Luckily, it’s simple to maintain your hearing aids. Proper care and maintenance of your hearing aids can prolong their lifespan, and it can save you money on unnecessary repairs.
Some Of The Basics Of Hearing Aid Care
The Moveable Parts:
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Battery Door
This is one of the things that you are going to be using every day. You’ll constantly be opening and shutting the battery doors. At least you should be. After all, the oils on your skin can clog up the battery doors. By opening them frequently and wiping them off, you should be able to keep this from becoming an issue. You can use the provided brush that your hearing aid specialist gave you to complete this task.
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Volume Control
The volume controls on your hearing aid are used even more frequently than the battery doors. Because of this, you are going to want to maintain them just as much. You have the same issue with your volume rocker. It can have a buildup of grime that can cause it to malfunction. The last thing you want is to have preventable grime getting into your volume control wheel and having it malfunction because of it. The best way to avoid this issue altogether is by using the provided brush to get rid of the excess grime consistently. You want to attempt to clean underneath the wheel as much as possible to keep it free from debris. Ideally, you want the volume wheel to turn as you are cleaning it to ensure that it’s working properly. You’ll want to brush both clockwise and counter-clockwise to achieve this.
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Switches
A lot of the newer hearing instruments have telephone switches, and you’ll find that some of the older instruments are likely to have noise reduction switches. Thus, you want to keep things functioning by keeping oil and grime from the skin from clogging up the switch. You can do this by using your brush to clean the hearing aid by flipping the switch both ways and getting underneath.
If you find that one of your instruments is delivering a buzzing sound and you aren’t able to hear any sort of amplification, you should look to ensure that your telephone switch isn’t turned onto the telephone option.
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Memory Buttons
You will find a lot more hearing instruments using memory buttons nowadays. A lot of the instruments you will find in the marketplace can store up to 5 different memories. While you don’t need to use all 5, it can add value. However, many people do get confused by them. The majority of patients will typically find one that they feel sounds good enough and stick with it. The multi-memory hearing instruments work to slow down the adjustment of amplification of both speech and sound through hearing instruments.
When it comes to caring for your memory buttons, you’ll want to use the same brush on the button. That way, you can sweep off any excess oils and dead skin cells. By doing so, you can prevent it from creeping into the circuitry. Luckily, the memory buttons on the hearing instruments don’t go bad nearly as much as toggle switches. However, it is something that happens on occasion, and with adequate maintenance and proper care, it can be avoided.
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Moisture
Moisture is the enemy of every electronic device. The fact is, you cannot store electronics in a moist environment and expect them to continue working as they should. You wouldn’t expect it from your television, and you shouldn’t expect it from your hearing aid device. Your hearing aids are in this type of environment for as many as 16 hours each day. Try to use a moisture guard box to store your hearing aids at night, as it can reduce moisture problems.
If you have hearing instruments that are intermittent where they are shutting on and off, and you notice that the problem gets repaired when you keep them out of your ears for an extended period, it is likely due to excess moisture.
The last thing you want to do is place them in the microwave to dry them out. People have tried this, and it never ends well. If you do this, you will fry your hearing aids.
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Microphone
Microphones are extremely small. They are found directly on the faceplates located on the instruments. This is the portion that faces away from you when they are in your ears. The microphones that are located on your hearing aids are the very small holes that you see when looking at the outer edge. They are typically either one or two holes. You can find them covered by a screen at times to keep them from allowing dirt and grime in. The screens are typically paired with smaller holes to ensure they let enough sound in but keep grime out.
You’ll want to try to brush the screen occasionally. However, don’t do it too hard, or you could damage it. Don’t try to pry any grime out by poking through the holes. Also, avoid using any sort of hairspray while you have your hearing aids on. Ideally, you’ll even wait for your hair to dry if you do use any before putting your hearing aids in.
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Sound Tube
The tubes are the part of the instrument that allows the sound to output into your ears. Because of this, they are going to be some of the more common components that you’ll need to maintain. After all, they deal with a lot of ear wax and dry skin buildup. Your ears produce ear wax inherently. Because of this, you’re going to have wax buildup into the sound tubes.
There are a lot of hearing aids that will come with built-in wax guards. For some, you can swap them out. If you are aware that your battery is perfectly fine, but you’re not getting a lot of volumes, you’re likely in a situation where you’ll need to swap out your wag guard. If you have hearing aids that don’t have them, you can use your brush or another cleaning tool to remove the ear wax.
If you have a hearing aid with comfort tips attached, you can remove them completely. From there, you can just pop another pair on. When you do snap them off, you can clean through the sound tube to ensure that any blockage is removed.
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Shell
Your hearing aids likely feature a casing on them that is typically made out of hypoallergenic plastic. This is so they are usable for those that might otherwise get allergic reactions. If you suffer from inflammation after using them, you are going to want to avoid continued use and contact your specialist. However, keep in mind that it’s rare to have this type of reaction. The biggest concern you should have is maintaining your hearing aids and keeping them clean. There are plenty of different specialized cleaning solutions that you can buy and use. However, using basic tissue is typically good enough.
Final Thoughts
While this may sound like a lot of work, it’s routine stuff. Keeping your hearing aids well maintained and cared for doesn’t have to be too difficult. Follow the tips above, and you should be able to do so effectively.
