It most likely seems like a simple thing to take care of your hearing aids. When you initially got your hearing aids, you most likely got a set of care instructions, after all. In regard to regular hearing aid maintenance, the majority of hearing specialists will give you a step-by-step instruction tutorial. But it’s quite likely that you may forget some of that information that you got all at once. So you might still have questions like, how often should I clean my hearing aid? What about my service schedule? How can I get the most life from my hearing aids?
If you want to keep your hearing aids in good working order, check out the following tips.
Tip #1: Keep your hearing aids dry
Moisture and electronics don’t really jive. Hearing aids are slightly water resistant but aren’t at all waterproof, so they need to be kept as dry as possible. Beyond the obvious, this means you need to do things like the following:
- Store your hearing aids someplace cool and dry. Many people wonder what the best way to store hearing aids is. Well, don’t, for instance, store them in your bathroom (which gets really steamy at least once a day). And in order to keep track of your hearing aids, store them in the same place every day. Also, cats like to play with hearing aids and dogs will sometimes attempt to eat them, so don’t just leave them lying about.
- Keep a dehumidifier going during those more humid months. When it’s very humid, your hearing aids can have more dampness than you would want even inside. And the fragile electronics inside of your device will be compromised. Prolonging hearing aid life might mean keeping that dehumidifier running.
- Avoid using hair products while you’re wearing your hearing aids. When you’re going to use hair spray or gel, remove your hearing aids. Your hearing aid can really become gunked up from these types of products.
Tip #2: Check (and clean) those earwax filters
The human body naturally generates earwax in a healthy way. Hearing aid makers are well aware of this. Consequently, most hearing aids are created to deal with a moderate amount of earwax.
It’s up to you to make sure there isn’t too much earwax on your hearing aids. So make swapping out your wax guard, when necessary, a regular element of your cleaning schedule. You can buy and utilize specialized cleaning tools for this, depending on your hearing aid model (ask us for guidance here).
What is the replacement schedule for earwax guards? You will change these wax guards around once every month on most models.
Tip #3: Take care of the batteries
Your batteries keep your hearing aids going. The healthier your hearing aid batteries are, the longer your hearing aid will last. So there are several battery-care steps you can take:
- Invest in a rechargeable hearing aid or a battery charger: That way, you won’t be throwing batteries (and money) away over and over again.
- Keep all of the contact points on the battery dry and clean. You can wipe them down with a clean cloth if they aren’t. This is yet another part of your device where moisture is the enemy.
- Remember to turn off your hearing aids when you aren’t wearing them. Or else, your battery will just sit there and drain. And that means your hearing aids could stop working when you really need them.
Tip #4: Only use clean hands to handle your devices
The majority of the time, your hearing aids should be in your ears. But they don’t get there by themselves. You use your hands to put in your hearing aids, and those hands could contain all kinds of things (salt, maple syrup, Cheeto dust, and so on). By design, hearing aids are really sensitive and likely won’t do well with things like crumbs.
It’s important that you don’t handle your hearing aids with dirty hands. So give your hands a quick wash before you need to take them out and handle them.
Tip #5 Keep us in the loop
You might think that you won’t need any assistance from us once you’ve purchased your hearing aids. But… this is not typically correct. Most individuals who have hearing loss will want to schedule routine appointments with us for the following reasons:
- Cleaning and maintenance.
- To help you ensure your devices fit well.
- Keep track of the status of your hearing loss (making sure it isn’t progressing quicker than expected).
What should you do when something breaks?
Sometimes, something could go wrong (perhaps you accidentally step on them) despite your best effort. When this takes place, you should contact us as quickly as possible.
If your hearing aid needs any repairs, or you need a new one, we can help with that.
Want to speak with us about your next pair of hearing aids? Schedule an appointment today!