Many children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) wear a listening device on their ears. These listening devices may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, and Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) microphone systems. Like all technology, these devices can malfunction or need maintenance.
Below are some basic troubleshooting suggestions, however more in-depth troubleshooting needs to be done by a professional. If a listening device is not working, let the caregivers know to seek professional help from: your school district’s audiologist, your school district’s teacher of the DHH, the family’s medical audiologist, and/or the listening device manufacturer.
After doing any of these troubleshooting suggestions below, do the Ling sound check to ensure the device is working and the student is hearing you. The Ling sounds are a set of six speech sounds, developed by Dr. Daniel Ling, to quickly check a student’s ability to hear across the full range of speech sound frequencies. See Supporting Language Learning at Home for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children for Ling sound check directions.
Hearing Aids
There are different types and brands of hearing aids. This section of the toolkit will get you started with troubleshooting the most common types when they are not working. See the Intervention Options page to learn more hearing aids and their parts.
- If the hearing aid light (located on the piece that goes around the student’s ear) is flashing, then lightly squeeze the hearing aid in your hand. If you hear a high-pitched squealing sound, then the hearing aid is working but probably needs to be cleaned.
- Lightly squeeze the hearing aid in your hand. If you do not hear a high-pitched squealing sound, then the hearing aid might need a new battery. Open the battery door typically found on the bottom of the electronic piece that goes around the student’s ear and replace the battery.
- It is good practice to keep an extra set of batteries in your classroom that the caregiver will provide. When you are running low, let the caregivers know you will need more. Always let the caregivers know when you replace the batteries so that they know they do not need to replace them at home. Often caregivers use a weekly schedule such as changing the batteries every Monday to ensure they are always working.
- It is important to keep these batteries out of reach of children and thrown away properly. They are very dangerous if ingested.
- If neither of the above options work, let the caregivers know to seek professional help from: your school district’s audiologist, your school district’s teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, the family’s medical audiologist, and/or the hearing aid manufacturer.
To clean the hearing aid:
- Detach the electronic part of the hearing aid from the rubber tube and silicone ear mold. Do not detach the rubber tube and ear mold from each other.
- You should have a hearing aid cleaning kit which will have a small pick toothbrush and bulb air blower. Use them to clean the ear wax out of the ear mold and tube.
- If the ear mold/tube looks wet inside, the cleaning kit should have a small dehumidifier container you can put the whole hearing aid in to get rid of the moisture.
- If you don’t have a cleaning kit, talk to your school district’s teacher of the DHH or the student’s caregivers about the device needing to be cleaned.
Cochlear Implants (CI)
There are different types and brands of cochlear implants. This section of the toolkit will get you started with troubleshooting the most common types when they are not working. See the Intervention Options page to learn more cochlear implants and their parts.
- If the CI light (located on the piece that goes around the student’s ear) is flashing, then the magnet piece higher on their skull above their ear may need to be reconnected.
- Attempt to place it back on the child’s head.
- Connect the magnet on the CI and the one on their skull to each other. Make sure the child’s hair is out of the way so the magnets get a good connection.
- If the student has two CIs, make sure that they are on the correct side of their head. One is meant for the left ear, and one is meant for the right.
- If the CI light (located on the piece that goes around the student’s ear) is flashing and the child was recently sweaty or wet, then the CI might need to be dried.
- You should have a small dehumidifier container you can put the CI in to get rid of the moisture.
- If you don’t have a dehumidifier, talk to your school district’s teacher of the DHH or the student’s caregivers about the device not working.
- If the CI light (located on the piece that goes around the student’s ear) is not flashing, then, unplug the cord that connects the magnet and battery pack to each other. If the light is still not flashing, then, depending on the type of CI, plug it in to its charger or change the battery.
- If none of these options work let the caregivers know to seek professional help from: your school district’s audiologist, your school district’s teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, the family’s medical audiologist, and/or the hearing aid manufacturer.
HAT, FM/DM Systems
There are different types and brands of HAT, also known as FM and DM, microphone systems. This section of the toolkit will get you started with troubleshooting the most common types when they are not working. A HAT system has two main parts. The receiver “boot” that attaches to the hearing aid or cochlear implant and the microphone/transmitter that the speaker wears. See Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) to learn more.
- If the transmitter screen is on and displaying text, then check that the hearing aid or CI is on. Use the previous guides above to check.
- If the transmitter screen is on and displaying text and the hearing aid or CI is on, then the Bluetooth may have disconnected. Put the transmitter next to the receivers (while they are attached to the hearing aid or CI) and hold down the transmitter’s sync button.
- If the transmitter screen is on and displaying text and the hearing aid or CI is on, then the receiver boots may be on the wrong hearing aid/CI. Switch the receiver boots and follow the Bluetooth directions above.
- If the transmitter screen is on and displaying text and the hearing aid or CI is on, then the transmitter may be on the wrong frequency. Contact the teacher of the DHH or caregivers to find out what frequency channel to which the HAT system should be set.
- If the transmitter screen is off and not displaying text, locate the transmitter’s on/off switch and turn it on. If it does not turn on, charge the transmitter.
- If the HAT system is owned by the family and none of these options work, let the caregivers know to seek professional help from: your school district’s audiologist, your school district’s teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, the family’s medical audiologist, and/or the hearing aid manufacturer.
- If the HAT system is owned by the school district and none of these options work, let the school district’s teacher of the DHH or audiologist know it is not working.
IEL Resources
- Resource List: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources
- Blog: Supporting Language Learning at Home for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
Web Resources
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Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT)
Source: Nationwide Children’s
Hearing assistive technology (HAT), formerly called FM systems or assistive listening devices (ALDs), help people with hearing loss hear better. This webpage provides information on the parts of a HAT system, types of HAT, and how to get HAT for school.
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Intervention Options
Source: Centers on Disease Control (CDC)
There are many intervention options to consider for children with hearing loss and their families. This webpage describes options and allows professionals to design programs that best fit the needs of individual children and their families.