Why is the Daily Care And Cleaning of A Hearing Aid Necessary?

If you have invested in hearing aids, then you need to learn how to take care of them. Some of the newer models have many features and technology that needs to be protected. Without taking the appropriate care of your hearing aid, it will not retain the optimum hearing abilities that you need to be able to hear accurately. Also, your daily care routine will extend the life of your hearing aid, and the batteries, and it will make sure that bacteria is eliminated and there is no wax build-up. Here are some ways to take care of your hearing aids:

Be gentle

When you are cleaning your hearing aids, make sure that your hands are clean and dry. Also, ensure that you use a light touch. Make sure you hold them securely but gently, so they won’t slip out your hands and onto the floor, which can damage them. Make sure you use a soft, dry, clean cloth when you wipe your hearing aid every day. You may even want to invest in a specialized cloth for your daily cleaning routine. Just make sure that there are no visible signs of dirt or debris.

Do not use harsh chemicals 

It is not advisable to use alcohol or any other strong cleaning agent on your hearing aids. It may be a good idea to search for a specialist hearing aid cleaning agent. This may be especially important if you experience a quick build-up of earwax.

Use the appropriate tools

A hearing aid may come with its own cleaning kit. Do not go poking about in it with tweezers or anything else that may cause it damage.  

Store in a cool, dry place

First, remove the batteries before you store them. Then in most cases, a cupboard would be appropriate and leave them on a dry clean cloth. However, if you live in a humid area, think about a dehumidifying specialized hearing box. Also, ensure that they are safe from the hands of children and animals.

Avoid water

It is vital that your hearing aid avoid contact with water. Inside your hearing aid is some very state-of-the-art technology that may become corrupted if water comes into contact with it.  

Some hearing aids are water-resistant or waterproof, but that does not mean leave them in when you go swimming. If water does drop on them dry with a clean cloth, do not put it on the radiator or use a hairdryer as this may damage the components. You could use silica gel to suck moisture out of them.

Change the batteries regularly

If you do not take the batteries out and change them regularly, they could cause damage to the hearing aid. They could cause moisture to be trapped inside. This means that the batteries may corrode or leak and damage the device and even potentially leak into your ears. When you are not using them, keep the battery door open or remove them completely. When you change the batteries, ensure that you have wiped the battery contacts clean using a cotton bud. 

Remove earwax

Earwax is a corrosive substance. It is salty and can damage electronics, so it has to be wiped away from the outer ear every day. Not paying proper attention to the build-up of earwax in the device is the main reason why a hearing aid decreases in performance. You must clean off ear wax every day. The hearing aid should come with its own cleaning kit. This includes a soft brush and little picks and loops, which can be used to get rid of earwax. If the earwax is stubborn and won’t come off, it is best to seek the advice of the professional. Do not use rough force.

Change the wax filter

Inside most hearing aids is a wax filter or guard that tries to stop all ear wax reaching the vital components. It is important that these be changed whenever you see that earwax is building up in the filter.

If you do not regularly clean your hearing aids, they may experience a few issues such as moisture build-up, battery leaking and earwax corrosion damage. Therefore, you need to take care of them, but you need to do so in the correct way. Appropriate handling of the hearing aids is vital for the 

If you have a particular issue with your hearing aids, or simply cannot clean them properly, please call us at The Speech & Hearing Center at 423-551-6770. We can help you with a whole range of cleaning issues.