We at Inland Hearing Aids understand the pressure attached when a patient receives their first pair of hearing aids.
The hearing aids quickly become one of the most important personal items they own, are incredibly valuable, easily misplaced, and without regular maintenance, can result in a decrease in the patient’s standard of living.
Luckily, with more than 20 years’ experience as a hearing instrument specialist, I’m here to advise you on how best to maintain your hearing devices.
Together, we can ensure that they continue to provide you with the highest hearing quality, whether using them for the first or 500th time.
Top Tips to Maintain Your Hearing Aids at Home
1) Batteries Run Out.
Your hearing aids will be your best friends. They’re durable and are incredibly reliable. However, unless you have rechargeable devices, the batteries will need to be replaced.
Depending on how often they’re in use, the batteries in your device will last anywhere from three days to two weeks.
Anyone that’s ever left a battery in a device will know that the result can be irreparable damage to your essential technology.
Unfortunately, batteries are known to trap moisture inside the hearing aid casing, so I recommend that whenever you’re not using the devices to remove the batteries and gently wipe down the area. This will help remove any excess moisture and prolong the life of your device.
2) Change Your Filter.
The maintenance of hearing aids extends further than wiping down the battery department of your device.
Replacing wax filters is essential to maintaining your hearing aid’s health; it stops components from becoming clogged and decreases the chance of long-term damage to your device.
As a hearing instrument specialist, I recommend that you change the wax filter as soon as you notice wax beginning to gather on the device.
The replacement process is relatively straightforward; however, I would be delighted to help you with the process until you feel comfortable doing it independently.
3) Be Aware of Earwax.
Earwax is one of the biggest problems to maintaining the performance of your device.
I recommend that you stick to a regular cleaning schedule. I’ve found that the most effective solution is to gently clean your devices with cotton swabs, allowing the removal of any dirt or wax that has been built upon the device.
4) Be Gentle with Your Device.
You can rest assured that your device is built to withstand years of use. However, the instrument and its components are still delicate pieces of equipment, and sometimes all it takes is a bump or accidental drop for it to be damaged, resulting in a repair.
I recommend that when taking out your devices to clean them, you do so over the carpet, a cushion, or a towel, limiting the risk of damage to your hearing aid in the event of a drop.
As a hearing care specialist and someone who knows the importance of hearing aids to your everyday life, I would recommend valuing your hearing aids on the same level as your cell phone (if not a lot more!). More often than not, a patient would struggle to use their cell phone without the benefit of their hearing aid.
You could live without a cell phone for a few days, but could you live without your ability to hear?
5) Be Aware of Water.
Hearing aids are designed to function in damp, dark conditions. However, as with anything battery-operated and connected to electronic components, it’s best to avoid extended water exposure.
Many modern hearing aids are considered water-resistant; however, I would recommend removing any devices before jumping into the shower, bath, or swimming pool. Drying a water-clogged hearing aid can be as inconvenient as bringing your device in for a repair.
If you find your device has been submerged in water, I recommend you quickly and gently dry it with a towel, and please do not attempt to ever dry your hearing aid with a hairdryer.
Further Advice
We at Inland Hearing Aids are proud to serve Washington and are proud to have been doing so for more than two decades.
With such a close-knit team, we can offer our patients a more personable service, and we enjoy getting to know each and every person who visits our premises.
If you have any issues, anxiety, or believe your device needs repair, then don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Please note that with the increase in masks’ use, we recommend our patients take extra care when putting on or removing a mask, as you could unknowingly pull your device out of your ear, resulting in damage or a costly loss.
