ABA Preventive Maintenance Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How often should hearing aid desiccant tablets or jars be replaced to maintain optimal moisture absorption?
- Every 5 years
- When the color-change indicator shows saturation or per manufacturer guidelines (Correct answer)
- Only when the hearing aid stops working
- Every 10 years regardless of use
Correct answer: When the color-change indicator shows saturation or per manufacturer guidelines
Desiccant effectiveness is indicated by color-change crystals; replacement follows manufacturer guidelines or saturation cues.
Question 2: A patient reports that their BTE hearing aid produces intermittent sound. Which preventive maintenance step should the audiologist perform first?
- Replace the receiver immediately
- Check and clean the earhook and tubing for debris or moisture blockage (Correct answer)
- Send the device to the manufacturer
- Refit the earmold
Correct answer: Check and clean the earhook and tubing for debris or moisture blockage
Intermittent sound in BTE aids is commonly caused by moisture or debris in the earhook or tubing, making inspection the first step.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of using a hearing aid stethoscope during preventive maintenance?
- To measure the audiometric output of the device
- To subjectively listen for distortion, feedback, or intermittency in the hearing aid (Correct answer)
- To determine the patient's hearing threshold
- To calibrate the hearing aid programming software
Correct answer: To subjectively listen for distortion, feedback, or intermittency in the hearing aid
A hearing aid stethoscope allows the clinician to subjectively evaluate sound quality, detecting distortion or intermittency.
Question 4: Which component of a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid most commonly requires replacement during routine maintenance visits?
- The microphone cover
- The receiver wire and tip due to cerumen accumulation and physical stress (Correct answer)
- The battery door hinge
- The telecoil
Correct answer: The receiver wire and tip due to cerumen accumulation and physical stress
RIC receiver wires are prone to cerumen blockage at the tip and mechanical breakage, making them the most frequently replaced component.
Question 5: During a maintenance visit, an audiologist notices the earmold surface has become tacky and discolored. What is the most likely cause?
- Excessive moisture exposure only
- Material degradation due to aging, skin oils, and chemical exposure (Correct answer)
- Improper battery type usage
- Microphone filter clogging
Correct answer: Material degradation due to aging, skin oils, and chemical exposure
Earmold materials, particularly softer silicones and vinyls, degrade over time from skin oils, cleaning chemicals, and UV exposure.
Question 6: What is the recommended method for removing cerumen from a hard earmold without damaging its acoustic properties?
- Soak overnight in rubbing alcohol
- Use a wax pick or soft brush while avoiding the sound bore, then rinse with warm water if disconnected from the hearing aid (Correct answer)
- Use compressed air at high pressure
- Scrub with an abrasive cloth
Correct answer: Use a wax pick or soft brush while avoiding the sound bore, then rinse with warm water if disconnected from the hearing aid
Mechanical removal with a pick or brush followed by gentle rinsing (when detached) clears cerumen without damaging tubing or bore geometry.
Question 7: How should an audiologist verify that a newly cleaned hearing aid vent is patent before returning it to the patient?
- By performing a full audiological evaluation
- By passing a vent cleaner or thin brush through the vent and confirming airflow (Correct answer)
- By listening with unaided ears
- By checking the hearing aid programming parameters
Correct answer: By passing a vent cleaner or thin brush through the vent and confirming airflow
Physical passage of a vent cleaner confirms the vent is clear of cerumen or debris, restoring proper acoustic function.
ABA Preventive Maintenance Procedures 2
How often should hearing aid desiccant tablets or jars be replaced to maintain optimal moisture absorption?