If you have hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be extremely frustrating. The good news is, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Go over this list before you do anything hasty. It might be time to come in and talk with us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary problems. For instance, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still have to be replaced occasionally or recharged. That means that it’s essential to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems like the sound is diminishing or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, particularly if you like to stock up, is a worthwhile idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until you need to use them, always a smart idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you purchased months ago probably won’t maintain a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before installing them. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will gather dirt and debris no matter how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You may find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem slightly off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products on the market specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with items you already have around the house. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your cellphone or glasses, to wipe your hearing aid down after disassembling it.
You can help stop your hearing aids from accumulating excess grime by employing basic hygiene practices. Clean and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing anything, such as washing up, styling your hair, or even shaving, that might put them at risk of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (think working up a sweat, not deep-sea diving). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling may happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Be certain that when you store your hearing aids, you open the battery door; and if you’re taking them out for longer than overnight, take out the batteries entirely. It takes almost no effort and guarantees that air can circulate, and any captured moisture can escape.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom may seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. If you live in a humid climate, you may want to consider investing in a hearing aid storage box. More expensive versions plug in, but less expensive models use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you buy shoes) to take in moisture.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for you to give us a call.