One of the biggest concerns facing hearing aid users is how to ensure that their hearing aids are secure. We always want to make sure that once they are in your ears, they stay there. Are your hearing aids secure? These tips and tricks look that the three main areas that should be looked at when considering why a hearing aid isn’t sitting securely. Please note- any modifications described below should be made by your audiologist, as these may have an impact on the acoustics of the aid and therefore require adjustments to your hearing aids’ settings.

Inside the Ear Canal:

Whatever your fitting style, it’s important that the part of the hearing aid that sits inside the ear is the correct fit. The fitting should be snug, but not uncomfortable. For most the fitting should sit deeply enough that it grips around the second bend of the ear canal. If the fitting is slipping out of the ear, it may be that it is the wrong size for the ear (too small means it doesn’t grip well enough, and too large might mean that it ‘rebounds’ after insertion) or that the ear canal might be an unusual shape and require a custom fitting.

Some people also have very straight ear canals, which might require a different texture or finish on the mould. Another thing that will impact on the fit of the aid is if there is a wax blockage or anything else blocking the ear canal. This should be addressed before making any other changes.

In the Concha:

For many people, a god fit inside the ear canal is not enough to stop the it from slipping out of the ear. Another option is to make modifications in the shell of the outer ear, or pinna. Your audiologist could try a mould with a concha lock or skeleton, or even a full mould that fills the shell of the ear. This could provide enough resistance on the outside so that the inside part cannot slip out.

For those with slim tubes or receivers, an anchor can often be added. An anchor is a thin piece of plastic that curls into the concha and provides that same resistance. These modifications are especially helpful for those people who wear reading glasses that are regularly being taken on and off. They keep the part of the hearing aid that goes into the ear in place, even if the part that goes behind the ear gets accidentally knocked off.

Behind the Ear:

If the part of the aid behind the ear is not secure it usually comes down to the tube or receiver length. If it is loose or pops forward often, it may be that your tube needs to be trimmed or that you need a shorter receiver wire.

Please do not attempt to make any of these changes at home. This could damage the hearing aids or affect their sound quality. If you feel that your hearing aids are not secure in your ears, speak to your audiologist. It is possible that a minor modification may help to keep them in place.

For more information, please contact us or comment below.