Nelson Quality Tools for Hearing Aids

Posted on February 1, 2011 by AU Bankaitis

About 15 years ago, an audiologist by the name of R. David Nelson of Ruthven, IA realized that the tools he personally made and used to clean hearing aids in his practice may come in handy for other clinicians. Dr. Nelson developed 12 different tools that may be divided into one of three groups: 1) loops, 2) picks, and 3) brushes. Each tool is handmade with a hardwood handle that is color-coded at the end of the handle to assist with tool identification. The tool tips are comprised of either surgical steel stems or the highest-quality available brush material. While each tool may be purchased separately, the Nelson Tool Hearing Aid Starter Set (pictured above) represents the complete 12-piece set packaged in a convenient hard-shell carrying and storage case.  A Nelson Tool Cleaning Station (pictured right) is also available and includes 26 Nelson Tools with a tray and brush cleaner, the perfect item to keep your quality Nelson Tools clean and ready for use!

About AU Bankaitis

A.U. Bankaitis, PhD is a clinical Audiologist with extensive clinical, research, and business experience within the hearing industry. She is Vice President of Oaktree Products, a multi-line distributor of audiology supplies and screening/diagnostic test equipment. Dr. Bankaitis created this blog to educate her colleagues and providers in the hearing health care industry on viable product solutions for their patients and/or clinical practice.
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8 Responses to Nelson Quality Tools for Hearing Aids

  1. Lori says:
    March 18, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    Great website/ blog. What do Audiologists, HID, HIS etc use to disinfect brushes between client use? Thanks

    • aubankaitis says:
      March 18, 2014 at 2:49 pm

      The answer will differ from clinic to clinic depending on specific infection control protocols that are implemented. When I was in practice, hearing instrument surfaces were first cleaned and then disinfected with a disinfectant wipe (i.e. AudioWipes). From there, immediately following the use of the Nelson Tool, the tool itself was cleaned and then disinfected with either a fresh disinfectant towellette or using disinfectant spray. In the even the tool was contaminated with copious amounts of cerumen, the nelson tool would be cleaned and the sterilized prior to reuse. I hope this answers your question!

  2. Young Horton says:
    February 14, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is excellent, as well as the content!

    • aubankaitis says:
      February 14, 2011 at 11:01 pm

      Hello Young Horton:
      Thanks for the feeback. I started this blog in August of 2010 not knowing much. Still don’t but see my post this Thursday as it outlines some things to come (once I figure it out!)

  3. Catherine Nelson Grange, Au.D. says:
    February 3, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    Thanks for the nice post! I am Dave’s daughter and an audiologist in Iowa. I use his tools every day in the lab! My favorite are the picks to help when I’m tubing earmolds.

    • aubankaitis says:
      February 3, 2011 at 1:07 pm

      Cathy:
      Glad you saw the post and I hope you can forward it to you dad; I did not have an updated e-mail for him. I used to use the Nelson Tools when I practiced and it is so neat to come full-circle and work at a place where we can help distribute the tools.

  4. aubankaitis says:
    February 1, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    It was actually really nice to meet Dave several years ago; Bob Kemp of Oaktree Products was telling me that about 15 years ago, he drove up to Iowa to meet with Dave to see his tools and to figure out a way to help sell them. As you can imagine, Oaktree has been selling his tools ever since. Always nice to hear the personal side of products!

  5. Rich Reikowski, Au.D says:
    February 1, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    Very nice post on the tools developed that has helped many of us through the years to do our job to an even better ability. Nice post!
    Rich Reikowski, Au.D

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