EDIT: Phonak (Not c-shell) but slim tips? ) inserts wax guard?

@DaveL said:

Provider called them c-shells. I’ve been told here they are Slim Tips. I just know they were moulded perfectly and my hearing is much better.

I have slimtips and I put the wax filter on the slimtip itself. Are you removing the receiver from the slimtip and putting the wax filter on the receiver itself?

Peter

@PeterH

I just called my hearing aid provider. He is amazing. He’s going to mail me a bunch of wax filters. I forgot to ask when I’m there. It costs me a $100 Canadian for each trip.

I find that I have to change my filters about every 4 days or so. First time I just inserted a filter on a stick and it was ok. The silicone cover doesn’t quite line up with the wax filter.
Next time I got really clumsy, but managed to cope.

1. Took out the dirty filter with the sharp end of “stick”
2. Lost my first new clean filter under the silicone cover.
3. Managed to get it on the stick again; but squished the end and messed it up. Got it out carefully with my swiss army knive.
4. Got a new one centred; pushed it harder.
5. Pushed the receiver out of the silicone cap.
6. Put the wax filter in the Receiver;
7. Slid the silicone cap down the stick, and this lined up the silicone cap easily…hurray!
8. But I put the slim tip on upside down, and had to take it off again.

Felt like a dufus. Only my Springer Spaniel heard me swear.

@DaveL said:

But I put the slim tip on upside down, and had to take it off again.

Hi Dave,

You really shouldn’t have to remove the receiver from the slimtip every time. It will weaken the silicon over time, or the silicon will detatch itself from the slimtip. Just try putting the filter on the slimtip (if it fits).

Thanks. That’s what I’ll try. I’ll just hold the receiver in place when I’m putting the wax filter on.

I can’t feel a thing with my hands. I just have to be more gentle.

Thanks for your help.

DaveL

I’ve been meaning to take a pic of the receiver tool I use when changing receivers. I didn’t remember that there is a little instruction paper that came with it. I probably got it three years ago.

Receiver tool instrux.pdf (353.7 KB)

WH

@WhiteHat
Thanks so much!
That’s very helpful.

I changed my two wax filters again. I"m getting better at it.

DaveL

I have a little more experience.

If I insert the waxguard in the simtip it’s hit-or-miss. I waste at least one waxguard in two.

Often the new waxguard is crooked when I’m done.

I’m trying to extend the interval; use the waxguards longer. I’m changing them about every 5 days.

The real cost is driving to the care provider on a toll road. It’s cheaper to buy a quantity of waxguards from Amazon.

I do appreciate your response. When I don’t hear well at work or at home it causes stress and trouble in both envirnonments.

Long term? I’ll look at other makes of hearing aids next time. and see if I can find the holy grail…find a new audiologist closer by.

It frustrates me that Sonova/Phonak Canada is less than a 10 minute drive from my home. Yet I’ve had no help there.

DaveL