If you use hearing aids on a daily basis, it’s vital you keep up with a regular cleaning and maintenance routine. Hearing aids are delicate pieces of equipment, often containing a lot of advanced technology in such a small device. Without the proper care, you are more likely to experience problems with your hearing aids, which have a knock-on effect on your hearing.
If you are concerned about your hearing aids and you suspect that there may be a problem with them, you should speak to your audiologist for advice. However, it’s equally important that you look after your hearing aids properly to prevent problems in the first place.
Why Is Hearing Aid Care So Important?
There are many reasons why you need to look after your hearing aids, including the following:
Some of the components of hearing aids are designed to be replaced every two to threeyears. By failing to keep up with a regular cleaning and maintenance routine, you may wear these parts out quicker.
The materials that make up your hearing aid can also be damaged if they are not cleaned correctly. If you try to clean them by using household cleaners or solvents, this could cause damage that requires repairs or replacement of the item.
As well as being damaged, some delicate pieces of equipment inside your hearing aid may become loose over time. This is more likely if you fail to give them adequate care on a day-to-day basis. Even if you don’t see or feel any problems, this may still be happening inside your hearing aid.
If the components in your ear become damaged, they could start to grow bacteria which can cause an infection. This will not only affect how you hear but also how comfortable you feel daily. Areas that could become infected include the casing of your hearing aid or even the skin around your ears and canal.
As you can see, failing to clean and care for your hearing aids properly can lead to several problems. If you are not careful, you will eventually need to see your audiologist for a replacement.
How Should You Care for Your Hearing Aids?
When it comes to cleaning your hearing aids, follow these tips:
Use a dry cloth or paper towel in order to wipe down the outside of your hearing aid. If you use an object that is too sharp or abrasive, you could damage it. Use a small cotton bud to gently remove any earwax from your hearing aid. You also need to change the wax filter on a regular basis to prevent wax buildup from damaging the hearing aids.
The only time you should attempt to clean the inside of your device is when you have been prescribed specific tools by your audiologist for this purpose. In most cases, you should leave this job to someone who has been trained to do it properly.
Cleaning sprays and wipes are available from specialist retailers and it’s important to avoid using household cleaners on your device.
Storing Your Hearing Aids
After you have cleaned your hearing aids, there are a few ways to store them. It’s best to leave them open to the air during the night and leave the battery casing open to prevent moisture buildup. You can also buy hearing aid dehumidifiers to store them safely if you are concerned about moisture. Keep your hearing aids away from heat sources such as radiators and sunlight to avoid damage too.
Changing Batteries
Depending on the type of hearing aids you have, you will need to change the batteries every three to 10 days. Ideally, you should not run the batteries down completely before changing them. Swapping them out before they are completely empty will help to extend their lifespan.
Professional Maintenance
As it can be extremely difficult to care for your hearing aids on your own, you may choose to have them professionally cleaned. This service is offered by many retailers and it could save you time. It’s also a good idea to have your devices checked by an audiologist at least once a year so that any damage or problems can be fixed before they become worse.
If you wear hearing aids, it is essential that you keep up with cleaning and care. Neglecting your devices will cause a lot of damage and can potentially lead to more hearing issues in the future. If you are unsure about anything and you need some advice, get in touch with Allison Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, P.C. today by calling Houston: 713-827-1767.
