Phonak. Little white bit in tube

I have recently been fitted with Phonak rechargeable aids. In the upper tube I have noticed a small bit of white plastic tubing seemingly floating about in the tube. What is this and should it be fixed or floating.

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If it’s in the hook / shoulder part it might be a sound damper. If it’s more closer to your ear mould it could be a wax filter.

Neither of those should really be moving around.

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It’s in the hook floating up near the actual hearing aid. Looks like a tiny bit of white tube about 1mm long.

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Are both aids the same? as @Tee mentioned could be a sound damper. If it is only in one side at 1mm it’s tiny. Could be a rogue piece of plastic from manufacture.

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Both aids are different, the one with the floating piece is a moulded one (acoustic neuroma). Its definitely like a 1mm x 1mm bit of white tube.

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What model aids do you have?

Thanks

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Nathos Nova PR rechargeable

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Thanks, looked them up.

Are they slim tubes or standard size tubes with a hook? I as because slim tubes do not use a hook and sound damper involved.

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It’s the thicker tube/hook and the white ā€˜floaterā€˜ is at the end fairly close to where the tube screws into the aid.

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That sounds like the little white ball we talk about, a sound damper or filter by some. They can collect moisture and mess up your sound. Many of us push it out and stop wondering. If you do please tell your fitter next time you visit. There is a box to check in the software in the acoustics section.

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It’s supposed to be there to smooth out the sound. If your hearing aids get wet/sweaty, sometimes that filter will get damp and muffle the sound. It’s fine just where it is.

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I know you are probably right but many of the members here pushed those white balls out because they caused more trouble than they helped. These dampers also rob some gain for those that really need the extra gain. Seems @kevels55 was one that talked about getting that ball out so he could get a little more gain.

These hooks can be purchased with it without these dampers and Target software is set up to go either way so it can’t be bad to take the dampers out, especially if they are causing issues.

I trust what you say but just wanted the group to see both sides.

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I don’t recall about extra gain for the ā€œWhite Dampersā€ Rick? I do recall using ā€œthick walled or twin walled tubingā€ for extra gain, around 5db… I remove both dampers (with a pin) simply because they can clog the narrow part of the ear hook, sweat or moisture makes them swell, and they will solidify, completely blocking the ear hook, so no sound whatsoever can pass, perhaps a design fault or it might be the ear hook manufactures changed the damper material? It was @Zebras whom informed me a few years ago now, that this can happen, so I now remove both dampers! For whatever reason (Most probably excessive sweat) if I don’t remove the dampers, they only last about 2 months, before they completely block off the ear hook, usually at the most inconvenient time! For me at least, there is no noticeable difference, whether the dampers are in or out? I hope this information helps… Cheers Kev :smile:

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I have seen them get clogged up with my patients; I’m not saying that doesn’t happen! I’m saying for the OP that it is part of the hook and nothing is wrong with it. They can be poked out with a thin piece of filament too.

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Thanks, I appreciate all your input.

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