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Keeping your hearing aids clean

A hearing aid consists of several parts, many of which should be cleaned and maintained regularly. For instructions on how to clean a hearing aid, please select your hearing aid style:

Advice before cleaning

As a general rule, clean your hearing aids and earpieces each day with a soft, dry cloth. Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling your aids. Do not use water, cleaning fluids, solvents or alcohol, as these could damage your hearing aids.

The microphone inlets can easily get blocked. If you are having problems with your hearing aids, check that the microphone inlets are not blocked.
Before handling a hearing aid, make sure you hold it over a soft surface to avoid damage if you drop it

Using the MultiTool for cleaning

The MultiTool is a versatile tool that should be used to ensure the best care, cleaning and performance of your hearing aids:

Replace the brush when necessary. Simply pull it out of the tool and insert a new fresh brush. Press the new one firmly into the handle.

MultiTool brushes can be purchased from your hearing care professional.

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A hearing aid consists of several parts, many of which should be cleaned and maintained regularly. For instructions on how to clean a hearing aid, please select your hearing aid style: As a general rule, clean your hearing aids and earpieces each day with a soft, dry cloth.

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Not all hearing loss is the same. Treatment will depend on the type of hearing loss you have. Audiologists can help.

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Types of Tests Used to Evaluate Hearing in Children and Adults

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Looped Locations in Illinoise | Audiology Associates of Deerfield

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Illinois has a variety of locations with hearing loop installations. Check out our list to see what businesses near you provide hearing loops.

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Great Program for Spoken Language Learning!

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Great Program for Spoken Language Learning!

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Child's Voice - Teaching children with hearing loss to listen and talk.

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At Child's Voice, children with hearing loss learn to listen and talk. We collaborate with children and families to prepare each student to attend their local, mainstream school. For more than 25 years we have supported hundreds of children as they achieve a lifetime of success academically, socially, and in their careers.

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Services and Options Database for Parents of Child with Hearing Loss

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Services and Options Database for Parents of Child with Hearing Loss

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The news that your child has a hearing loss can be a shock. The emotions can be confusing and overwhelming. CHOICES for Parents can help. CHOICES for Parents is a single point of contact for parents who have a child with hearing loss. We know that you have many decisions to make.

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Hearing aids work by capturing sound and making the sound louder.

What is a hearing aid?

Hearing aids work by capturing sound, making the sound louder, and sending the sound down the ear canal, through the middle ear to the inner ear where the hearing nerves are.

Who can they help?

Hearing aids are most helpful for people with mild to moderate hearing loss that may have been caused by:

damage to sensory cells in normal aging

exposure to loud noise

reactions to drugs

genetic factors (inherited from a family member).

How do they work?

Hearing aids make sounds louder. There are many types and styles of hearing aids to choose from, but all have similar parts:

a miniature battery that powers the hearing aid

a microphone that picks up the sounds

an amplifier that makes the sound louder

a speaker that sends the amplified sound into the outer ear.

Some hearing aids have a digital processor that might help cancel out feedback (whistling) or change the sound to make it sound better.

With the help of a hearing professional, you can have a hearing aid custom-made to:

your level of hearing loss

the shape of your ear

common sound settings such as the classroom, restaurant and listening to music.

What are the benefits of a hearing aid?

Many people with hearing aids report that their hearing aid:

helps them to hear and understand speech better in most situations

allows them to participate in group situations and meetings

helps them to hear soft or gentle sounds they may not have heard since their hearing loss.

What about when my hearing gets worse?

Special equipment is available that interfaces with common acoustic devices or environments to optimise your hearing experience. These assistive listening devices (ALDs) can be used with some types of hearing aids, or with Cochlear™ Baha® or Nucleus® devices. Many can be used independent of these hearing devices for people with normal hearing or mild hearing loss. ALDs can help with the following scenarios

telephone conversations - ALDs can be attached to telephones to make sounds from the speaker louder, or can be connected directly or wirelessly (using T-coil) to Cochlear hearing products

listening to music - ALDs can connect music players or even sounds in specially-equipped theatres directly to Cochlear hearing products

watching TV

classroom lectures

hearing public address systems

and many other everyday situations.

Please seek advice from your medical practitioner or health professional about treatments for hearing loss. They will be able to advise on a suitable solution for the hearing loss condition. All products should be used only as directed by your medical practitioner or health professional. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative.

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Hearing aids work by capturing sound and making the sound louder. Hearing aids work by capturing sound, making the sound louder, and sending the sound down the ear canal, through the middle ear to the inner ear where the hearing nerves are.

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Families gain valuable information and confidence during the 2018 Institute for Parents of Preschool Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Late last year, Kendall and Nick Gould's infant daughter, Tate, was born with a hearing loss in both ears. The Chicago couple immediately wanted to learn as much as possible to be effective advocates for their daughter.

A few months later, the Goulds packed up Tate and her big sister, Elle, to travel to Jacksonville for the Institute for Parents of Preschool Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. They were among 23 families from around the state who attended the free one-week program at the Illinois School for the Deaf campus from June 10-15.

"It's a terrific opportunity to learn a broad array of perspectives," Nick said.

The couple enjoyed listening to the experiences of other parents as well as professionals with a hearing loss themselves.

"I'm learning a lot and being instilled with confidence as a parent to know we're doing the right thing," Kendall said.

The Institute provides support and valuable information on communication options, language development, amplification, social-emotional development and school programs.
"A great experience"
Participating parents attend daily lectures by experts in the field to learn about raising a child with hearing loss. Lecture topics include child development, types of hearing loss, language development, communication choices, deaf culture and school programming. Other activities include meeting in small groups to discuss specific concerns and connecting with other caregivers.

During the Institute, children attend classrooms overseen by experienced teachers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They have the opportunity to receive hearing, vision, psychological, speech, language and educational evaluations as well as play with other children who have a hearing loss.

Their siblings are also welcome to attend. This year's sibling program had 15 children.

There is no cost for families to participate, and meals and housing are provided at no charge.

UIC's Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) supports the Institute, along with other sponsors. DSCC Care Coordinators and other team members work hard to help eligible families enroll in the Institute.

Tiffany Farrer attended the Institute with her 2-year-old daughter, Jane, who has a hearing loss in both ears. Their family had just moved to Quincy from South Dakota on May 31.

Tiffany had learned about the Institute on the internet and thought it could be helpful to introduce her family to services and providers near their new home. She explained that her family didn't yet have an Illinois doctor or audiologist for Jane.

Springfield DSCC Care Coordinator Daniel Porter immediately contacted the Farrers and traveled to their home on June 5. He helped the family fill out the applications and submit all necessary paperwork to enroll with DSCC. Daniel also assured the family he would help find the right providers within their insurance coverage.

The following day, Jane was enrolled as a DSCC participant and accepted for the Institute.

"Daniel took care of everything," Tiffany said.

While at the Institute, Tiffany said she enjoyed learning more sign language to give her daughter more communications options.

"It's a great experience, I'm happy to be here," she said.
"Thankful for the friendships"
Andrea Stambaugh attended the Institute with her 2-year-old son, Axel Johnson. Axel has bilateral hearing loss and cochlear implants in both ears.

Andrea is active with Illinois Guide by Your Side and heard one of the program's parent guides speak highly of the Institute. She wanted to be able to learn more about resources and develop relationships with other families who have children with a hearing loss.

"I've liked meeting the other families, and it's been good for Axel to see other deaf children and adults," Andrea said.

DSCC Family Liaison Violet Wiker said these special connections and conversations are what the Institute is all about.

"These families are so appreciative that they have the opportunity to learn from so many different professionals. They are even more thankful for the friendships they are forming," she said.

For more information about the Institute for Parents of Preschool Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and how DSCC can support children with hearing loss, call (800) 322-3722 or email dscc@uic.edu.

Visit DSCC's Facebook page for photos from this year's Institute.

The condition in this story is covered by Specialized Care for Children

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DSCC Families Connect, Find Support for Children with Hearing Loss During Annual Institute

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Families gain valuable information and confidence during the 2018 Institute for Parents of Preschool Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Late last year, Kendall and Nick Gould's infant daughter, Tate, was born with a hearing loss in both ears. The Chicago couple immediately wanted to learn as much as possible to be effective advocates for their daughter.

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Statistics on hearing, ear infections, and deafness among both adults and children in the U.S.