Here at Hearing Aid Accessories, we take huge pride in our customer care. This includes ensuring that every customer leaves feeling great about their hearing aids and is well-informed about all aspects of hearing aid maintenance. We do, however, understand that the excess of this information can seem daunting at times especially when you are new to hearing aids or trying to change the components of your hearing aid for the first time.
It is completely natural to feel unsure when it comes to hearing aid maintenance, so in light of this, we have created our very own ‘How to Series’; a series of memory refreshers to provide detailed responses to our most common inquiries, but most importantly, to keep our customers feeling satisfied and self-assured. So, let’s look at receivers, our hearing aid accessory for this week!
What is a receiver?
Essentially, the hearing aid receiver works as your ear’s own speaker system. It collects electrical signals from the amplifier and converts it back into acoustic energy (sound). The amplifier, located between the microphone and receiver, increases the amplitude of the signal provided by the microphone before transmitting it to the receiver. The receiver then sends it to the inner ear.
In which hearing aids will I find a receiver?
The receiver is a component of receiver-in-canal (RIC) and receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aids. These are a popular choice for hearing aids due to their subtle appearance, versatility, and excellent connectivity.
Often referred to as the ‘Bluetooth hearing aids’, they offer audio streaming from everyday devices such as smartphones or TVs and work with apps. They also offer a rechargeable option for those who wish to save time changing batteries.
Where is a receiver located?
The receiver is usually accommodated in either the ear dome or ear mould depending on the severity of the hearing loss and/ or lifestyle preferences.
Which receiver will I need?
Receiver sizes and power options depend on brand and vary between 2 and 3 pin-sensors.
Look at the table below to locate yours:
| Brand | Size | Power |
| Starkey | 1-5 | 40-60 |
| Oticon | 0-5 | 60-100 |
| Phonak | 0-3 | S, P |
| Widex | 0-4 | S, M, P |
| Signia | 0-4 | S, M, P |
How do I remove the receiver?
Over time, receivers can degrade in performance or stop working but there is no need to worry, for they can be easily removed and replaced.
First, you will need to locate the receiver which can be secured to the top of the hearing aid by a locking bar (although not always the case). This locking bar can only be accessed from one side of the hearing aid. For devices that require it, use the pointed end of the pin removal tool to push the locking bar until it emerges out of the hearing aid. You will not be able to push the locking bar out of the hearing aid entirely; it will stop around the 1mm mark. Gently pull the existing receiver away from the hearing aid and ensure that you have the new receiver ready for replacement. For other devices that do not need a pin removal tool, the process is even simpler – just locate the receiver wire and gently remove it with your finger and thumb.
How do I replace the receiver?
Take the new receiver and align the coloured section (usually red indicates the right ear and blue indicates the left) with the indent on the underside of the hearing aid until it sits comfortably with the hearing aid body. Once the receiver is in place, push the locking bar into the aid as required.
Hopefully you will now feel more confident about changing your receiver (if you haven’t already!) But if you do still feel unsure, please contact our sister company and trained audiologists Hear4U or get in touch with our friendly customer service on 01455245749. We’re always here to help!
