How to Properly Maintain Your Hearing Aid at Home

If you rely on your hearing aids to help you all day, every day, much like any item that you use constantly, it takes dedicated care and maintenance to keep it working at its optimum. Any buildup of debris or moisture can cause your hearing aid damage, but there are some simple ways to make sure you maintain your hearing aid at home.

Cleaning Your Hearing Aids

Keeping your hearing aids clean means that they will work better every day, but regular cleaning will also guarantee better performance in the long run. If you want to get the most out of your hearing aid, you need to clean it every day. The best approach is to make sure you clean them before you go to bed. However, when cleaning there are some essential things, you need to do:

• Do not introduce moisture to the device: Moisture can be detrimental to any electrical device, especially hearing aids. The best tool you can use for cleaning is a dry microfiber cloth. Because a microfiber cloth has many tiny fibers that remove dirt and bacteria, you can give it a thorough delicate clean.
• Open the battery compartment overnight: When you open your battery compartment, you can let it dry, so it removes any excess moisture. Because wax and debris can get onto the battery, you need to get into the habit of checking the battery compartment. Many people focus on the device itself rather than the battery, but if the battery doesn’t work, your hearing aid won’t work.
• Examine the inlets and receiver end: When it comes to cleaning, the best thing you can do is get into the habit of giving a thorough examination. It’s a good idea to examine it first thing in the morning as this guarantees that there’s no excess buildup and it has had the opportunity to dry out overnight if there are any major issues.
• Examine the wax guard: If the wax guard needs changing, it’s crucial to do it as soon as possible. Ensuring you change the wax guard regularly can make the hearing aid last much longer.
• Look for any issues with the casing: Examining your hearing aid on a regular basis to check the casing and joints for any aesthetic problems like cracks is going to guarantee it will last much longer.

Essential Tools for Maintaining Your Hearing Aid

If you want to get the most out of your hearing aid, the three most important tools that can help you maintain it are:

• Cleaning brush: Cleaning brushes have small soft bristle brushes specifically for the purpose of maintaining your hearing aids.
• Wax pick with a wire loop: This is a very useful double-sided tool that can help you pick wax out of your hearing aid.
• Wax guards: This can be used to block earwax from infiltrating the device.

Protecting Your Hearing Aid

In addition to regular maintenance, you also need to protect your hearing aid. While earwax is one of the main problems to keep an eye out for, it’s important to be aware of some of the following:

• Remove your hearing aid before any contact with water.
• Ensure your fingers are clean and dry before handling the hearing aid.
• Remove your hearing aid before applying hair spray or makeup, as small particles can clog the microphone input.
• Keep hearing aids away from children and pets. Children could damage the device because it’s so delicate, but it’s also important to remember that hearing aids emit a high-frequency noise that can attract dogs.

Additional Tips for Maintenance

There are additional maintenance tips that you can do for your hearing aid to keep it lasting longer. Here are a few other things that you can benefit from:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the device.
• Keep your hearing aid in a dehumidifier container when not in use.
• Clean your device over a soft surface to avoid damage if it is dropped.
• Replace dead batteries right away.
• Turn hearing aids off when not in use.
• Establish a routine that you can stick to.

Finally, you need to schedule regular check-ups with an audiologist. If you are diligent when it comes to your hearing aid maintenance, this will ensure it lasts a long time. A hearing aid can make a big difference to the quality of your life, so looking after it properly is crucial.

Regular maintenance means that you can keep your hearing aid in top shape but if you ever have any concerns with regards to hearing aid maintenance, you can get in contact with Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center at Tarentum: (724) 409-4439 or Vandergrift: (724) 567-3233 to give you any additional pointers.