Instruction
The fourth step in providing a remote microphone systems is to follow up to make sure it is meeting the person’s needs.
When to follow up
It takes time to adjust to using a remote microphone system. Follow up should be planned within a month.
After the first follow up, include remote microphone system follow up as part of a person’s hearing aid follow up schedule. Encourage the person to return earlier if they experience any problems with their remote microphone system or hearing aids.
What to ask during follow up
Follow up for a person using a remote microphone system will help you to find out if the person is benefitting from using it and check it is in good condition.
Ask questions to find out if they:
- Are using their remote microphone system
- Experience problems using their remote microphone system
- Have any questions.
If the person is not using their remote microphone system or has problems using it, it is important to find out why. You can try to find a solution together.
Use of remote microphone system
Check if the person is benefitting from the remote microphone system by asking:
- How much they have used it over the past two weeks?
- How much has it helped in the environment where they were having hearing difficulties before?
Problem solving
Common problems when using a remote microphone system include:
- Difficulty pairing
- Difficulty understanding the person speaking
- Hearing aid not working
- No sound.
Difficulty pairing
A remote microphone system may have difficulty pairing. There are several reasons why this may occur.
| Possible causes | Possible solutions |
| Low battery power | Charge/replace battery. |
| Loss of connection | Try pairing again. Disconnect, then reconnect the remote microphone system to the hearing aids. |
| Damaged audioshoe | Check for damage. Replace if necessary. |
Tip
The pairing light colour may vary between different models of microphone transmitter. Usually:
- A blinking green light indicates that it is pairing
- A green light indicates it has paired successfully
- A blinking red light indicates pairing has not been successful.
Question
If a person is having difficulty pairing their remote microphone system, which follow up action would you carry out first?
Select one.
If you selected a, you are correct!
Start by checking the battery. Replace or charge if needed.
Then ask the person to demonstrate pairing and correct if necessary. If the remote microphone system still does not pair, try replacing the audioshoe. If this does not work, send for repairs.
Difficulty understanding the person speaking
Sometimes a remote microphone system is paired correctly, and the person can hear sound but still cannot understand the speaker. This could be due to the position of the microphone or a problem with the hearing aid/s.
| Possible causes | Possible solutions |
| Microphone transmitter too far away from mouth of the person speaking | Position microphone transmitter closer. For example, shorten neck loop/clip microphone transmitter so it is closer to mouth of person speaking. |
| Hearing aid not working | Check solutions for hearing aid not working. |
Hearing aid not working
If the hearing aid is not working properly, it may be switched off or there may be a problem with parts of the hearing aid.
| Possible causes | Possible solutions |
| Hearing aid switched off | To switch on the hearing aid, make sure the battery is inserted correctly, and the battery door is closed. |
| Low battery power | Replace battery if necessary. |
| Hearing aid is dirty | Clean the hearing aid, earmould and/or battery compartment. |
| Damaged earmould | Replace earmould/earmould tube if necessary. |
No sound
A person may report there is no sound from their hearing aids. There are several reasons why this may occur.
| Possible causes | Possible solutions |
| Remote microphone system not paired with hearing aids | Carry out problem solving for loss of connection. |
| Remote microphone system not charged | Carry out problem solving for low battery power. |
| Hearing aid not working | Carry out problem solving for hearing aid not working. |
Check the condition
Check the remote microphone system to see if it is clean or anything is worn out or broken.
Check it is free from dust and dirt. Clean if necessary.
Check:
- The clip for the microphone transmitter attachment is working. Replace the clip if necessary.
- The neck loop is not damaged or frayed. Replace if necessary.
- There is no sign of corrosion in the battery contacts. This is more likely in hot and humid environments.
Tip
Ask the person to bring their remote microphone system to the service for a product check if they see any signs of corrosion. Corrosion can be removed by wiping with alcohol on a tissue and gently brushing.
Common replacement parts
Parts which may need replacing include:
- Audioshoe connectors – replace audioshoe connectors if they are damaged or broken.
- Batteries – a person requires access to a regular supply of batteries.
Question
How often do remote microphone batteries usually last?
Select one.
4-8 hours is correct!
Depending on use a remote microphone battery or charge will last 4-8 hours.
Maintenance
To look after a remote microphone system, it is important to clean and charge it regularly.
Clean weekly:
- Wipe all parts with a soft dry cloth.
- Check microphone on transmitter is free from dust or dirt. To clean, face towards the floor to avoid dirt falling into the microphone. Brush gently with the hearing aid brush.
- Disinfect the microphone transmitter using a cloth with alcohol solution or alcohol wipe. Do not use alcohol spray.
Tip
If the remote microphone system is not in regular use, turn it on and charge once a month to keep in good working order.
Instruction
Watch this video on how to clean two different types of microphone transmitter.
Question
Why is the microphone facing towards the floor when using the brush to clean it?
Select one.
If you selected d, you are correct!
Facing the microphone downwards helps dirt fall away from it. This keeps the inside clean and the microphone maintains good sound quality.
Follow up plan
At the end of the follow up, plan follow up actions. Use the information collected to check with the person if:
- A different product is needed. If yes, can the product be provided locally or is referral needed?
- The current product needs repairs or replacement
- Adjustment of the product is needed
- Further teaching is needed
- Referral to other services is needed.