Caring for Hearing Devices
To maximize the benefits you receive from wearing hearing devices, it is important to follow these hearing health and maintenance guidelines.
Maintaining Your Hearing Health
- We recommend you have a hearing evaluation every two years to determine if your hearing devices should be reprogrammed to compensate for any additional loss.
- Wear your hearing devices daily to allow your brain time to relearn sounds.
- Do not miss a regularly-scheduled checkup.
- Do not wear someone else’s hearing devices.
Taking Care of Your Hearing Devices
- Clean your earmolds daily to remove any buildup.
- Remove your hearing devices before taking a shower or going swimming.
- Do not expose your hearing devices to hair spray.
- Do not expose your hearing devices to radiation from x-rays.
- Do not try to repair your own hearing device.
- Do not use alcohol or cleaning fluid on any parts.
- Regularly check the plastic tubing on your hearing device for debris.
- Avoid excessive heat and cold. Do not leave your hearing devices in a hot car in the summer or a cold car in the winter.
- Do not dry your hair with a hair dryer while wearing hearing devices.
- Humidity and hearing devices do not mix. If you live in a humid environment, purchase a hearing devices dehumidifier.
Battery Care
- Replace batteries routinely; the average battery life is 7-10 days.
- Memorize the battery size your hearing device requires.
- Turn off your hearing devices at bedtime and keep the battery compartment open to allow any moisture to evaporate.
- Store batteries at room temperature.
- Do not carry loose batteries in your pocket or purse.
- When newly purchased, hearing device batteries are sealed with a tab to ensure freshness. Do not remove this tab until you are ready to use the battery. Once the tab is removed, allow the battery to charge for 30-60 seconds prior to placing it into the hearing device.
Avoid shock and vibration
- Hold the hearing devices over a cushioned surface when changing the battery.
- Store your hearing device in the cushioned case or charger it came in.
- To avoid accidents, sit down to insert or remove your hearing devices.
Hearing Device Maintenance
Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your hearing aids, and is a must considering the conditions they are exposed to on a regular basis. Moisture, heat, earwax and dirt can all damage electronic components unless cleaned properly.
Our audiologists have cleaning tools that consists of a wire loop, magnet and brush available. These are useful tools for removing wax and dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies in your hearing aids, and the magnet aids in battery removal.
There are steps you can take at home to care for your hearing devices and optimize their effectiveness. Try the following cleaning tips:
- Wash and dry your hands before you handle your hearing devices.
- Storage containers will help minimize moisture in your hearing devices and lengthen their life. Remove the batteries from your device before placing them in the containers.
- Do not attempt to make any adjustments or repairs to your hearing device by yourself.
- Maintain good hygiene by keeping your ears clean. Do not use a cotton swab or bobby pin in your ears. Instead, purchase over-the-counter eardrops to flush out debris.
While these home steps can help, the best way to ensure your devices are working properly is to take them into an audiology clinic for a clean and check. This service may be included in the purchase price of your hearing aids or may cost a nominal fee and will include a complete inspection of your hearing devices. The receivers, microphones, volume control buttons and battery doors will all be inspected and cleaned. Your hearing devices will also be tested to make sure they are performing to standards.