How Should I Care For my Hearing Aid?

Woman putting on her hearing aid over the couch in case she drops it.

How would you deal with it if your hearing aid quit working at the worst possible moment. Like in the middle of a phone call?

Nobody wants that to happen! Your hearing aids are an important investment in your hearing, happiness, and overall health. Keeping them working at maximum condition lets you obtain the greatest possible benefits from them.

You can correctly care for your hearing aids and keep them working in peak condition by implementing these 7 tips.

1. Understand The Instructions

Your hearing aids came with a manual outlining how to take care of them so that you can experience the best results. Many technical problems you may be experiencing can be solved by the trouble-shooting guides that are included with these manuals.

If something isn’t working properly, always consult the manual first.

Any issues associated with the performance of your hearing aid should be covered in the manual. This is important even if you’ve worn hearing aids before because your new devices might not work in the same manner. Obviously, hearing aid technology has advanced significantly in recent years.

2. Clean Your Hearing Aids

Bacteria like to use hearing aids as a breeding ground.

If you don’t clean and disinfect your hearing aids and wash your hands before you handle them, an ear infection can be the result.

Further hearing issues can be the consequence of an ear infection. Some of these problems are short lived but permanent damage can also take place.

Bacteria like moist surfaces, so wipe each hearing aid with a dry cloth before and after each use. Never put your hearing aids in water. Being careful not to get them too wet, utilize an alcohol-free wet wipe to clean and disinfect.

Once every week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces thoroughly.

The earpiece will be free of any wax buildup with frequent cleaning.

3. Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry

Most hearing aids are not made to get wet. Even high humidity can damage them. After cleaning, don’t put them on the nightstand.

Hearing aids sitting on a surface in your home will collect dust that contains bacteria.

Stay within the guidance of the manufacturer and keep them in a cool dry place. Don’t forget to take them out before you shower or take a bath. Leave your hearing aids out of the bathroom during your shower because there will be moisture in the air.

When it’s raining, carry an umbrella.

Always bring your charger with you because your battery may drain faster if the air has moisture.

Heat can also cause damage to hearing aids, so don’t expose them to a sauna, blow dryer, or other intense heat.

4. Avoid Draining The Battery

Don’t get caught without a backup battery at your nephew’s concert.

Turn your hearing aids completely off before you go to bed. If you plan on not wearing them for an extended period of time, always remove the battery. You’ll get more life from the battery this way, and you’ll avoid the chance of battery acid damaging the hearing aid’s sensitive electronics.

You can substantially prolong the life of your batteries with this guidance but always bring a spare battery, just in case.

5. Have Your Ears Professionally Cleaned

A small amount of wax is pushed into your ear canal each time you insert your hearing aid. If this earwax is allowed to build up, it may eventually cause voices to sound muffled. If your hearing experience doesn’t seem correct, make an appointment with a hearing specialist to check for abnormal earwax accumulation.

The removal process is simple with the correct tools. An expert in hearing should be the only individual who performs this procedure.

6. When You’re Inserting Your Hearing Aids, do it Over a Soft Surface

Taking the chance of dropping your hearing aid into the toilet or sink is really not worth it. Dropping and breaking your hearing aid becomes a real possibility in this scenario. Over a bed, couch, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to insert them.

7. If You’re Not Experiencing Improved Hearing, Speak to a Specialist

You need to continue to wear your hearing aids even if you aren’t currently having the best success. There are solutions. Schedule an appointment to come see us.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.