Caring for your hearing aids probably feels simple enough. After all, you were probably given a set of care instructions when you first bought your devices. With regard to routine hearing aid maintenance, the majority of hearing specialists will give you a step-by-step instruction tutorial. But it’s quite likely that you might forget some of that information that you got all at once. So you still might be wondering, what should my cleaning schedule look like? Or, how frequently should I have my hearing aid serviced? How can I make my hearing aids last as long as possible?
If you want to keep your hearing aids in tip-top working order, check out the following tips.
Tip #1: Try not to let your hearing aids get wet
Moisture and electronics don’t really jive. Hearing aids are somewhat water resistant but aren’t at all waterproof, so they need to be kept as dry as possible. Here are a few ways to do just that:
- When it’s humid outside, run a dehumidifier. Even indoors, high humidity means your hearing aids might be more moist more frequently. And that moisture can compromise the delicate electronics inside. If you want to get the most longevity out of your hearing aid as you can, get that dehumidifier going!
- Find a dry and cool place to keep your hearing aids when you’re not wearing them. Many individuals wonder 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 every day). It also helps to store them in the same place every day so you’re not wondering where they went. By the same token, don’t leave your hearing aids just lying about, dogs like to eat them and cats like to play with them!
- When you have your hearing aids in your ears, don’t use hair care products. When you’re going to utilize hair spray or gel, take out your hearing aids. These kinds of products can really gunk up your devices.
Tip #2: Keep the earwax filters nice and clean
Earwax production is a healthy and normal thing for the human body to do. Hearing aid makers are well aware of this. Consequently, most hearing aids are designed to deal with a moderate amount of earwax.
It’s up to you to be sure there’s not too much earwax on your hearing aids. This means inspecting and swapping the wax guards when necessary (and making that an element of your hearing aid cleaning program). You can purchase and use 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 approximately once every month on most models.
Tip #3: Keep your batteries charged and fresh
Your batteries keep your hearing aids working. The healthier your hearing aid batteries are, the longer your hearing aid will last. The following are some tips for battery care:
- Invest in a rechargeable hearing aid or a battery charger: That way, you won’t be chucking batteries (and money) away again and again .
- Be sure all of the battery contacts and components are dry. You can wipe them down with a clean cloth if they aren’t. This is yet another place in your device where moisture is the enemy.
- When you’re not wearing your hearing aids, remember to switch the power off. This just kills the battery for, well, no good reason. Consequently, when you most need your hearing aids, they may not be charged enough to function.
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 depend on you to put them in. You use your fingers to put in your hearing aids, and those hands could contain all sorts of things (salt, maple syrup, Cheeto dust, and so on). Your hearing aids are sensitive devices by design, so crumbs aren’t really great for them.
It’s essential that you don’t touch 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 Stay in touch with your hearing specialist
It might seem like, once you purchase your hearing aids, you can just forget all about your hearing specialist. Generally, though, this isn’t the situation. Here are some very good reasons why scheduling regular appointments with us is still important.:
- Keep track of the status of your hearing loss (making sure it isn’t advancing quicker than expected).
- To help you ensure your devices fit well.
- Cleaning and maintenance.
What should you do when something breaks?
Occasionally, something could go wrong (perhaps you accidentally step on them) despite your best effort. When this happens, you should contact us as quickly as you can.
If your device needs any repairs, or you need a new one, we can help with that.
Want to talk to us about your next pair of hearing aids? Set up an appointment today!
