How to turn hearing aids on and off

How do you turn on and off your hearing aid?

Let’s start at the very beginning: How to turn on hearing aids—and how to turn them off. These are the most basic but most necessary steps in using your hearing aids, and once you get the hang of them, they’ll become second nature. We’ll explain it all here, as well as walk you through some tips and tricks that come in handy for troubleshooting.

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How to turn your hearing aid on

It’s said that the most effective kind of hearing aid is the one you’ll wear. However, it’s even more effective when the hearing aid is turned on. When you get your hearing aids, your hearing care professional (HCP) will walk you through the processes you need to know, but we understand that you’ll be absorbing a lot of information during your appointment. Sometimes, you might need a refresher on the key steps, so in this guide, we’ll walk you through the details of how to turn on hearing aids.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are many different types of hearing aids. The type of hearing aid that you have will have specific steps and usage instructions. If you need to find the user manual for your exact hearing aids, visit our hearing aids user manuals page.

Remember that you can always contact your neighborhood Miracle-Ear location and your HCP if you need extra help or demonstrations of how to use your hearing aids.

How to turn hearing aids on: Battery models

Follow these steps to turn on battery-powered hearing aids.

Hearing aid batteries are available at your Miracle-Ear store or at drugstores and personal care sections of general retailers. Your user manual will tell you what kind and size of hearing aid battery you need.

To insert the battery, locate the battery door. You can use your finger or an optional magnet stick to gently pull the door open (magnetic sticks are available as an accessory from your HCP).
If the battery has a protective film, remove it when you are ready to insert it.
Insert the battery with the “+” facing up.

To activate the device after inserting a hearing aid battery, simply close the battery door. The default volume and hearing program are set to come on when you do so.

With many models of battery-operated hearing aids, hearing aids activate automatically once you place the battery and close the battery door. You might also have the option to turn hearing aids on using a push button. Simply push the button for several seconds to turn the unit on.

Instructions for how to put hearing aids in will depend on the style of device you have. See our full guide about how to insert hearing aids for details. But generally speaking:

for the most common models, you should place the ear mold or receiver into your ear first, and then bring the body of the device over and behind the ear;
for models that sit entirely inside the ear, gently push the device into the ear while pulling down on your earlobe to help widen the ear canal.

A woman wearing a hearing aid looking at the mirror

Need help with your hearing aids?

Consult with your Hearing Care Professional with any questions you may have along the way.

Find your store details Hearing aid user manuals

How to turn hearing aids on: Rechargeable models

Follow these steps to turn on rechargeable hearing aids.

The hearing aid charging case has lights that indicate the charging status. Flashing green means the hearing aids are still charging, and solid green means that they are fully charged.

For some models, simply taking your hearing aids out of the charger will turn them on. Others have a button that you press and hold.

Instructions for how to put hearing aids in will vary by the style of device you have—see our full guide covering how to insert hearing aids . For the most common rechargeable hearing aid models, you should place the ear mold or receiver into your ear first, and then bring the body of the device over and behind the ear.

FAQs on how to turn hearing aids on

There are a few things that could be at play if your hearing aid won’t turn on:

Expired or dead batteries;
The battery is incorrectly placed (e.g. wrong side up);
Lack of charge (for rechargeable models);
Damage to hearing aid parts such as wires;
Blockages (earwax, etc.) that might make it seem like the hearing aid isn’t on.

How long hearing aid batteries last depends on the kind of battery you’re using (see more in our guide to hearing aid batteries). For example, battery size 675, which has blue packaging, can last from 9-20 days, while battery size 10, with yellow packaging, typically lasts 3-7 days.

Some factors, like temperature or altitude, can affect the longevity of hearing aid batteries. But there are things you can influence when it comes to how to make hearing aid batteries last longer:

Don’t remove the protective film on from batteries until you’re ready to insert them. Once the film is removed, the batteries activate. Wait 2-3 minutes before inserting them to ensure they’re fully activated.
To reduce power consumption, leave the battery door open overnight while you sleep.
Turn hearing aids off when you’re not wearing them (such as while you’re showering).

Miracle-Ear hearing aid range

If you have questions about hearing aid filters or you’re looking to find the right fit, schedule an appointment with a licensed Hearing Care Professional (HCP) at your local Miracle-Ear.

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How to turn off your hearing aid: Battery models

There are a couple of options for how to turn hearing aids off; the exact methods can vary by model, so be sure to check your user’s manual. You can turn your hearing aid off by:

Pressing the push button for several seconds
Opening the battery door to the first catch

How to turn off your hearing aid: Rechargeable models

If you have a rechargeable model, you likely have one of two options for turning off your hearing aid:

Place the hearing aids into the charger
Press and hold the power button

If you’re looking for advice on how to turn off hearing aids on an iPhone, the key thing to know is that you can disconnect a Bluetooth connection with your phone, but you need to turn off your hearing aid using one of the steps above. Here’s how to turn off the connection between your hearing aids and your iPhone:

Open “Settings.”
Tap “Bluetooth.”
In the Bluetooth menu, toggle the on/off switch to off (it will appear gray, not green, when it is off). This will automatically disconnect your hearing aids from your phone.
After waiting a few seconds, you can turn Bluetooth back on if you still want the ability to connect your iPhone to other devices.

Need help with how to turn off hearing aids on Android devices? These steps will help you unpair from a Bluetooth connection, but to turn your hearing aids off, you will need to follow the steps outlined above under “How to turn off your hearing aid”. To turn off the connection between your hearing aids and your Android device:

Open “Settings.”
Tap “Connections.”
Tap “Bluetooth.”
In the Bluetooth menu, toggle the on/off switch to off (it will appear gray, not blue, when it is off). This will automatically disconnect your hearing aids from your phone.
After waiting a few seconds, you can turn Bluetooth back on if you still want the ability to connect your Android to other devices.

Need to learn how to turn off hearing aid Bluetooth connections? The above instructions for iPhone and Android will guide you through the process. In both cases, it’s a matter of locating the Bluetooth settings on your phone and turning off the connection from there. You can also turn your hearing aids off and back on to break the connection, but it’s often more easily done from your phone.

How do I know if my hearing aid is broken?

When something isn’t working correctly, you might ask yourself “But how do I know if my hearing aid is broken?” There are a few things that you can check or try at home:

Examine tubes and wires for cracks or fraying;
Clean your devices thoroughly according to instructions before trying to use them again;
Try turning the devices off and back on again.

However, if you have serious concerns or just aren’t sure about making a diagnosis on your own, the best thing to do is contact your Miracle-Ear team at your neighborhood location. They’ll use their expertise to diagnose any problems and help you get back to hearing clearly as soon as possible.

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