Troubleshooting guide: Inserting and removing hearing aids

Did you recently get hearing aids? These tiny devices may make a big difference in your everyday life.¹ But some new users have trouble inserting them or removing them.

“This can be one of the most frustrating parts of wearing hearing aids for the first time,” says Clare Villanueva, Au.D. She’s an audiologist at Sound Audiology in Lynbrook, New York.

Not to worry. Putting hearing aids in and taking them out doesn’t have to be stressful. It just takes a bit of practice.

Once you get the hang of it, the process is pretty simple. That’s true whether you wear behind-the-ear or in-the-ear hearing aids. This expert guide covers the basics.

Basic steps for inserting and removing hearing aids

Get ready:

• Wash your hands. This will help you avoid transferring dirt or oil to the hearing aid or your ear canal.
• Check that you have the correct side. Most hearing aids have color coding on the hearing aids (red for right, blue for left).

For receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids:

• To insert: Hang the plastic case over the top of your ear so it rests securely.² The wire and dome will be dangling near the opening of your ear canal. Gently press the dome into your ear canal with your fingertip.
  
  It may help to open your ear canal by tugging at the top of your ear with your opposite hand, “like when you have water stuck in your ear and are trying to get it out,” says Villanueva.

• To remove: First lift the main device from behind your ear. Then gently pull the dome out of the ear canal.

For in-the-canal or completely-in-canal hearing aids:

• To insert: Hold the hearing aid between your thumb and forefinger. Align the device with the ear canal and gently push it in until it fits snugly. If it doesn’t go in smoothly, remove it, line it up with the ear canal again and reinsert.
   
• To remove: Pinch the device between your thumb and forefinger or use the removal cord. Wiggle it to loosen, then pull it out.

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Problem: The hearing aid feels loose or like it’s going to fall out

Solution: You may not have inserted it securely. Try removing the hearing aid and putting it back in.

If this happens regularly, the ear dome might need to be resized. See your hearing care professional, who may be able to improve the fit so the device stays snug in your ear. (AARP® members can request a hearing exam and consultation without a referral through AARP® Hearing Solutions™ provided by UnitedHealthcare Hearing.)

Problem: The hearing aid whistles after you insert it

Solution: This can happen if you don’t have a good seal or it’s not tight in your ear canal.³ Remove it and try inserting again.

Problem: You have a hard time seeing the hearing aids as you insert them

Solution: Make sure you’re in a well-lit bathroom or bedroom. Stand in front of a mirror. Do you have vision issues? Wear your glasses when you insert your hearing aids, if needed, so you’ll be able to see better. Tip: You’ll need to lift the arm of your eyeglasses to hook a RIC hearing aid over your ear.

Problem: You have trouble gripping the hearing aids when you’re putting them in

Solution: It can be a challenge to grip a tiny hearing aid if you have manual dexterity issues.⁴ (For example, you have arthritis in your hands.) People with decreased range of motion in their shoulders may also have trouble inserting hearing aids, notes Villanueva.

To make things easier, be sure your hands are fully dry before you pick up the hearing aid. You could also ask your hearing care professional about switching to larger devices. These may be easier to handle.³

Ready to request a hearing exam and consultation? AARP Hearing Solutions has a national network of hearing care professionals. Request an appointment.

Problem: The sound is blocked

Solution: Take out your hearing aid and check it for wax or debris on the microphone or sound port.³ Then clean it using a soft cloth or cleaning tool. Also make sure the battery is powered up.

Problem: You’re constantly struggling to insert or remove them

Solution: Make a follow-up appointment with your hearing care professional. They may be able to adjust the fit. Or suggest a different hearing aid that’s easier for you to insert and take out.

For example, an in-the-ear model can be an option for someone who has a difficult time with a traditional receiver-in-the-canal model, says Villanueva. “These hearing aids are custom made and require an impression to be taken so the hearing aid is an exact fit for that patient’s ear,” she says.

Sources

1. Hearing aids National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Accessed January 25, 2025.
2. Hearing aids and personal sound amplification products: What to know U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed January 25, 2025.
3. Troubleshooting hearing aids Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed January 25, 2025.
4. How to choose hearing aids: Types and styles National Council on Aging. Accessed January 25, 2025.

Information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical provider. Consult your provider prior to making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

AARP Hearing Solutions is available to all AARP members and does not require a health insurance plan from UnitedHealthcare. The AARP hearing program discount cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotions, coupons or hearing aid benefit plans unless noted herein. Products or services that are reimbursable by federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid are not available on a discounted or complimentary basis. AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. UnitedHealthcare Hearing is provided through UnitedHealthcare, offered to existing members of certain products underwritten or provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates to provide specific hearing aid discounts. This is not an insurance nor managed care product, and fees or charges for services in excess of those defined in program materials are the member's responsibility. UnitedHealthcare does not endorse nor guarantee hearing aid products/services available through the hearing program. This program may not be available in all states or for all group sizes. Components subject to change.

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