Hearing Aid Receivers

Has your hearing aid suddenly gone quiet? A dead hearing aid receiver may be to blame. Luckily Hearing Aid Accessories comes equipped to get that hearing aid back to the way it should be.

We stock every major brand of hearing aid receiver including Phonak, GN Resound, Widex and Oticon.

What are Hearing Aid Receivers?

Hearing Aid Receivers are needed to process the sound coming from the microphone. It also creates a more clear and precise sound depending on your level of hearing loss. This works by converting the sound waves entering the microphone. 

An algorithm is activated, which processes the signal inside the hearing aid. It then sends this directly to the user. You can find it in either the ear dome or earmold.creates

Fitting a receiver

When being fitted for a hearing aid receiver, it is really important to measure the length of your ear (from the top of the pinna (where your glasses sit)) to the opening of your ear canal. Usually this is completed using a tool referred to as an ear ruler.

This fit shouldn’t be too loose or too tight, but equally comfortable for the client. It should also be the correct power, otherwise if a more/less powerful receiver is fitted, a new audiogram would need to be performed.

This is due to affecting the amplification and how the client hears.

You should always check what receiver you have based on the number and a letter, as well the colour on the left and right sides.

Make sure if somebody replaces it, it is identical UNLESS you are advised that you require a more powerful receiver.

Each manufacturer has their own receiver style and manufacturing specs. Therefore, you will need to purchase the correct manufacturers’ receiver for your hearing aid, otherwise it will not work.

If you are unsure, ask your audiologist about which receiver to get for your hearing aid.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC):

One of the most popular style of hearing aid receivers this decade is the ‘Receiver in Canal’. It reduced the size of the hearing aid behind the ear and slimmed down the tube over the ear down to a thin wire. Thus giving the user greater freedom than ever before.

Benefits

This style of hearing aid has huge benefits for the manufacturer, the end user and the Audiologist. It is highly recommended by both new and experienced users alike, some of the many benefits include:

Easy to replace – For the end user and the Audiologist the receiver can be replaced very easily, without having to send the hearing aid back to the manufacturer. This used to be a problem for the client, who didn’t have a replacement to use while it was out for repair.

Can be done without an audiologist – Fixing the receiver is usually very easy, especially when aided with videos available on YouTube. Most clients can manage to do it for themselves. This is a particularly beneficial feature to people who travel a lot and don’t have regular access to an audiologist.

In-the-Ear (ITE):

For those who desire maximum discretion. The ITE, or In-The-Ear receiver is the best style of device. This receiver is placed directly in your ear canal and offers an experience that is different to any other hearing aid receiver, but with the added benefit of being very hard to detect.

Benefits:

    This type of receiver has multiple benefits associated with it. Known in the industry as the next generation of hearing aids.
    Audiologists now recommend ITE types for any hearing loss because of:

Invisibility – Thanks to its small size and where it is placed, most of the time the receiver is barely visible.

Perfect fit – No need to worry about the hearing aid receiver falling out. Your audiologist will take an earmould and use it to create your own custom hearing receiver.

On average it only takes 10 minutes and only needs to be done once.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE):

  • The traditional model when it comes to hearing aid receivers. It is also just as powerful as the other models – if not more so.
  • This receiver is hidden behind the ear or placed in the outer ear, depending if you choose a closed fit or an open fit model.

Benefits:

  • When you think of hearing aid receivers, the image you envisage is of the traditional behind the ear model.
  • This model has multiple benefits, ensuring its place in the hearing loss world including:

This hearing aid receiver is suitable for every type of hearing loss. Whether it be mild or even profound, this allows you to remain with the same type/model for years to come.

Due to the model’s design, it can accommodate a much bigger battery than other models. The main benefit ensuring your hearing remains its best for longer.

This model design allows a lot of customisable options, both at the start and later-on down the line.

This model is very easy to handle, with the ability to change it to your own personal preference over time.

How does a hearing aid receiver work?

The receiver is the component of a hearing aid that gathers electrical signals from the amplifier and converts them to sound. The microphone brings the sound into the hearing aid which then goes through to the amplifier. Before then going to the receiver which transmits the sound to your ear.

Troubleshooting: The receiver is a crucial part of the hearing aid. If it fails, the hearing aid will appear dead emitting no noise. Before RIC hearing aids, the receiver was internal in every in-the-ear hearing aid.

Hearing Aid Not Working Normally

Why doesn’t my hearing aid work?

Wax and moisture are the main culprits for receiver failure, as it sits closest in the ear.

If you are unsure whether your hearing aid has a problem, you should take it to your audiologist so they can diagnose it. Tinkering with your hearing aid may result in the warranty becoming void.