SCF Audiology COVID-19 Services and Information

To support national efforts regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Southcentral Foundation Audiology is taking the following steps to assure the health and well-being of the Native Community.

The following directives and recommendations, from the American Academy of Audiology, the State of Alaska, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are being implemented to limit customer-owner and employee exposure to this virus.
The health of customer-owners and employees matters to us.
For hearing aid troubleshooting and to make an appointment: Call (907) 729-8844 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, click on the icons below.

Contact Us

Anchorage

University Lake Medical Building

3801 University Lake Drive, Suite 220
Anchorage, Alaska 99508

Phone
(907) 729-8844

Benteh Nuutah
Valley Native Primary Care Center

1001 S. Knik-Goose Bay Rd
Wasilla, Alaska 99654

Phone
(907) 631-7640

SCF Audiology Information and Education SCF Audiology Troubleshooting Troubleshooting and Manufacturer Support Links Where to buy assistive devices and accessories

You do not need a referral to be seen by Audiology.

SCF Audiology is scheduled to conduct field clinics at the following regional facilities:

Tanana Chiefs Conference (Fairbanks),
Kodiak Area Native Association (Kodiak),
Maniilaq Health Center (Kotzebue),
Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital (Utqiagvik).

If you live in one of these regions, an audiologist may be available for appointments during a field clinic visit at a regional facility.

Here are instructions on how to:

Tube Cutting Instructions
Communication Strategies
New Fitting Cheat Sheet
SCF Audiology Brochure
What is Hearing Loss
What are Hearing Aids
Cochlear Implant
Auditory Brainstem Response Brochure

We would love to answer all of your questions in person, but we know that problems don’t always occur during normal business hours and sometimes it’s just impossible to travel to get to us. Hopefully the troubleshooting tips here will help you until you can come see us again. We do recommend you come in to see your audiologist annually for a new hearing test and a hearing aid check or sooner if concerns arise.

Generic Troubleshooting

Hearing aids can sometimes stop working like they’re supposed to. When the hearing aids were received from your audiologist, they came with an instruction manual and some basic cleaning supplies. These are the first lines of defense to keep your device functioning correctly.

Quick Tips:

Wipe off wax and other debris from the hearing aids and earpieces with a baby wipe. If you have sensitive skin, consider using a wipe for sensitive skin.

Avoid using tissues, paper towels, or toilet paper. The fibers from these materials often stick to the wax on the hearing aid.
Avoid anything with alcohol — alcohol damages the device and makes it less water resistant.

Check the batteries.

Are the batteries the correct size for the device?
Is it an old battery? Hearing aid batteries last one week on average. If the battery is older than a week, it should be replaced.
Is the battery in upside down?

Use the brush included in in the hearing aid case to remove debris from the small spaces of the hearing aids.

Inspect the tubing of the hearing aids. Look for any crimps or holes. Sound leaks out of holes and makes the sound weaker. If you find any crimps or holes, contact Audiology to get the tubing replaced.

Carefully look at the end of the hearing aid or earmold that goes inside the ear. Is it clear or is it clogged with something?

Do not insert anything into the tip unless your audiologist demonstrated how to do this on this hearing aid model. For many hearing aids, inserting anything in the tip can damage them and require repair by the manufacturer.
Change the wax trap/wax filters that came with the hearing aid kit. Often these wax traps came with instructions written on the container or the replacement filters. There will also be instructions in the user manual on how to use these. If it is still unclear, an audiometric technician can demonstrate how to change them during walk-in hours, so it can be done at home later.

If none of these tips work, there are audiometric technicians available in Anchorage and Wasilla locations during normal business hours. If you are not able to visit the Anchorage or Wasilla locations, call Audiology to identify the best way to troubleshoot the problem. Sometimes issues can be resolves over the phone, other times a technician will need to have the hearing aid and/or the user of the hearing aid present to correct the problem.

Find out more by clicking on the links below:

Tubing Change

Manufacturer troubleshooting – Click on the link specifically for the manufacturer of your hearing aids.

Oticon Consumer Support

Phonak Consumer Support

Phonak Troubleshooting Infographic

Resound Consumer Support

Resound Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Signia How to Videos

Starkey Consumer Support

Starkey FAQs/Troubleshooting

Starkey How-To videos

Unitron Consumer Support

Unitron Troubleshooting Tips

Unitron Tutorial Videos

Below are products Audiology recommends for customers who do not yet have hearing devices, as well as assistive devices and products to help protect your hearing or your hearing aids.

Hearing protection devices

Pocketalker

TV Ears

Ear Gear

Assistive Listening Devices (Amplified phones, Alerting devices)