How to Talk on the Phone With BTE Hearing Aids

Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids come in different sizes, shapes and colors. Once only prescribed for people with profound hearing loss, BTE hearing aids are now prescribed for all types of hearing losses. A behind-the-ear hearing aid uses an ear mold, bud or tip connected to a tube for insertion into your ear. The hearing aid unit lays behind your ear. How you talk on the phone when wearing your BTE hearing aid depends on the style of ear mold you have inside your ear. Learning to hear on a telephone with your hearing aid can be difficult, but removing your hearing aid every time you talk on the phone isn't the answer. With practice, using your BTE hearing aid on the phone will become easier, and you'll hear better on the phone.

Instructions

With an Open-Mold or Open-Fit BTE Hearing Aid

• 1

  Hold the phone to your ear like normal. With an open-mold fitting BTE hearing aid, your ear canal isn't blocked and hearing on the phone should be fairly easy.

• 2

  Tilt the phone receiver up a little toward the top of your ear. Your BTE hearing aid has microphones to pick up sound and bring it into your ear. Using the microphones on your hearing aid to amplify the voice coming through the phone makes hearing easier.

• 3

  Pull your ear mold out just a little bit before placing the phone to your ear. On open-fit BTE hearing aids you have a little soft bud, dome or foam piece inside your ear. Pull it just enough to loosen it up inside your ear, this allows more sound into your ear. When you're finished talking on the phone remember to push your ear bud back down into your ear canal.

With a Custom Made, Full Ear or Occluding Ear Mold

• 4

  Hold the telephone receiver up on your hearing aid. If your ear canal is filled by a full-ear mold style BTE hearing aid, you must rely on the hearing aid microphones for amplification into your ear. Place the receiver of your phone onto your upper ear--where your hearing aid is--instead of over your ear canal.

• 5

  Turn up the volume on your hearing aid. If you're placing the phone up by your hearing aid and still having trouble hearing, turn up the phone volume or if you can turn up the volume on your hearing aid.

• 6

  Move the phone receiver to different positions on your ear--including placing the phone up onto your hearing aid--until you find the best spot for hearing on the phone.

• 7

  Turn on your BTE hearing aid's telecoil. If your BTE hearing aid has a manual push button--for memories or programs--or has a manual switch, it may be equipped with a telecoil for use on the telephone. If you're unsure whether your hearing aid has a telecoil feature, refer to the owner's manual, or contact your hearing health care provider's office.

  When switching a hearing aid into telecoil mode your main microphone is shut off and the hearing aid is able to pick up magnetic signals produced by telephones---if your phone was manufactured after 1989 it should be telecoil compatible. When your hearing aid is in telecoil mode you'll hear static until you place the telephone up to your hearing aid.