Who should do the listening check?

Why is a hearing aid listening check needed?

A child learning language needs the hearing aids to consistently provide a clear sound that is loud enough for him or her to hear speech. Hearing aids can malfunction for a variety of reasons, including normal daily wear and tear. The child cannot or may not tell you when there is a problem. Checking the hearing aids every day helps you to know if there is a problem, and reduces the amount of time the child is not hearing well.

How to do a hearing aid listening check?

Who should do the listening check?

Parents, speech-language pathologists, early interventionists, and teachers need to know that the child’s hearing aids are working well every day.

When should the listening check be done?

A hearing aid listening check should be completed each morning, prior to therapy and class, and whenever a concern arises.

What do I need to have on hand to check the hearing aids?

Your audiologist can order a hearing aid care kit for you. Ask your audiologist about a filtered stethoscope so the amplified sound is not too loud for you. To check the hearing aids and troubleshoot problems you will need:

• A listening stethoscope, this attaches to the earmold or hearing aid tone hook so you can listen to the amplified sound
• A battery tester
• A wire loop and brush to remove wax from the earmold
• An air blower to remove moisture from the earmold tubing