What would you do if your hearing aids stopped working at a time when you needed them most. Such as in the middle of a phone call?
No one wants that to happen! It’s important to invest in hearing aids for your hearing, your happiness, and your overall health. You will get the greatest possible advantage from your hearing aids if you keep them working at maximum condition.
You can correctly take care of your hearing aids and keep them functioning in top condition by following these 7 tips.
1. Understand The Instructions
Your hearing aids came with a manual describing how to take care of them to experience the best results. These manuals often come with troubleshooting guides that will help you resolve many technical challenges.
Always check out the manual first if something isn’t working properly.
Any issues associated with the performance of your hearing aid should be covered in the manual. Modern hearing aids function differently than the older models so even if you’ve had hearing aids before this is important. Obviously, hearing aid technology has advanced substantially in recent years.
2. Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Hearing aids can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you don’t clean and disinfect your hearing aids and wash your hands before you handle them, an ear infection can occur.
Ear infections can lead to further hearing problems. Most go away quickly, but some can cause irreversible damage.
After every use, wipe your hearing aids down with a dry cloth because bacteria bread more quickly on moist surfaces. Water can damage your hearing aid so keep them out of water. Taking care not to get them too wet, use an alcohol-free wet wipe to clean and disinfect.
Clean them carefully once every week, including any custom mold pieces.
The earpiece will be free of any wax buildup with regular cleaning.
3. Don’t Let Your Hearing Aids Get Wet
Getting wet is not something that most hearing aids are made to do. They can even be damaged by high humidity. After cleaning, don’t leave them on the nightstand.
Hearing aids will collect dust which contains bacteria if they are left sitting on an exposed surface.
Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place as outlined by the manufacturer’s guidelines. Remember to take them out before you shower or take a bath. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t leave them on the bathroom counter when getting ready.
When it’s raining, bring an umbrella.
Always keep your charger with you because your battery may drain faster if the air has moisture.
Don’t allow your hearing aid to be exposed to extreme heat, like a blow dryer or sauna, as that can also do damage to them.
4. Avoid Draining The Battery
Don’t get caught without a spare 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’re not going to wear them for an extended period of time, always take out the battery. You’ll get more life out of the battery this way, and you’ll avoid the risk of battery acid damaging the hearing aid’s fragile electronics.
You can significantly extend the life of your batteries with this advice but always carry a spare battery, just in case.
5. Have Your Ears Cleaned Professionally
Anytime you’re putting something into your ear, it will push a little bit of earwax into the canal. If this earwax is allowed to build up, it may eventually cause voices to sound muffled. Make an appointment for a cleaning with us if your hearing seems dull and muted.
The removal process is simple with the right tools. A professional should be the only individual who performs this procedure.
6. Insert Your Hearing Aids 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 situation. Over a bed, couch, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to insert them.
7. If You’re Not Experiencing Improved Hearing, Talk To Us
If you aren’t having the best experience with your hearing aids, don’t stop wearing them. There are solutions. Make an appointment for a consultation.
