Hearing aid aftercare and repair
Information for patients from the Audiology Department
You have been fitted with a hearing aid by the hospital. This leaflet explains how you can:
order replacement batteries for your hearing aid,
contact us to make minor adjustments virtually, or
fix the hearing aid yourself.
If you have any questions after reading this leaflet, please contact the Audiology Department.
Battery Replacement Service
If you need replacement batteries, please call or email the Audiology Department. Batteries can be:
sent to you by post, or
you can collect them from the receptions of one of our three main hospitals.
Kent and Canterbury, Canterbury
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital, Margate
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Repair and Maintenance Service
If your hearing aid needs to be repaired by us, you can either:
post your hearing aids to us, or
leave it in a sealed envelope with your details at the reception of one of our three main hospitals (see above).
Hearing Aid Fine-Tuning and Follow-Up
We can make minor adjustments virtually depending on your hearing aid model and technology. Please contact the Audiology Department for further help or information.
Fault finding
The table below explains how you can fix common hearing aid problems yourself at home.
| Symptoms | Cause(s) | Action(s) |
|---|---|---|
| No sound from your hearing aid | Battery wrong way round | Reposition battery and try again |
| LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould blocked with wax or moisture | Clean out LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould, or replace LifeTube / Dome / Tip | |
| Battery flat | Insert new battery | |
| Faulty hearing aid | Return to Audiology Department for a replacement | |
| Rushing noise | Hearing aid set on 'Telecoil / loop' or 'Streaming' program and not on 'Microphone' program | Reset to 'Microphone' (Hearing Program) |
| Aid faulty | Return to Audiology Department for repair | |
| New nearing aid user hearing environmental noise | Time needed to get used to new hearing aid | |
| Feedback (whistling) | LifeTube or Ear mould incorrectly inserted | Re-insert LifeTube or Ear mould |
| Loose or ill-fitting LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould | New LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould needed | |
| Wax blocking ear canal | Contact GP to remove wax | |
| Split or crack in LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould | Contact Audiology Department for replacement LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould | |
| Low volume | Blockage in the LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould | Clean LifeTube / Dome / Tip or Ear mould |
| Volume control set incorrectly | Reset hearing aid by Switch 'off' then 'on' again | |
| Crackling | Faulty connections | Check LifeTube or Ear mould connections first; if still crackly return to Audiology Department for repair |
| 'Hair brushing' microphone | Amplified sound, time needed to get used to hearing aid |
Contact details
If you have any problems or issues fitting your new ear mould, please contact the Audiology Department.
Audiology Department
Telephone: 01227 864252
Lines are open 10am to 12 noon, and 2pm to 4pm
EmailPostal addresses:
Audiology Department, Outpatients, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3NG
Audiology Department, Outpatients, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, St Peters Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 4AN
Audiology Department, Outpatients, William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, Willesborough, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0LZ