How To Care For Your Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are an essential piece of kit when you have hearing loss. They, of course, help you hear. But they also manipulate sound waves in various ways. They do this with intricate pieces that need to be maintained. Maintenance is key to making them last longer and your safety.

Why You Need to Maintain Hearing Aids

If you don’t keep your hearing aid clean and clear of debris, it may not last very long. They are also sensitive, and the small electronic parts are easily broken. Of course, there is general wear and tear. But things like earwax, sweat and even hair can get caught inside the devices. Fortunately, cleaning them is relatively simple. But if you are unsure or don’t have the confidence or even the motor skills to clean them, an audiologist can clean them for you.

How to Clean Your Devices

It’s easy to clean a hearing aid. So, if you are able, taking some time to do so can save you a lot of trouble. You will need a wax pick, a micro brush, a microfiber cloth and antibacterial wipes. Cleaning each device is a little different.

Cleaning In-the-Ear (ITE) and In-the-Canal (ITC) Hearing Aids

Take the device apart into its smaller pieces and gently clean them using an antibacterial wipe. Then take your micro brush and remove debris such as wax and dirt and let it dry for one hour.

Cleaning Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids

Separate the cable tube from the earmold first. Then, loosen any visible dirt from the processor housing unit with a micro brush. Then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Don’t use anything wet.

Cleaning Earmolds

You can clean your earmolds when they are detached from the processor units. You can wash the mold and the tube in warm soapy water, wiping away any debris. Let dry before reattaching. You should inspect your earmolds for dirt and debris often. And clean them if necessary. If you cannot do it yourself, your local audiologist will be more than happy to do this for you.

Top Reasons to Keep Hearing Aids Clean

A hearing aid is an electronic device. And, like all devices, it requires maintenance. If you don’t, it will cause the device to malfunction or expire before it should. It can also cause severe issues that will require you to see an audiologist. Here are some reasons to keep your hearing aids clean:

• A poorly maintained hearing aid will reduce your quality of life through malfunction.
• The effectiveness of your hearing device will be compromised.
• Small bits of dirt and debris can get inside and cause your device to not work.
• A device that doesn’t fit because of dirt can cause excess earwax.
• Over time, bacteria can build up and will cause an ear infection.

Any one of these issues will severely impact your hearing aid. You can see your audiologist to clean them for you if you need to. But some regular maintenance is pretty easy for most. And with regular cleaning, you will become more confident in looking after your devices yourself.

Keeping them Charged

Modern hearing aids benefit from the use of lithium-ion batteries. These are small batteries that you can recharge. Because of this, you can prolong the lifespan of your devices. Place them on a charging stand each night before bed to avoid loss of power and to maintain them:

• Modern rechargeable hearing devices: Lithium-ion devices essentially never run out of power as long as you maintain them properly with an adequate charge. Use the charging dock as instructed and keep them clean.
• Traditional battery-operated hearing devices: Standard hearing aids use zinc-air batteries. They need replacing as the energy begins to delete after removing the seal. Yet the lifespan is determined by the size of the battery used.

Each type of battery has its benefits and disadvantages. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. And this is dictated by your lifestyle, budget and unique needs as hearing impaired.

See Your Local Audiologist Today

Hearing aids are vital when you experience hearing loss. But there is more to it than wearing them. You need to be aware that they will degrade over time, even quicker, if you don’t take care of them. Yet this can be intricate work, and you may not have the motor skills. Fortunately, your audiologist can clean them for you and offer expert advice and guidance moving forward.

Contact Hearing Solutions of Northwest Michigan at (231) 518-4422 to learn more about how to care for your hearing aids.