About Harriet Jacobster, Au.D. Expertise I can answer questions regarding non-medical treatment of hearing loss such as hearing aids and aural rehabilitation. I am also able to answer your questions regarding hearing testing, what types of tests are appropriate, what information a hearing test gives you and what it doesn't give you. As a classically trained musician, I can also answer issues dealing with hearing loss specific to musicians.
Experience I am a Board Certified Doctor of Audiology with over 25 years' of experience working with both children and adults. I have given lectures on Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids to several state chapters of national organizations for the deaf and hard of hearing. I also taught Speech Reading and Aural Rehabilitation both privately and for the Florida Deaf Service Center.
Organizations American Academy of Audiology
American Speech Language Hearing Association
Education/Credentials Au.D. Doctor of Audiology, Nova Southeastern University 2000
Question QUESTION: hi..i have a beltone aid with a size 10 battery. i use it only at work. i see that in less then 2.5 days the battery goes dead and also at the same time a new waxguard has to be put in. beltone knows how to make money! i need to ask what brand of battery will last the longest; i have tried two other brands but beltone seems to give the best and sharpest hearing. are there any other brands just as good that will last longer then 2.5 days do you know? thanks!
ANSWER: Hi James,
Number 10 batteries only last about 4-5 days. However, since you claim you have to change the waxguard in as many days, I am going to suggest that you have your ears checked by an ENT. You may very well have a wax problem. Do you change the waxguard first or the battery? I suggest that you change the wax guard first and then see if that works. It may not be the battery but the wax guard preventing the sound that makes you think the battery is dead. Next, you may also want to invest in a cheap battery tester (you can get that from beltone or even a drugstore). Also, make sure you do not remove the little tab from the batteries until right before you use them. If after doing all these suggestions your batteries still die after 2.5 days, then you may have a malfunction in the hearing aid itself and it may need to be repaired.
Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: what goes on is, at about 2 and a half days, less then that if you count hours, i will be at work using it, and it starts beeping. this happens after a decline in hearing sharpness. so it beeps and i put in a new battery. still, no heaing at all, so i put a new waxguard, and it works fine. so, whenever the battery beeps and goes out, you need to put both a new battery and new waxguard. is this normal..i doubt it...this is my first hearing aid and i no expert, thats for sure! thanks again!
Answer Hi James,
That beeping may not be the battery warning, but rather feedback due to a blocked waxguard. Again, I strongly suggest you have your ears checked for wax blockage and have any wax removed. Then, try first to change the wax guard before changing the battery and see if that helps.
Good luck.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology
