Precautions:
A hearing aid is a precision electronic device and
as such, it requires the care in use and handling that you would
afford any fine piece of equipment. The following precautions
are not meant to discourage normal use of your hearing aid, but
are suggested to insure quality performance and long life from
your hearing aid.
Do not drop or throw your hearing aid, as this may damage
internal components. Do not expose your hearing aid or batteries
to excessive heat, such as from stove tops, hair dryers, heat
lamps or your automobile rear shelf or glove compartment. Do
not immerse your hearing aid in water or other liquids, or wear it
while bathing, showering or swimming. If your hearing aid is to
be stored for any length of time, be sure to remove the battery
and store both in a cool, dry place. Your hearing aid has been
constructed from the finest materials, using the latest engineering
technology; however, in rare instances, an individual may exhibit
signs of skin irritation, allergic reaction, or accelerated accumulation
of cerumen (earwax). If this occurs, consult your physician.
Keep new and used batteries out of reach of children
and those with diminished mental capacity. Batteries, if
consumed, can be harmful. Consult your physician
immediately and call the National Battery Hotline
collect (202) 625-3333.
Important notice for prospective hearing device users
Good health practice requires that a person with a hearing loss
have a medical evaluation by a licensed physician (preferably
a physician who specializes in diseases of the ear) before
purchasing a hearing device. Licensed physicians who specialize
in diseases of the ear are often referred to as otolaryngologists,
otologists or otorhinolaryngologists.
The purpose of medical evaluation is to assure that all medically
treatable conditions that may affect hearing are identified
and treated before the hearing device is purchased. Following
the medical evaluation, the physician will give you a written
statement that states that your hearing loss has been medically
evaluated and that you may be considered a candidate for a
hearing device. The physician will refer you to an audiologist or
a hearing device dispenser, as appropriate, for a hearing device
evaluation. The audiologist or hearing device dispenser will
conduct a hearing device evaluation to assess your ability to hear
with and without a hearing device. The hearing device evaluation
will enable the audiologist or dispenser to select and fit a hearing
device to your individual needs.
If you have reservations about your ability to adapt to amplifi-
cation, you should inquire about the availability of a trial-rental
or purchase-option program. Many hearing device dispensers
now offer programs that permit you to wear a hearing device for
a period of time for a nominal fee after which you may decide if
you want to purchase the hearing device. Federal law restricts the
sale of hearing device to those individuals who have obtained a
medical evaluation from a licensed physician.
Federal law permits a fully informed adult to sign a waiver
statement declining the medical evaluation for religious or
personal beliefs that preclude consultation with a physician. The
exercise of such a waiver is not in your best health interest and
its use is strongly discouraged
.
Children with Hearing Loss:
In addition to seeing a physician
for a medical evaluation, a child with a hearing loss should be
directed to an audiologist for evaluation and rehabilitation since
hearing loss may cause problems in language development and
the educational and social growth of a child. An audiologist is
qualified by training and experience to assist in the evaluation
and rehabilitation of a child with a hearing loss.
Warning to Hearing Aid Dispensers:
A hearing aid dispenser
should advise a prospective hearing aid user to consult promptly
with a licensed physician (preferably an ear specialist) before
dispensing a hearing aid if the hearing aid dispenser determines
through inquiry, actual observation, or review of any other
available information concerning the prospective user, that the
prospective user has any of the following conditions:
Warning Signs:
1. Visible congenital or traumatic deformity of the ear.
2. History of active drainage from the ear within the previous
90 days.
3. History of sudden or rapidly progressive hearing loss
within the previous 90 days.
4. Acute or chronic dizziness.
5. Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent onset within
the previous 90 days.
6. Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater than
15 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz and 2,000 Hz.
7. Visible evidence of significant cerumen accumulation or
a foreign body in the ear canal.
8. Pain or discomfort in the ear.
NOTE: Special care should be exercised in selecting and fitting a
hearing aid whose maximum sound pressure level exceeds 132
decibels because there may be a risk of impairing the remaining
hearing of the hearing aid user.
Hearing with Your New Amplification
The world will seem
noisier at first, but in time, you should become accustomed to your
new listening experiences, learn to hear speech more clearly, and
enjoy many of the special sounds you may have been missing.
Obtaining maximum benefit from your new hearing aid(s)
requires effort and practice on your part. Your new hearing aid(s)
will not restore normal hearing and will not prevent or improve
hearing impairment resulting from organic conditions. In most
cases, infrequent use of the hearing aid(s) will not permit you to
obtain full benefit from it. Follow the program recommended by
your hearing professional. The use of your hearing instrument(s)
is only part of your hearing rehabilitation, and you may need
supplemental auditory training and instructions in lipreading.