6 Tips for Hearing Aid Maintenance

Basic hearing aid maintenance can be done by you, in your own home. If you are having more advanced problems with them, our staff at Pure Sound can help or we can send your hearing aids to the manufacturer if other technical problems need to be addressed. 

Some simple steps for maintenance care can be made to extend the life of your devices. 

The care that you give for your hearing aids is just as important as the care that your hearing instrument specialist at Pure Sound provides. To make sure they have optimal performance, we recommend a professional cleaning every six months. If something is wrong with your hearing aid, check in with our providers. They will identify and take care of visibly damaged devices or any other issues that might not be easy to notice. 

Here are 6 Tips for Proper Hearing Aid Maintenance   

1. Make sure the devices are kept dry and sanitized. Moisture can do serious damage to hearing aids. Do not wear them in the shower or while swimming. Only use a hearing aid dryer, dehumidifier kit, to reduce moisture and sanitize the hearing aids at the same time. If you get your hearing aids wet, you can submerge the hearing aid in a bowl of dry, uncooked rice to absorb the moisture. Do not microwave or use a hair dryer to dry your hearing aids, this can cause irreparable damage. 
2. Clean off the earwax. Earwax, or cerumen, naturally builds up in the ear and on your hearing aids if the devices are also inserted in your ears. Gently wiping the hearing aids nightly by using a soft, dry cloth and removing any wax from nooks and crannies will make it easier to keep the devices clean.   
3. Do not leave your hearing aids in extreme temperatures. Any electronic device is bound to become damaged from exposure to excessive heat. Do not leave them in a hot car, or even a cupboard near a hot stove or oven. Extreme cold and wind can also cause your devices to malfunction. You can protect your hearing aids by wearing a hat, scarf, or earmuffs over them. 
4. Double-check your batteries. Hearing aid batteries can generally last a few days to a couple of weeks. It all depends on the technology, frequency of usage, and Bluetooth® streaming. If your hearing aid is constantly beeping, you may need a fresh battery or recharge. Keep extra batteries with you at all times. Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place. The tabs on the batteries should not be removed until you are ready to insert them into your hearing aids. Once the tabs are removed the battery becomes activated, so it’s important to place them in the hearing aids as soon as possible.  
5. Replace the wax guards. If your hearing aids still aren’t working with new batteries, you might need to change the wax guard. This is a filter that protects your hearing aid from earwax, dust, debris, and moisture from settling into the device. The wax guards should be changed out once a month. Set a reminder for yourself.    
6. Use a carrying case. Hearing aids are fragile, so it’s advised to keep them in a special case to reduce the chances of losing the devices when you aren’t wearing them or getting any debris on them. It’s also a great place where batteries won’t come in contact with keys or other metals that might cause battery discharge and other issues. 

Contact Pure Sound Hearing if you need to schedule a professional cleaning, or need help with maintenance. If you need new hearing aids, schedule a free hearing test and consultation with us.    

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