Caring for your hearing aids likely feels simple enough. After all, you were probably given a set of care guidelines when you originally bought your devices. With regard to regular hearing aid maintenance, the majority of hearing specialists will give you a step-by-step instruction tutorial. Still, getting all of that information at once means you probably didn’t retain some of it. So you still might be wondering, what should my cleaning routine look like? What about my service schedule? How can I make my hearing aids last as long as I can?
These five, easy-to-follow tips can help provide some answers, as well as simple ways to help in maintaining your hearing aids so they function better longer.
Tip #1: Try not to allow your hearing aids to get wet
Electronics typically don’t like moisture. Hearing aids are somewhat water resistant but aren’t at all waterproof, so they should be kept as dry as possible. Here are a few ways to do just that:
- Keep a dehumidifier going during those more humid months. Even inside, high humidity means your hearing aids may be more moist more frequently. And that dampness can compromise the delicate electronics inside. Prolonging hearing aid life may mean keeping that dehumidifier running.
- Find a cool and dry place to keep your hearing aids when you’re not wearing them. Many individuals question what the best way to store hearing aids is. Well, don’t, for instance, keep 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 spot every day. Also, cats love to play with hearing aids and dogs will occasionally attempt to eat them, so don’t just leave them lying around.
- Don’t use hair products while your hearing aids are in. That is, take your hearing aids out before using a lot of hair spray or hair gel. Your hearing aid can really become gunked up from these kinds of products.
Tip #2: Keep the earwax filters nice and clean
Earwax production is a normal and healthy thing for the human body to do. Hearing aid makers are well aware of this. Consequently, most hearing aids are created to deal with a moderate amount of earwax.
Your job is to make sure your hearing aids don’t become inundated with ear wax. This means inspecting and replacing the wax guards when needed (and making that an element of your hearing aid cleaning routine). Depending on which model hearing aid you have, you can invest in specialized little tools for this and we can help you with that.
What is the replacement schedule for earwax guards? Well, for most models, it will be about once every month or so.
Tip #3: Keep your batteries charged and fresh
Your batteries keep your hearing aids going. Your hearing aid will last a lot longer if you keep your batteries fresh. So there are several battery-care steps you can take:
- When you’re not using your hearing aids, don’t forget to turn them off. Otherwise, your battery will just sit there and drain. For this reason, when you most need your hearing aids, they might not be charged enough to work.
- Keep all of the contact points on the battery dry and clean. You can wipe them with a clean cloth if they aren’t. This is yet another part of your device where moisture is the enemy.
- Get a battery charger or a rechargeable hearing aid: That way, you won’t be chucking batteries (and money) away over and over again.
Tip #4: Only use clean hands to handle your hearing aids
Your hearing aids are going to spend most of their time in your ears. But they don’t get there by themselves. You use your hands to put your hearing aids in, and those hands could contain all kinds of things (salt, maple syrup, Cheeto dust, and so on). Your hearing aids are sensitive devices by design, so crumbs aren’t exactly great for them.
It’s important that you don’t touch your hearing aids with dirty hands. So before you put in or take out your hearing aids, give your hands a quick wash.
Tip #5 Keep up with your hearing specialist
It may seem like, once you purchase your hearing aids, you can leave your hearing specialist in the dust. In most cases, though, this is not the case. Most people who have hearing loss will want to set up regular appointments with us for the following reasons:
- Cleaning and maintenance.
- To help you adjust your fit.
- To track and monitor the advancement of your hearing loss.
What should you do when something breaks?
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, something goes wrong with your hearing aids (perhaps you accidentally step on them). When this occurs, you should contact us as quickly as you can.
If your hearing aid requires any repairs, or you need a new one, we can help with that.
Make an appointment with us today to talk about your current or next pair of hearing aids.