Month: August 2021

When it comes to hearing aid performance, there are a variety of factors that can hinder a device from doing its job well. Chief among these is a proper fit.

What are Receiver-In-Canal Hearing Aids?

Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids are a style of hearing aid design that is characterized by a sound processing unit that sits behind the ear connected to a thin earpiece that is placed inside the ear canal. Unlike behind-the-ear styles, this connection is made with a wire as opposed to hollow tubing.

RIC hearing aids offer both an easily concealable profile as well as high-powered benefits like Bluetooth connection and rechargeable batteries for a highly versatile solution for hearing loss.

How to Put on Your RIC Hearing Aid

Because proper fit is so important to hearing aid function, take some time to really check if your hearing aid is placed correctly, especially if this is your first one or a new style. Performing a visual check helps confirm the feeling of the right fit so you won’t need to look every single time once you get used to it.

Get a mirror. Being able to see what you’re doing and how the hearing aid looks is key to getting the right fit. If you wear glasses, keep them on. If you have long hair, you may find it convenient to tie it back.

Identify right vs. left. Nearly all hearing aids are color-coded to keep track of right vs. left. Typically, the right corresponds with a red indicator and the left with blue.

Place the hearing aid body. First, put the body of the hearing aid behind your ear, near the top of it. The cable attached to the ear tip should wrap around the top toward the interior of the ear. For those who wear glasses, place the hearing aids on top of the arms of your glasses.

Insert the ear tip. Push the earpieces into your ear canals until they are flush with the rest of your ear.

Check the fit. With your hearing aids in place, use a mirror to check the fit. Ensure that the body of the device is stable at the top of your ear, the eartip is deep in the ear canal, and the cable lies flat against the side of your head.

Other Hearing Aid Styles

At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, we offer a full range of professional hearing aids of all styles. With vastly different sets of features, fit, and power, it always helps to have an expert’s opinion on what will work best for your hearing loss and lifestyle. After a comprehensive hearing assessment, our Doctors of Audiology can help you find a solution that’s personalized for your type of hearing loss, including a hearing aid of any style.

Hearing Solutions in Livingston, New Jersey

Still have questions about the proper fit of your RIC hearing aid? Learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids by downloading our FREE Insider’s Guide on how to finally hear better NOW.

If your Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC) hearing aids use a battery, you’ll have to replace the batteries on a regular basis.

Battery Placement Instructions

Typically if your hearing aid uses a 312 battery, it will provide approximately 6-10 days of battery life before needing to be replaced. Hearing aids do not have an on/off switch, so to conserve battery life, you should open the battery door to disconnect the circuit when the device is not in use.

When it’s time to change the battery, follow these steps:

1. Open the battery door at the base of the sound processing unit (if not already opened).

2. Using your fingers or the included magnetized cleaning brush, take out the dead battery from each hearing aid.

3. Place a fresh 312 battery with the removable sticker facing up into the battery slot.

4. Peel off the sticker and close the battery door until you hear a click (if immediate use is needed)

Questions Hearing Aids?

If you are having trouble getting your hearing aids to work, whether due to a dead battery or some other issue, contact an expert at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey. Our Doctors of Audiology are here to help you get the hearing healthcare you need.

Learn more about hearing loss and hearing aids by downloading our FREE Insider’s Guide on how to finally hear better NOW.

With increasingly more hearing aids offering advanced features that can be accessed via Bluetooth wireless technology, more people are struggling to connect and access these features, leading to sub-optimal hearing and no access to things like customized presets. Here, we’ll walk through the steps of pairing hearing aids to your iPhone for the first time with just a few simple taps.

Pairing Hearing Aids to Apple iPhone

Before you get started, make sure your hearing aids are off by either opening the battery door or placing them on the charger.

Turn on Bluetooth

First, ensure no other devices have connected to your iPhone by turning off Bluetooth temporarily. Tap Settings, then Bluetooth, then tap the green slider to turn Bluetooth off. You’ll turn it back on when you’re within the Hearing Devices window.

Pair With Made for iPhone Hearing Aids

If you’re in Bluetooth settings still, tap Back to go back to all settings. Tap Accessibility, which you may need to scroll down to see. In Accessibility, tap Hearing Devices to enter hearing aid settings for Made for iPhone hearing aids. Next, turn on your hearing aids by either closing the battery door or taking them off the charger.

Once you have done that, check that Bluetooth is off; tap the switch to turn it on and begin searching for your hearing aids.

When it has found your hearing aids, your name will appear on the screen in Black.  Press on your name which will take you to another screen.  A window will pop up asking, “do you want to pair?”  Select Yes.  If you have two hearing aids, it will prompt you to pair twice.  Once the hearing aids are connected you will notice that your name is now in Blue.  

iPhone Hearing Aid Troubleshooting

If this guide doesn’t help you pair your hearing aids successfully, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at The Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, who can help you troubleshoot any problems you may be having with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids. You can get in touch with us by calling our office or contacting us online.