Question 1

Consult with us immediately if:

Accepted Answer

You experience discomfort or pain despite correct placement of the earpiece.
Earwax can no longer be removed from the earpiece opening.
The earpiece tube is yellow and brittle.
You can no longer adjust to the desired volume because the hearing aid starts to whistle.

Question 2

Where should I store my hearing aids when they are not in my ears?

Accepted Answer

Store the hearing aids in the provided case or another hard-shell case that closes to ensure they are properly protected and easy to locate.

Question 3

How do I clean my hearing aid?

Accepted Answer

A simple cloth or tissue can be used to wipe down the hearing aids. A brush can be used to help remove more stubborn or stuck debris if necessary.
Refer to the User Guide that came with your hearing aid for more details. Gently clean your hearing aid with a soft, dry towel. Alcohol, solvents or cleaning products cause damage.
If you need immediate assistance, you can call us at 1800 554 968.

Question 4

How often should I clean my hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

Cleaning your hearing aids more frequently will help keep them in the best condition possible. Generally a good practice is cleaning them once every morning before you put them on.

Question 5

How often does the wax filter need to be changed?

Accepted Answer

It varies depending on how much wax your ear produces. Estimates range from once per week, to once every few months. Inspect the wax filter frequently, and change when wax or other debris becomes noticeable.

Question 6

How do I clean the vent?

Accepted Answer

Use a thin wire or the cleaning brush that comes with your hearing aid to clear the vent. If using a thin wire, insert it into one end, and push it through until it comes out the other end. Be sure to wipe off any debris with a cloth or tissue before removing the wire from the vent.

Question 7

How to protect my aid from dirt?

Accepted Answer

Always make sure that your fingers are clean and dry before touching your hearing aid. The microphone input is very small and can become blocked if handled improperly.
    Protect your hearing aid from moisture. Remove the hearing aid from your ear before showering, bathing or swimming. Due to high moisture levels, you should not leave it in the bathroom. Occasionally clean your ears before inserting the hearing aids. Moisture and condensation can damage the electronics in your hearing aid. We recommend that you remove the battery from the hearing aid at night and to leave the battery compartment open. You can use special drying systems that are available from your local bloom hearing specialists store.
    Place the aid out of reach of children and pets. Hearing aids that are still switched on and lying around emit high pitched sounds that can irritate dogs. This has resulted in some aids getting eaten by pet dogs.

Question 8

Important for Behind-the-Ear hearing aids:

Accepted Answer

Always separate the earpiece from the hearing aid before cleaning it. The hearing aid should never come into contact with water! When you connect the earpiece to your hearing aid, it has to be absolutely dry.
It is best to dry the tube with a puff of air using an air puffer (do not blow air through the tube from your mouth). You can get this inexpensive accessory from your local bloom hearing specialists store.

Question 9

How do I turn my hearing aid on and off?

Accepted Answer

To turn the hearing aid on, close the battery door. To turn the hearing aid off, open the battery door.
It is not harmful, but not necessary, to remove the battery completely from the hearing aid.

Question 10

Is it OK for me to sleep in my hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

When going to bed for the night, you should remove your hearing aids and open the battery door to help conserve battery life.

Question 11

Can I wear my hearing aids when I take a shower, bath, or when I swim?

Accepted Answer

Even with the water resistance capabilities of modern hearing aids, we recommend you remove your hearing aids prior to any aquatic activity.

Question 12

What does the button do?

Accepted Answer

If there is a button on the hearing aid, it is there to select between different listening programs or environments.

Question 13

How to tell the right hearing aid from the left hearing aid?

Accepted Answer

Your hearing aids will be marked red and blue. Red will always be for the right ear. The blue will be for the left ear.

Question 14

What is the white thing at the end of hearing aid that goes into my ear?

Accepted Answer

That is the wax filter. It is there to prevent wax from getting into the delicate components of your hearing aid.
When this becomes clogged with wax or other debris, you will need to change this to ensure your hearing aid stays in good working order.

Question 15

What is the hole next to the wax filter on hearing aid?

Accepted Answer

That is the vent. The vent allows for some sounds to enter your ear naturally as well as provide ventilation for your ear canal.
Natural ventilation is important because it prevents the 'plugged up' or occluded sensation you would get if your ear was completely closed off with the hearing aid.

Question 16

What is the clear antennae things on my hearing aid?

Accepted Answer

Some hearing aids have a retrieval cord to assist you with the removal of your hearing aids. When the hearing aid is in your ear, grasp the line firmly and pull to remove your hearing aid.

Question 17

My custom hearing aid has a volume control. Which way should I turn it to change the volume?

Accepted Answer

Rotate the volume control wheel forward/towards your face (when wearing the hearing aid) to increase volume. Rotate the wheel backwards/away from your face to decrease volume.

Question 18

What do I do when my hearing aid sounds quieter than usual / no sound?

Accepted Answer

First check whether the volume control is working, and whether you can make it louder. To do this, take the hearing aid in your hand and clasp it. The hearing aid should now emit a whistling noise. Check the hearing tube and earpiece for earwax or moisture and clean if necessary.
Check whether the battery is correctly inserted and fitted in correctly. If there is no improvement, replace the battery. If the problem persists, contact your local bloom hearing specialists store by calling 1800 554 968 or booking a free appointment online.

Question 19

What should I do if the battery discharges too quickly?

Accepted Answer

Insert a new battery and take note of exactly how long it lasts. You can always contact our local bloom hearing specialists shop for information for help and advice.

Question 20

How long can I store my batteries? Do they discharge themselves at some point?

Accepted Answer

All of today's hearing aid batteries work on the basis of zinc and oxygen. That is why you will always find a colored sticker on one side of the hearing aid battery.
This sticker keeps the battery close to airtight. As soon as you remove this sticker, the zinc/air battery is activated by drawing in oxygen through tiny holes. Therefore, you should not remove the sticker until you need the battery.
It is recommended that you remove the sticker from the battery, and wait about 2 minutes, before you insert the battery. If you need immediate assistance, you can call us at 1800 554 968.

Question 21

What do I do if I hear crackling or buzzing noises?

Accepted Answer

Check the hearing tube and earpiece for earwax or moisture. Check the hearing tube for damage (colour changes, hardening, or cracks) and replace it if necessary.
If the problem persists, contact your local bloom hearing specialists store for assistance by booking a free appointment online or calling 1800 554 968.

Question 22

What do I do if my hearing aid whistles?

Accepted Answer

Check whether the earpiece is correctly and firmly seated. If this is the case but the problem persists, please consult with your local bloom hearing specialists hearing care professional to check your ear.

Question 23

What do I do if I experience pain or inflammation in my ears?

Accepted Answer

Remove the hearing aid and contact your local bloom hearing specialists audiologist. If the problem persists, please contact your doctor.

Question 24

Why is my hearing aid squealing?

Accepted Answer

The squealing that you or those around you hear is called feedback. Feedback may occur because something has changed with the way the hearing aid fits in your ear. This can be because your hearing aids need to be cleaned, your ears have accumulated debris in the canal, or your ears have grown (your ears continue to grow as you age).
If you are experiencing feedback, try cleaning your hearing aids and your ears themselves. If that does not stop the feedback, consult your local bloom hearing consultant. You can book a free appointment online with your local bloom hearing specialists store or call 1800 554 968, where we can assist you on finding the right hearing aids for you.

Question 25

My ear gets hot & damp when I am wearing my hearing aid, what can I do about it?

Accepted Answer

A hearing aid stops warm and moist air from escaping from your ear canals - some ear pieces/hearing aids have a small hole or air vent running right through them to allow air to circulate.  
Your Audiologist may be able to add this to your ear piece/hearing aid but if this is not suitable, just remove the hearing aid occasionally during the day to allow your ear to &lsquo;breathe&rsquo;.
If the problem continues, you can contact us by booking a free appointment online with your local bloom hearing specialists store or calling 1800 554 968.

Question 26

My hearing aid is beeping continuously, what does that mean?

Accepted Answer

If your hearing aid is beeping, this can mean a variety of things. Beeps can indicate that a battery is getting low, that the hearing aid program is changing (when you push the program button) or there are changes to the volume. If you are unsure of what the different beeps mean, you can always contact us at 1800 554 968 or book a free appointment online for more information on specific beeps, or refer to the User Guide that came with your hearing aid.

Question 27

How do hearing aids work?

Accepted Answer

Hearing aids are electronic devices that pick up and amplify sound. They increase the volume of sounds that you normally wouldn&rsquo;t hear, so you can. 
The hearing aids we offer at bloom hearing specialists do much more than amplify sound. The aid&rsquo;s sophisticated circuitry is programmed by our hearing care professional to suit your unique hearing loss, and the high-tech features are selected based on your lifestyle. 
Our hearing aids will not only improve your hearing, but your life.

Question 28

How do hearing aids work in a technical sense?

Accepted Answer

At their most basic, hearing aids are microphones that convert sound into electrical signals.
An amplifier increases the strength of the signal, then a receiver converts it back to sound and channels it into the ear canal through a small tube or ear mold. A battery is necessary to power the hearing aid and to enable amplification.

Question 29

What advantages are there in having two hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

The main advantages in having two hearing aids are:

Help with locating sounds
    Helps hearing better in noisy situations
    Hear speakers on both sides of you
    Balanced hearing levels

Some studies suggest that it may be helpful in the long term to keep an ear stimulated rather than leaving it without a hearing aid.
Your hearing aids will be marked red and blue. Red will always be for the right ear. The blue will be for the left ear.

Question 30

How many years should I expect my hearing aid last?

Accepted Answer

The average hearing aid lasts between 3 &ndash; 5 years.

Question 31

What are the different types and styles of hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

Today&rsquo;s hearing aids come in a wide variety of sizes and styles &mdash; from those that sit behind the ear to completely invisible hearing aids &mdash; and feature different technology levels to match your specific needs and budget.
We at bloom hearing specialists offer all modern hearing aid styles. Book a free appointment with our Audiologist at your local bloom hearing specialists store to find out more. As well, you can contact us at 1800 554 968.

Question 32

What is the difference between analogue and digital hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

Digital Hearing aids offer far better sound quality and clarity and have largely taken the place of analogue ones. They have a tiny computer inside which processes sounds and this makes it possible to customize them very precisely to suit each individuals hearing loss.
Many digital aids can be programmed with different settings for different sound environments; for example, one program for a quiet living room and another for a noisy restaurant.

Question 33

Will I need one or two hearing aids?

Accepted Answer

Two-ear hearing (called "binaural") is better than one. If you have hearing loss in only one ear, you may only need to wear a hearing aid in your bad ear. However, wearing two hearing aids has been proven to improve speech understanding in noise, localization (finding the source of sounds), and overall sound quality when compared to wearing only one aid.
Age and noise-related hearing loss tend to affect both ears, but your hearing profile for each ear is probably different. If there is a loss in both ears, you will probably benefit more with a binaural solution. Today, more than 80 percent of all hearing aid fittings are binaural, or involve both ears. People report a higher level of satisfaction than purchasers of a single hearing aid.
You can book an appointment with our Audiologist or call us at 1800 554 968 and discuss the degree of your hearing loss with us.

Question 34

Are your clinics still open?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all our clinics remain open. We are taking extra measures to ensure your safety as well as our clinic teams. You can find your closest clinic here.

Question 35

Are any of your staff affected?

Accepted Answer

No, none of our staff are affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). We are taking every measure to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.

Question 36

What extra measures are you taking in the clinics?

Accepted Answer

We have always had strict infection control in our clinics &ndash; and have now extended them. Our infection control procedures include:

Strict hand hygiene
    Hand sanitiser being available for customer use
    Disinfection of medical equipment after every use
    Cleaning / disinfection of clinical rooms after every customer
    Multiple cleaning / disinfection of customer spaces during each day
    Wearing appropriate protective items such as gloves, masks and glasses as appropriate.

It is safe to attend your hearing appointments. Our clinic teams only come to work if they are healthy and confident that they have not been exposed to the virus. We have a comprehensive infection control program in all our clinics to ensure all equipment and interior surfaces are clean and safe. You can read about our infection control procedures here.

Question 37

Is it safe for me to attend my appointments?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is safe to come for your hearing appointments. Our clinic teams only come to work if they are healthy and confident that they have not been exposed to the virus. We are also implementing a comprehensive infection control program in all our clinics to ensure all equipment and interior surfaces are clean and safe. You can read about our infection control procedures here.

Question 38

What do I do if I have an appointment but I have flu-like symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Sorry to hear that you're not well. In this case, it is best to call us on 1800 554 968 and we will reschedule your appointment.

Question 39

What do I do if I have an appointment and recently travelled overseas?

Accepted Answer

If you travelled overseas in the past 14 days, please call us on 1800 554 968 and we will reschedule your appointment.

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