How to Replace a Hearing Aid Tube

Over time, hearing aid tubes become brittle and can crack, causing feedback sounds to occur from the hearing aid. Replace the tubing on a regular basis to prevent this. Order extra tubing from the audiologist to save a trip to the audiology clinic and learn to change the tubing at home.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine that it is time to replace the hearing aid tubing on the hearing aid. Remove it from the ear and holding the casing, wiggle the hearing aid mold back and forth. Is the tube completely stiff? Can the tube be bent at all?

• 2

  Replace the tubing when the old tubing is completely stiff, has discolored or cracked.

• 3

  Remove the old tubing from the ear hook by gently twisting and pulling the tube off of the ear hook.

• 4

  Remove the old tubing from the earmold by gently twisting and pulling it off the ear mold. Some tubes are glued and locked on to the earmold and will need a stronger tug to release.

• 5

  Thread the new tube through the back end of the earmold (the side that faces outside of the body). Once the tubing appears on the other side of the earmold, pull the tube from that direction until the curved end of the tube reaches the outer portion of the earmold.

• 6

  Cut off the excess tubing from the inside portion of the earmold. Make sure the tubing is aligned smoothly with the tip of the earmold. Pull back on the tubing from the other end so that the tubing is aligned or slightly inside the earmold.

• 7

  Using the old tube as a comparison, line up the tubes and cut off the excess tubing that attaches to the ear hook. Attach the tubing to the earhook and place the earmold in the ear. Place the hearing aid behind the ear. Turn on the hearing aid.