How would you handle it if your hearing aid quit working at the worst possible time. Like 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. Keeping them functioning in peak condition lets you obtain the greatest possible benefits from them.
The following are 7 tips to help you properly care for your hearing aids and keep them operating in peak condition.
1. Become Familiar With The Instruction Manual
Your hearing aids included an instruction manual describing how to maintain them to experience the best results. These manuals often include troubleshooting guides that will help you address many technical difficulties.
If something isn’t working properly, always check the manual first.
Any problems involving the performance of your hearing aid should be covered in the manual. This is important even if you’ve worn hearing aids before because your new devices may not function in the same manner. Obviously, hearing aid technology has progressed substantially in recent years.
2. Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Bacteria often use hearing aids as a breeding ground.
If you don’t clean and disinfect your hearing aids and wash your hands before you handle them, an ear infection can be the result.
Ear infections can cause further hearing problems. Some of these problems are short lived but permanent damage can also occur.
After every use, wipe your hearing aids down with a dry cloth because bacteria bread more quickly on moist surfaces. You should never put your hearing aids in water. Taking care not to get them too wet, utilize an alcohol-free wet wipe to disinfect and clean them.
Once every week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces thoroughly.
The earpiece will remain free of any wax accumulation with regular cleaning.
3. Don’t Let Your Hearing Aids Get Wet
Most hearing aids are not designed to get wet. Even high humidity can damage them. Don’t keep them on the nightstand after cleaning.
Hearing aids will gather dust which has bacteria if they are left sitting on an exposed surface.
Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Before you go into the shower or bathe, make sure you take them out. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t leave them on the bathroom counter while getting ready.
When it’s raining, carry an umbrella.
Your battery might die faster because it needs to use more energy in a moist environment, so you should always carry your charger with you.
Heat can also cause damage to hearing aids, so don’t expose them to a sauna, blow dryer, or other intense heat.
4. Keep The Battery Charged
Keep your battery charged and take a backup when you attend a significant event.
Turn your hearing aids completely off before you go to bed. If you’re not going to wear them for a prolonged length of time, always remove the battery. If you let your hearing aids sit for long time periods with the battery in them, the life of the battery can be decreased and their delicate electronics can be harmed by battery acid.
The life of your battery can be significantly prolonged by following these recommendations but it doesn’t hurt to bring a spare along, just in case.
5. Get a Hearing Professional to Clean Your Ears
Anytime you’re inserting something in your ear, it will push a small amount of earwax into the canal. If this earwax is allowed to build up, it might eventually cause voices to sound muted. Schedule an appointment for a cleaning with your hearing professional if your hearing seems dull and muted.
With the correct tools and know-how, it’s a simple process. It should only be performed by a trained professional with the expertise to take care of and service your hearing aids.
6. When You’re Putting in Your Hearing Aids, do it Above a Soft Surface
Taking the risk of dropping your hearing aid into the toilet or sink is really not worth it. Dropping and damaging your hearing aid becomes a real possibility in this scenario. Over a bed, couch, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to put them in.
7. If You Aren’t Experiencing Improved Hearing, Consult a Specialist
You need to continue to wear your hearing aids even if you aren’t currently having the best success. Your situation can be improved. Make an appointment to come see us for a hearing test.