Your hearing aid is an amazing device with the potential to completely transform your life, allowing you to enjoy the rich sounds that make life worth living and keeping you connected to the world around you. Like any advanced technology device, hearing aids require proper care to perform as designed.
Basic cleaning and maintenance are a necessary part of getting the most out of your hearing aids.
I’ve made a list of some cleaning and maintenance tips for those with hearing aids in Lacey, WA, and nearby communities.
Why Your Hearing Aids Need Cleaning
Dirt, earwax, and moisture in your hearing aids will limit the benefits they are designed to provide. In addition to damaging delicate components, a blocked microphone can cause feedback.
Moisture leads to battery corrosion and damages circuitry, decreasing its longevity. Itching, allergic reactions, and bad odor are additional consequences associated with ignoring this important process.
Begin with the Right Tools
Your objective is to combat the three biggest enemies of hearing aid performance – moisture, earwax, and dirt/debris. To battle these issues, you will need the following tools:
- A soft, dry cloth. Avoid those with ointments or lotion. Free of moisture and non-abrasive.
- A wax pick and brush. Often found in a set specifically designed for hearing aid cleaning.
- A bulb blower or drying case. Bulb blowers, found in camera shops, force moisture out of your device or a protective hearing aid drying case.
How To Clean Your Device
The cleaning process is simple and will require a little more than five minutes to complete for each device. Start by wiping the device down with the dry cloth.
You can use the brush to break up stuck on earwax or debris, and your wax pick to clean out holes and crevices (make sure the openings are facing down so debris will fall clear of the unit). Remove the batteries and blow any moisture out of the case.
Finally, allow all components time to dry out in a safe, cool, and dry location (a drying case meets all of these requirements).
Establish a Regular Routine
Cleaning your hearing aids will become a hit or miss proposition unless you establish a regular routine. Three routines most hearing aid manufacturers and I recommend include:
- Daily Cleaning. Some users clean their hearing aids each night, allowing them to dry and/or recharge overnight. Others clean them at the beginning of their day as part of their regular hygiene routine. Either will work as long as you do it daily.
- Remove Your Device During Your Hygiene Routine. Obviously, the shower and moisture in your bathroom are a bad place for your hearing aids, but keep in mind that hair sprays and gels, as well as other hygiene products, contain chemicals that can damage your device.
- Avoid Moisture and Extreme Temperatures. Besides removing your hearing device before showering, take them out before swimming or going into a sauna/steam room. Extreme temperatures lead to condensation issues, and UV damage can occur if you leave them on the dashboard of your car or a windowsill.
South Sound Audiology Provides Cleaning and Maintenance Support
Your daily cleaning routine will help ensure better hearing aid performance and the benefits it provides. Still, it is also important to keep up with the semi-annual cleaning and maintenance schedule of your hearing care provider.
The team and I at South Sound Audiology not only provide the support you need to keep your device clean, but we also provide professional cleaning, maintenance, and repair as part of our commitment to follow-up care for our patients.
Contact us with any questions about cleaning, maintenance, and repair so we can help you get the most benefit out of your hearing aids.
