Audiology - Adult Hearing Aid Service - Bury, Oldham and Rochdale

An information guide for family and carers who are supporting people with a hearing a loss.

The Adult Hearing aid service is based at:
Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale. OL11 1DN
Telephone: 01706 674913
Email: NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk
Website: https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/ hmr-audiology

Click and Post Service

The tubes in hearing aids need changing every 4 to 6 months. Batteries and tubing can be posted out free of charge online. To request this, complete a simple form on our website at: clickandpost.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

For retubing instructions, please see further on in leaflet. 

For retubing and maintenance videos online, please visit:
https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services/hmr- audiology

Lost hearing aid

If your hearing aid is lost or damaged there may be a replacement charge. This is currently £75 per hearing aid. You can make an appeal against this charge, please discuss this with the audiologist.

Battery Provision

Replacement batteries can be obtained without charge.

Hearing aid accessories, including batteries, can be sent straight to your home. To request this, complete a simple form on our website at: clickandpost.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Some health centres and libraries in the community have a supply of batteries available for you to collect. Please check at your local health centre or library to see if they offer this service. A family member or carer can collect batteries on a patient’s behalf.
Ensure to take the record book or card to confirm their details. Hearing aid batteries can be disposed of at any battery recycling scheme.

Audiology home visit criteria

Audiology will provide a home visit to patients who are house bound only. If a patient can go out shopping, attend other appointments, visit family/friends etc. they are not housebound and therefore not entitled to a home visit.

Please note that patients being treated at home by the district nurse will still need to attend a clinic-based appointment unless they meet the above criteria. They will however, be considered for a temporary home visit if they are recovering from a major illness/surgery that makes them housebound for a period.

If they do not meet these criteria, they will be asked to attend a clinic-based appointment. There are location options for clinic- based appointments, these can be discussed when you contact the department.

If Ambulance transport to one of our clinics is required, you will need to arrange this by ringing 0800 0323240. At the end of your appointment, our staff will arrange transport back to your residence.

Benefits of clinic-based appointments:

• More accurate assessment - Recommendations for hearing assessment states that it should be performed in a soundproof environment which is provided at our clinics, thus providing a more accurate hearing test result
• Access to better equipment - In the clinic we have access to better non-mobile equipment which provides a more accurate hearing aid fitting
• More appointments - With a wider range of choice of location and times for a clinic-based appointment you may be seen sooner than waiting for a home visit
• Patient safety - The clinical environment is designed so that treatment can be provided in a safe manner
• Infection control - Clinics are designed so that bacteria levels remain low, reducing the risk of illness or infection

Important points for housebound patients:

• We will, when possible, contact you prior to the visit
• If we attend and there is no answer we will try and contact you on your home telephone number
• If we cannot get hold of you on the telephone, we will look through windows to ensure your safety
• If we cannot ensure your safety, we will ring your next of kin
• If we cannot get hold of your next of kin, we will contact your GP and try your neighbours

If at this point your next of kin, GP or neighbours do not know of any reasons why you cannot answer the door we will proceed to ring the police. The police will attend and enter your property to ensure your safety. Please note we are not liable for any damages caused by the police entering your property.

Smoking and Pets

When we visit you, your home becomes our workplace and should comply with health and safety laws.

We would ask that you or other family members/friends do not smoke in the property while we are present.

We also ask that all pets are locked away in a separate area and do not have access to rooms that the staff are working in.

Switching ON and OFF

Note: Your hearing aids may look slightly different to this. Please refer to the instruction leaflet that was issued by the clinic.
Contact the clinic if you need a new instruction leaflet.

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

When the battery drawer is CLOSED the aid is switched ON. After closing the battery drawer, there is a slight delay before the aid plays a jingle to indicate it has switched on.

When not in the user’s ear, leave the aid switched off to preserve the battery life. The batteries typically last 7-11 days. This will vary depending on levels of hearing loss and usage. If the aids are switched on continuously, batteries may last only a few days.

Please note the markers in the aids are RED for the RIGHT ear and BLUE for the LEFT ear.

Changing the battery

Most hearing aid batteries are size 13 and come in an orange packet with orange stickers.

Some hearing aids require size 675 batteries which come in a blue packet with blue stickers.

Before the battery runs out, the aids will play 2 beeps. This pre- warning will be repeated in moderate intervals until the battery runs out.

Some hearing aids have a blinking light on the back to indicate low battery. You may request this from the visiting audiologist.

To replace the battery, follow these instructions:

Note: Your hearing aids may look slightly different to this. Please refer to the instruction leaflet that was issued by the clinic.
Contact the clinic if you need a new instruction leaflet.

Hearing aid batteries can be disposed at any battery recycling scheme. See previous information for access to new batteries.

Buttons on the back

Note: Your hearing aids may look slightly different to this. Please refer to the instruction leaflet that was issued by the clinic.
Contact the clinic if you need a new instruction leaflet.

If there are two push buttons on the back of the hearing aids, these may have been activated as a volume control. In some cases the audiologist will deactivate these buttons.

If a volume control is active, the aid will beep in the patient’s ear each time the button is pressed to indicate a change. The TOP button turns the volume UP, the BOTTOM button turns the volume DOWN.

The buttons may also change the program such as for the Loop system. For housebound and care home patients, this program is not usually activated. If you are unsure if the aid has a loop program, please contact the audiology department or ask the visiting audiologist.

A flashing green light between the buttons indicates low battery life in the aid. Not all hearing aids have this feature.

Inserting earmoulds

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

Inserting slim tubes

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

Troubleshooting

Remember, the tubes in the hearing aids need changing every 4 to 6 months. If the aid is working but the patient cannot hear, the tube likely needs cleaning or changing.

Telephone 01706 674913 or email NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk

Hearing aid keeps Whistling/Buzzing

Causes - Solutions

Excessive wax in the ear - use warm olive oil and wax removal

Earmould not inserted correctly - reinsert the mould correctly

Poor fitting mould/mould too loose - check if the mould is too loose, may require a new mould

Loose elbow (if applicable) - Tighten the elbow or consult the hearing aid clinic

Tube hard/yellow/split - Needs replacement tube

No Sound or Low Sound

Causes - Solutions

Blocked tube - wash/clean the mould or use the cleaning wire

Dead battery or battery inserted incorrectly - Insert a new battery the correct way

Hearing aid on loop programe (if applicable) - Switch back to the normal program (open and close the battery drawer to reset)

Water/condensation in tube - remove the aid from the tube and leave the mould to dry

Volume set too low (if applicable) - Increase the volume using the volume control or contact audiology.

Change in hearing - Contact audiology

Cleaning the ear mould hearing aid 

Replacing the tube (ear moulds) 

Cleaning or replacing slim tubes 

You should have been provided with cleaning wires when issued the hearing aids.

If you do not have any cleaning wires, you may contact the department by phone, email or the click and post service and these can be posted to you.

Identifying hearing aids

Every hearing aid has a serial number which is recorded by the audiology department when they are signed out to each patient. If you find a hearing aid lying around, you can bring the aid to the audiology department or telephone for us to check the serial number to identify which patient it belongs to.

Hearing aid stickers are available from the audiology department. These are specially designed stickers from the hearing aid manufacturers to help care homes identify which aids belong to which service user.

To use these, place corresponding stickers on the side of the service users aids and record which sticker they have in their file. If an aid is found lying around the care home with a sticker on the side, they can then search which service user has this sticker to identify whose aid this is. This will reduce the need for further visits and potential charge for a replacement aid.

For hearing aid stickers, please request this from the visiting audiologist or contact the department on 01706 674913 or email NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk

Using olive oil/spray for ear wax removal

Earwax is a normal build-up of dead cells, hair, dust and natural wax which forms a protective coating on the skin in the ear canal. You only need to remove earwax if it is causing dulled hearing, affecting a hearing test or when an ear impression is needed.

The amount of wax produced varies from person to person. Ear drops/sprays alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases.

Put 4 or 5 drops of olive oil down the ear using a ‘dropper’ twice a day for 10-14 days. This softens the wax allowing it to run out of its own, without harming the ear.

1. Warm the drops to room temperature before using them.

2. Lie down on your side and put 4-5 drops in the affected ear if using olive oil. Stay in this position for 10-15 minutes so the oil flows into the wax. You can massage around the ear to help it flow down.

If you have had a perforated ear drum or have had surgery in your ear, you are not eligible for ear syringing. Please contact audiology for suction. Unfortunately, this is clinic-based only. Please see page 3 to contact the ambulance transport service.

You can arrange for a district nurse to syringe excessive wax in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale area by telephoning 0161 763 8525.

Tips for clear Face to Face Communication

• Make sure you have the person’s attention before trying to communicate with them. If they do not hear you, try waving or tapping them lightly on the shoulder
• Identify yourself clearly. Say who you are and what you do – it may be more relevant to explain your reason for seeing the person rather than your job title
• Check that you are in the best position to communicate, usually this will be facing the person, but consider whether seated or standing is more appropriate. Communication at eye level is usually easiest so if you are speaking to a wheelchair user consider sitting down if possible
• Find a suitable place to talk, with good lighting and away from noise and distractions
• Speak clearly and a little slower than you would do usually, but do not shout
• Keep your face and lips visible – do not cover your mouth with a hand, your hair or clothing. If a member of staff is concerned about religious expression, they should discuss this with their manager
• Use gestures and facial expressions to support what you are saying
• If necessary, repeat phrases, re-phrase the sentence or use simpler words or phrases
• Use plain, direct language and avoid using figures of speech such as ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ or euphemisms such as ‘expecting the patter of tiny feet’
• Check if the person has understood what you are saying. Look for visual clues as well as asking if they have understood
• Encourage people to ask questions or request further information. Ask if they would like anything in writing as a reminder or reference
• Try different ways of getting your point across. For example, writing things down, drawing or using symbols or objects to support your point

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
• If you would like any further information or have any specific requirements, please contact the department