IHS - International Hearing Society Troubleshooting Hearing Instruments Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client with a two-year-old BTE hearing aid and custom earmold reports a recent and persistent issue with feedback (whistling). The client has not had significant weight changes, and an otoscopic inspection shows the ear canal is clear. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the feedback?

Accepted Answer

The earmold tubing has hardened and shrunk over time.

Answer

Over time, the plastic tubing that connects a BTE hearing aid to its earmold can harden, shrink, and lose its flexibility. This degradation can cause the tubing to pull away slightly from the earmold, breaking the acoustic seal and allowing amplified sound to leak from the ear canal and re-enter the microphone, which is the definition of feedback.

Question 2

A client calls stating their Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aid is completely 'dead,' with no sound output. They confirm they have already inserted a fresh, new battery. What is the next most common and user-serviceable component the practitioner should instruct the client to check or change?

Accepted Answer

The wax guard on the end of the receiver.

Answer

The most common reason for a RIC hearing aid to seem dead, after ruling out the battery, is a clogged wax guard. The wax guard is a small filter at the tip of the receiver that prevents earwax from entering the speaker. When it becomes fully blocked, no sound can pass through, making the aid appear non-functional. It is designed to be easily replaced by the user.

Question 3

A client reports that their hearing aid produces sound that is 'scratchy and garbled,' particularly at louder volumes. A fresh battery does not solve the problem, and a listening check confirms the distortion. Which component is the most probable source of this issue?

Accepted Answer

A damaged or failing receiver (speaker).

Answer

A damaged receiver is a common cause of sound distortion, often described as scratchy, fuzzy, or garbled. This can occur due to moisture exposure, physical shock, or simply component failure over time. The distortion is often more noticeable at higher output levels when the receiver is being driven harder.

Question 4

Which of the following is a primary cause of a hearing aid cutting in and out intermittently, assuming the battery is fresh and the battery door is secure?

Accepted Answer

Dirty or corroded battery contacts.

Answer

Dirty or corroded battery contacts can disrupt the consistent flow of power from the battery to the hearing aid's internal components. This poor electrical connection can cause the hearing aid to lose power intermittently, resulting in the sound cutting in and out. Cleaning the contacts often resolves this issue.

Question 5

A long-time BTE user complains of very weak volume. They have cleaned the earmold and replaced the battery. A visual inspection shows the tubing is clear. What is the practitioner's MOST logical next step to diagnose the problem in the office?

Accepted Answer

Use a listening stethoscope to check the aid's output directly.

Answer

Using a listening stethoscope is a fundamental in-office troubleshooting step. It allows the practitioner to listen directly to the sound coming from the earhook, objectively assessing the aid's quality and volume. This helps to confirm the client's complaint and isolate the issue (e.g., weak output, distortion) before attempting reprogramming or sending it for repair.

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS - International Hearing Society Practice Test

IHS - International Hearing Society Troubleshooting Hearing Instruments Questions and Answers