1) Routinely clean and service an ITE

Assessing the ITE

Steps to service an ITE

1. State all the content with proper actions.

Action

I wash my hands before handling the hearing aids. I handle the hearing aids with a sanitizing cloth. I inspect the ear canals of my patient to make sure the ear canals are not blocked with wax or foreign objects. After that, I ask the patient if there is any problem. If the patient has a problem, I ask what kind of problem, when it happened, and how it happened. I pull the patient’s chart and make notes.

Action

I clean the shell of the ITE using a clean cloth or sanitizing cloth.  Then I do a physical inspection of the hearing aid to find any physical damage, cracks or missing parts. First, I check the battery in the hearing aid and check the contact point. I test the battery power in the battery tester. I will replace the battery if it is in poor condition.

I check the microphone and receiver for any blockage of wax. I remove any wax in the hearing aid using wax pick, wax loop and wax brush.

Action

The MTO and volume switches are checked.  The listening check is done using the stethoscope.  During the listening check, I check the quality of sound, feedback, and noise. If the patient complains of a sound variance, I use a hearing aid test box to make sure the hearing aid is working properly.

Action

Before the hearing aid is returned to the patient, I always check the patient’s ear canals to make sure the ear canals are not blocked with wax or foreign objects using the otoscope and ear light.

After I finish the routine service, I wash my hands.

2) Troubling Shooting

We wash our hands before handling the hearing aid.  We handle the hearing aid with a sanitizing cloth. We also perform otoscopic inspection on ears of patients in all repair cases.

We will troubleshoot in 5 steps.

1. Procedure:

I do a physical inspection of the hearing aid to find any physical damage, cracks and missing parts.

I check the battery and contact points.

I check the Microphone and receiver for any blockage (using otoscope.)

I check the MTO and volume switches.  A listening check is done using a stethoscope.

I check the ear mold and tubing for cracks or cuts.

2. I always mention the types of hearing aids such as BTE, ITE, ITC, Open Ear.
3. State all of the BOLD contents below:

Case1: I feel that I hear better when the hearing aid is not in my ear. Hearing Aid is dead.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause:

1. Battery is dead
2. Battery contact is not good or not there
3. Battery is not right size or half size
4. No other causes

Solution:

1. Test battery in the battery tester. If battery is dead or not right size or not good replace it and test again and return it to the patient.
2. If the battery contact is not good or not there, send it to the lab to repair.
3. If there are no other causes, it is an internal problem. I will send it to the Lab for repairs.

Case 2: It is not loud enough. Weak

               For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Causes:

1. Battery is weak
2. Hearing aid is full of wax

Solution:

1. Test battery in the battery tester. Replace the batter if it is weak. Test the battery again and return it to the patient.
2. If there is wax inside hearing aid, I will clean the wax out with a wax pick and brush. I will conduct the listening check and return it to the patient.

Case 3: I do not hear very well.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: I find the Mic is pushed in

Solutions: I send it to the Lab to repair

Case 4: I do not hear well.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: I find the Receiver pushed in

Solutions: I will send it to the Lab to repair.

Case 5: People tell me that they hear a whistling sound. (This is only the BTE)

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: The BTE whistles at volume control setting at 2 and up.

Solution: I take the earhook out and the covered nozzle area. The whistling    sound is no longer heard. I will replace the earhook and do the listening check

again. This service can be done in our office.

Case 6: Hollow, Nasal, and Echo

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: The patient can feel plugged up due to the vent is too small.

Solution: I increase the vent size.

Case 7: The complaint is static noise.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: The hearing aid battery contact point is not good and volume control is not good. Solution: I check the battery contact point and check the volume control using otoscope and stethoscope, and I will send it to the Lab to repair.

Case 8: The sound is too tiny.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Cause: Vent is a little larger.  The patient complains of excessive high frequency.

Solution: I decrease the vent size.

Case 9: The complaint is “too loud”.

For each repair, I wash my hand and use a sanitizing cloth.

Solution: I check the hearing aid output in the hearing aid test box and compare it with audiogram, MCL and UCL. I will reprogram the hearing aid or send it to the lab for repairs.

 

3) Ear mold types

What Kind, Side, Material, and Loss?

Most material of the earmold in the test is acrylic (Lucite.) 

1. Skeleton: moderate to severe

2. Canal with helix lock: mild to moderate

3. Canal with canal lock: mild to moderate

4. Full occlusion with no vent: mild to moderate, high frequency loss

5. No occluding mold: severe to profound