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10 Care Tips for Hearing Aids

Follow these 10 useful care tips for your hearing aids to minimize any potential problems. Taking proper care of your hearing aids will ensure they last for many years.

Handle With Care

  • Wash your hands and dry them before you put on your hearing aids, as dirt and moisture can block the tiny microphone.

Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry

  • Remove before showering, bathing, or swimming
  • Keep them away from moisture (don’t leave them in a bathroom), as moisture and condensation may damage the electronics.

Clean Your Hearing Aids Regularly

  • Clean with a soft, dry cloth daily
  • Never use alcohol, solvents or cleaning agents

Keep Your Hearing Aids in a Safe Place

  • Place them safely in their carrying case each night
  • Keep them away from pets and small children
Clean Your Ears Regularly
  • Avoid earwax build-up from clogging earmolds
  • Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears
  • Check out our page on Earwax Management
Remove the Battery At Night
  • Leave the battery compartment open so moisture can escape
  • Use a special drying aid available from your audiologist
Avoid Contact with Hairspray or Make-Up
  • Put your hearing aids on after using hairspray or applying make-up to avoid clogging the microphone input and volume control switch.
Leave All Repairs to an Expert
  • Don’t try to repair your hearing aids yourself
  • Never use a screwdriver or oil on your hearing aids, as you can damage sensitive micromechanical and electronic systems.
Extend Hearing Aid Battery Life
  • Remove batteries when hearing aids are not in use for a while to avoid corrosion and damage to hearing aids.
  • Don’t store hearing aids in the refrigerator or bathroom, as extreme temperatures (hot or cold) and high humidity levels are not good for the life of your hearing aid batteries.
  • Don’t remove the plastic tab from each pack’s battery until you are ready to use it.
 See Your Audiologist Regularly
  • Schedule follow-up appointments with your audiologist every 6 months to a year to check your hearing aid function and performance, to fix any problems, and to get a thorough cleaning.
With proper maintenance of your hearing aid device, you can make them last many years and protect your financial investment.

Hearing Aid Maintenance FAQs

What causes hearing aids to malfunction?
There are a few reasons why your hearing aid may fail to work. You can troubleshoot for the following problems, and see if these quick fixes will restore function.
  1. Earwax build-up or dirt on the speaker and microphone can cause a blockage. Use the small tool that came with your hearing aid to remove any debris. If your hearing aid comes with a wax guard, replace it every 2 to 3 weeks to reduce wax build-up. If you are unclear how to change one, contact your audiologist for assistance.
  2. The battery may be weak or dead. Try replacing it with a new battery to see if the function is restored.
  3. Check the battery compartment to make sure there isn’t any corrosion. Moisture and humidity can cause battery erosion. Use a drying kit to keep it as dry as possible.
If none of these quick fixes restores function to your hearing aids, your audiologist may be able to troubleshoot and fix them in the office. If not, your hearing aids will be sent out to the manufacturer for repair.
How does moisture get into your hearing aids?

Moisture can get into your hearing aids through the battery compartment or via the tube or wire that goes into your ear canal. Moisture can also get into your hearing aids as the result of extreme climate temperatures (hot and cold).

How do you dry a hearing aid that got wet?
If your hearing aid got wet, do the following:
  • Remove it from the water as soon as possible and shake out any excess water.
  • Turn it off and remove the battery. Throw away that battery.
  • Remove the tube (if you have one) and dry it with a soft, dry cloth.
  • Use a hairdryer on low heat from a distance (to avoid extreme heat on your device) or a fan to blow it dry. If you don’t have either, leave it out to air dry with the battery compartment open.
It may take 2 days for your hearing aid to dry. Once you are satisfied that it is dry, put in a new battery and turn it on. If the hearing aid fails to turn on, contact your audiologist for assistance. The hearing aid may need to be sent out to the manufacturer for repair to restore function.
Do hearing aid dryers work?
Hearing aid dryers work as dehumidifiers, and the other added benefit is that they can help to sanitize your devices using either ultraviolet (UV) or chemical sanitation. Check out Hearing Health’s “Best Hearing Aid Dryers: 2019 Buyer’s Guide” if you are interested in getting one.
How often can you use a hearing aid dryer?

You can use a hearing aid dryer every time you clean your hearing aid.

Can you clean your hearing aids with alcohol wipes?

To clean your hearing aids and earpieces each day, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use water, alcohol wipes, or any other solvents as these could damage your hearing aids.

How can you clean earmolds for hearing aids?

If your hearing aid has an earmold, remove the earmold and tubing from the hearing aid. You may use warm water and mild soap to wash the earmold. Once cleaned, carefully dry it being careful to remove any moisture from the tubing. Allow it to dry overnight, and reattach it to your hearing aid in the morning.

You should clean the earmold weekly or as needed.

What should you do if you are unsure how to care for your hearing aids?
If you are unsure how to care for your hearing aids or if you feel they need special attention, you can always consult with your audiologist.
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Sanford
Sanford
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