Your hearing aids represent a significant investment in terms of both financial cost and the amount of time you spent with your audiologist identifying your exact type and degree of hearing loss, selecting the best device for your needs and getting the programming just right. Because of this, you’ll want to take good care of your devices to ensure they last as long as possible. Most importantly, you should clean your devices every day.
Daily Cleaning Routine
The first thing you should do after removing your hearing aids each night is to wipe them down with a soft, dry cloth or tissue.
Next, inspect the part of your hearing aid that sits in your ear canal. If there is any earwax buildup, remove it with a brush, wax pick or wire loop. You probably got one of these tools when you first purchased your hearing aids, but they are also available at most drugstores.
Finally, open the battery doors and store the devices where you usually do at night, ideally their case. Opening the battery doors is important, as this allows any moisture that has accumulated throughout the day to evaporate, and also improves battery life.
If there is any stubborn wax that you can’t get off during the nightly cleaning, try again in the morning. You’ll likely have more success once it’s dried out and flakier. Be sure to hold the hearing aid so the wax falls out rather than in as you’re removing it.
What Not to Do
Just as important as knowing how you should care for your devices is knowing what you should avoid. Follow our tips below:
- Don’t use alcohol or solvents on your hearing aids. The chemicals can break down the hearing aid materials. Only use sprays that are specially designed for hearing aids.
Don’t get the hearing aid wet. Avoid using water to clean them, and never wear them in the bath, shower or W.L. Stephens Aquatic Center.
- Don’t place the hearing aids in direct heat. Even if your hearing aids get wet, never use heat to dry them out. Also, you should avoid storing them in direct sunlight.
- Don’t drop the hearing aid. To reduce the risk of damage, take them out, clean them and insert them over a soft surface.
For more information about caring for hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with a hearing aid expert, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.