How would you deal with it if your hearing aid quit working at the worst possible moment. Such as in the middle of a phone call?
Nobody wants that to occur! It’s important to invest in hearing aids for your hearing, your happiness, and your general health. You will get the greatest possible benefit from your hearing aids if you keep them functioning at maximum condition.
The following are 7 tips to help you correctly care for your hearing aids and keep them working at peak condition.
1. Read The Instructions
Your hearing aids came with a manual explaining how to take care of them so that you can get the best results. Many technical challenges you might be experiencing can be solved by the trouble-shooting guides that are in these manuals.
If something isn’t working correctly, always check the manual first.
Any problems associated with the performance of your hearing aid should be covered in the manual. Modern hearing aids work differently than the older models so even if you’ve used hearing aids before this is important. After all, there have been lots of advances in hearing aid technology in the last few years.
2. Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Hearing aids can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
While there’s normally some harmless bacteria on your skin, if you don’t wash your hands or thoroughly clean the hearing aids, it can lead to an infection.
Ear infections can lead to additional hearing trouble. Most go away quickly, but some can cause irreversible damage.
After each use, wipe your hearing aids down with a dry cloth because bacteria bread faster on moist surfaces. Water can damage your hearing aid so keep them out of water. Taking care not to get them too wet, utilize an alcohol-free wet wipe to clean and disinfect.
Once every week, clean the hearing aid and any custom mold pieces completely.
The earpiece will remain free of any wax buildup with frequent cleaning.
3. Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry
Getting wet is not something that most hearing aids are made to do. They can even be damaged by high humidity. After cleaning, don’t keep them on the nightstand.
Hearing aids will collect dust which has bacteria if they are left resting on an exposed surface.
Adhere to the recommendations of the manufacturer and keep them in a cool dry place. Remember to take them out before you bathe or shower. Moisture is still present in the air when you shower, so don’t leave them on the bathroom counter when getting ready.
Bring an umbrella with you if it’s raining.
Always bring your charger with you because your battery may drain faster if there’s moisture in the air.
Don’t allow your hearing aid to be exposed to intense heat, such as a blow dryer or sauna, as that can also damage them.
4. Avoid Draining The Battery
Don’t get caught without a backup battery at your nephew’s concert.
Turn your hearing aids completely off before you go to sleep. If you plan on not wearing them for an extended amount of time, always remove the battery. You’ll get more life out of the battery this way, and you’ll avoid the risk of battery acid damaging the hearing aid’s fragile electronics.
You can substantially extend the life of your batteries with this advice but always carry a spare battery, just in case.
5. Get a Hearing Professional to Clean Your Ears
A little bit of wax is pushed into your ear canal every time you insert your hearing aid. If this earwax is allowed to build up, it might eventually cause voices to sound muffled. If your hearing experience doesn’t seem right, make an appointment with a hearing specialist to check for excessive earwax accumulation.
With the right tools and know-how, it’s a simple procedure. A hearing professional should be the only individual who performs this procedure.
6. When You’re Putting in Your Hearing Aids, do it Over a Soft Surface
Taking the chance of dropping your hearing aid into the sink or toilet is really not worth it. Dropping and damaging your hearing aid becomes a real possibility in this situation. Over a bed, couch, or soft folded towel would be a suitable place to put them in.
7. If You’re Not Experiencing Improved Hearing, Consult a Specialist
You need to continue to wear your hearing aids even if you aren’t currently having the best success. Your situation can be improved. Make an appointment for a consultation.