What would you do if your hearing aids stopped working at a time when you needed them most. Such as when you’re in a crucial meeting.
No one wants that to occur! Your hearing aids are an important investment in your hearing, happiness, and general health. Keeping them functioning in peak condition allows you to obtain the greatest possible advantages from them.
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 came with a manual explaining how to take care of them so that you can experience the best results. These manuals typically come with troubleshooting guides that will help you resolve many technical challenges.
If something isn’t functioning correctly, always check the manual first.
Any issues involving the performance of your hearing aid should be covered in the manual. Newer hearing aids function differently than the older models so even if you’ve used hearing aids before this is important. Obviously, hearing aid technology has progressed substantially in recent years.
2. Clean Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
While there’s normally some harmless bacteria on your skin, if you don’t wash your hands or thoroughly clean the hearing aids, it can result in an infection.
Ear infections can cause further hearing issues. Some of these problems are short lived but permanent damage can also happen.
After every use, wipe your hearing aids down with a dry cloth because bacteria bread more quickly on moist surfaces. Water can ruin your hearing aid so keep them out of water. Being careful not to get them too wet, utilize an alcohol-free wet wipe to disinfect and clean them.
Once each week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces thoroughly.
Routinely cleaning your hearing aids will help stop wax buildup on the earpiece.
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. Don’t leave them on the nightstand after cleaning.
Hearing aids will accumulate dust which contains bacteria if they are left sitting on an exposed surface.
Follow the guidance of the manufacturer and store them in a cool dry place. Before you go into the shower or take a bath, make sure you take them out. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t put them on the bathroom counter when getting ready.
Take an umbrella with you if it’s raining.
Always keep your charger with you because your battery may drain faster if the air has moisture.
Heat can also cause damage to hearing aids, so don’t expose them to a blow dryer, sauna, or other intense heat.
4. Keep The Battery Charged
Don’t get caught without a backup battery at your nephew’s concert.
When you take your hearing aids off to go to bed, turn them all the way off. Remove the batteries if you are going to go for a long time without using your hearing aids. If you allow your hearing aids to sit for long periods of time with the battery in them, the life of the battery can be decreased and their sensitive electronics can be damaged by battery acid.
The life of your battery can be significantly lengthened by following these suggestions but it doesn’t hurt to bring a spare along, just in case.
5. Get a Hearing Professional to Clean Your Ears
A little bit of wax is pushed into your ear canal each time you put your hearing aid in. If you let this earwax build up, it may eventually cause voices to sound muted. Make 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. An expert in hearing should be the only individual who conducts this procedure.
6. Insert Your Hearing Aids Over a Soft Surface
Taking the chance of dropping your hearing aid into the sink or toilet is really not worth it. Dropping and breaking your hearing aid becomes a substantial possibility in this situation. 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’re Not Experiencing Improved Hearing, Contact a Specialist
If you’re not having the best experience with your hearing aids, don’t discontinue wearing them. There are answers. Make an appointment to come see us for an exam.
