How would you deal with it if your hearing aid stopped working at the worst possible moment. Like in the middle of a phone call?
Nobody wants that to occur! 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 tips to help you properly care for your hearing aids and keep them operating in peak condition.
1. Read The Instructions
Your hearing aids included an instruction manual describing how to maintain them so that you can get the best results. These manuals often include troubleshooting guides that will help you solve many technical challenges.
Always go to the manual first if something isn’t working correctly.
The manual should cover any problems pertaining to the performance of your hearing aids. This is important even if you’ve worn hearing aids before because your new devices might not work the same way. Obviously, hearing aid technology has advanced considerably in recent years.
2. Clean Your Hearing Aids
Bacteria often use hearing aids as a breeding ground.
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 cause an infection.
Ear infections can trigger additional hearing concerns. 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. You should never put your hearing aids in 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 thoroughly.
Routinely cleaning your hearing aids will help stop wax buildup on the earpiece.
3. Don’t Allow Your Hearing Aids Get Wet
Getting wet is not something that most hearing aids are designed to do. They can even be damaged by high humidity. After cleaning, don’t put them on the nightstand.
Hearing aids lying on a surface in your home will accumulate dust that carries bacteria.
Keep your devices in a cool, dry place as outlined by the manufacturer’s recommendations. Remember to take them out before you bathe or shower. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t put them on the bathroom counter when getting ready.
Bring an umbrella with you if it’s raining.
Your battery might drain faster because it has 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 blow dryer, sauna, or other extreme heat.
4. Keep The Battery Charged
Don’t get caught without a backup battery at your child’s concert.
Turn your hearing aids completely off before you go to bed. If you plan on not wearing them for an extended amount of time, always remove the battery. If you allow your hearing aids to sit for long time periods with the battery in them, the life of the battery can be diminished and their delicate electronics can be harmed by battery acid.
The life of your battery can be substantially lengthened by following these recommendations but it doesn’t hurt to bring a spare along, just in case.
5. Have Your Ears Professionally Cleaned
A little bit of wax is pushed into your ear canal each time you put your hearing aid in. Voices will eventually start to sound distorted as this earwax accumulates. Set up an appointment for a cleaning with your hearing professional if your hearing seems dull and muted.
The removal procedure is simple with the correct tools. It should only be done by a trained professional with the expertise to take care of and service your hearing aids.
6. When You’re Inserting Your Hearing Aids, do it Over a Soft Surface
Taking the chance of dropping your hearing aid into the toilet or sink is really not worth it. Dropping and breaking your hearing aid becomes a real possibility in this scenario. Over a couch, bed, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to put them in.
7. If You’re Not Experiencing Improved Hearing, Contact a Specialist
You need to continue to wear your hearing aids even if you’re not currently having the best success. Your situation can be enhanced. Schedule an appointment for a consultation.