How would you handle it if your hearing aid quit working at the worst possible moment. Like when you’re in an important meeting.
No one wants that to occur! It’s important to invest in hearing aids for your hearing, your happiness, and your overall health. You will get the greatest possible benefit from your hearing aids if you keep them functioning at maximum condition.
The following are 7 tips to help you correctly care for your hearing aids and keep them working at peak condition.
1. Become Familiar With The Instruction Manual
Your hearing aids included an instruction manual outlining how to maintain them so that you can experience the best results. These manuals normally include troubleshooting guides that will help you resolve many technical difficulties.
Always check out the manual first if something isn’t working correctly.
The manual should address any problems related to the performance of your hearing aids. This is important even if you’ve worn hearing aids before because your new devices may not work in the same manner. Obviously, hearing aid technology has advanced significantly in recent years.
2. Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Hearing aids can provide a breeding ground for bacteria.
While there’s always some harmless bacteria on your skin, if you don’t wash your hands or properly clean the hearing aids, it can lead to an infection.
Ear infections can lead to additional hearing trouble. Some of these issues are short lived but permanent damage can also occur.
Bacteria prefer damp surfaces, so clean each hearing aid with a dry cloth before and after each use. Never put your hearing aids in water. Disinfect them often with an alcohol-free wipe, being cautious not to get it too wet.
Once each week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces completely.
The earpiece will be free of any wax accumulation with regular cleaning.
3. Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry
Getting wet is not something that most hearing aids are designed to do. Even high humidity can cause damage. After cleaning, don’t keep them on the nightstand.
Hearing aids will gather dust which contains bacteria if they are left resting on an exposed surface.
Adhere to the guidance of the manufacturer and store them in a cool dry place. Remember to take them out before you bathe or shower. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t leave them on the bathroom counter when getting ready.
Bring an umbrella with you if it’s raining.
Your battery may die faster because it has to make use of more energy in a moist environment, so you should always bring your charger with you.
Heat can also damage hearing aids, so don’t expose them to a sauna, blow dryer, or other extreme heat.
4. Keep The Battery Charged
Don’t get caught without a backup battery at your nephew’s piano recital.
When you take your hearing aids off to go to sleep, turn them all the way off. If you plan on not wearing them for an extended duration, always take out the battery. If you allow your hearing aids to sit for long time periods with the battery in them, the life of the battery can be diminished and their sensitive electronics can be harmed by battery acid.
You can significantly prolong the life of your batteries with this advice but always carry a spare battery, just in case.
5. Have Your Ears Professionally Cleaned
Anytime you’re inserting something into your ear, it will push a small amount of earwax into the canal. If you let this earwax build up, it may eventually cause voices to sound muffled. If your hearing experience doesn’t seem correct, schedule an appointment with a hearing professional to check for excess earwax buildup.
The removal process is simple with the right tools. It should only be done by a trained professional with the expertise to service and care for your hearing aids.
6. When You’re Putting in Your Hearing Aids, do it Over a Soft Surface
Taking the risk of dropping your hearing aid into the sink or toilet is really not worth it. This can definitely lead to dropping the hearing aid and breaking it. Always put in your devices over a soft surface such as a bed, sofa, or a folded towel placed on a table or counter.
7. If You Aren’t Experiencing Improved Hearing, Talk To a Specialist
If you aren’t having the best experience with your hearing aids, don’t discontinue wearing them. There are answers. Schedule an appointment to come see us for a hearing test.