the Northern Care Alliance page on Facebook.

Scan the QR code below to find more information on our website. https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services