How would you deal with it if your hearing aid stopped working at the worst possible moment. Such as in the middle of a phone call?
That’s not something anybody wants! It’s important to invest in hearing aids for your hearing, your happiness, and your general health. Keeping them working in peak condition lets you obtain the greatest possible benefits from them.
The following are 7 steps to help you properly care for your hearing aids and keep them working at peak condition.
1. Understand The Instructions
The most beneficial results will be accomplished when you make use of the manual that came with your hearing aids. These manuals frequently include troubleshooting guides that will help you solve many technical challenges.
If something isn’t functioning properly, always check the manual first.
The manual should address any issues pertaining to the performance of your hearing aids. This is important even if you’ve had hearing aids before because your new devices may not function the same way. Obviously, hearing aid technology has progressed substantially in recent years.
2. Clean Your Hearing Aids
Bacteria like to 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 occur.
Ear infections can lead to additional hearing concerns. Most go away quickly, but some can cause permanent damage.
Bacteria favor damp surfaces, so clean each hearing aid with a dry cloth before and after every use. Water can ruin 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.
Once a week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces completely.
Routinely cleaning your hearing aids will help prevent wax buildup on the earpiece.
3. Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry
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 keep them on the nightstand.
Hearing aids will gather dust which contains bacteria if they are left resting on an open surface.
Keep your hearing aids in a cool, dry place according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Don’t forget to take them out before you bathe or shower. Keep your hearing aids in another room when you shower because there will be moisture in the air.
Take an umbrella with you if there’s rain in the forecast.
Always bring your charger with you because your battery could drain faster if there’s moisture in the air.
Heat can also cause damage to hearing aids, so don’t expose them to a sauna, blow dryer, or other extreme heat.
4. Avoid Draining The Battery
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. If you plan on not wearing them for a prolonged length of time, always take out the battery. You’ll get more life out of the battery this way, and you’ll avoid the chance of battery acid damaging the hearing aid’s fragile electronics.
You can significantly extend the life of your batteries with this guidance but always bring a spare battery, just in case.
5. Have Your Ears Professionally Cleaned
Anytime you’re putting something in your ear, it will push a small amount of earwax inside the canal. If this earwax is allowed to build up, it may eventually cause voices to sound muted. Schedule an appointment for a cleaning with your hearing specialist if your hearing seems dull and muted.
With the right tools and know-how, it’s a simple procedure. A hearing professional should be the only individual who performs this procedure.
6. Put in Your Hearing Aids Above a Soft Surface
Taking the risk of dropping your hearing aid into the sink or toilet is really not worth it. This can definitely lead to dropping the hearing aid and damaging it. Over a couch, bed, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to put them in.
7. If You Aren’t Experiencing Improved Hearing, Talk To a Specialist
If you aren’t having the best experience with your hearing aids, don’t discontinue wearing them. There are solutions. Schedule an appointment for a consultation.