Hearing aids are powerful devices that improve your life on a daily basis. However, they are also very delicate items, which is why you need to know how to care for your hearing aids. After all, a hearing aid that isn’t in perfect condition can only ever provide limited service.
Here as Audiological Services of San Francisco, our audiologists aren’t only committed to identifying and treating your hearing loss. They are equally dedicated to ensuring you get to enjoy the benefits for years to come. Proper hearing aid care is essential to your device’s performance and here’s what you need to know.
Understand your hearing aid
No two people have the same hearing profile, which is why there is a huge range of hearing aids on the market. Behind-the-ear, in-the-ear and in-the-canal are the three main types. However, these can be broken down into subcategories while there are also subtle changes between brands and models. Getting to know yours is crucial.
While the audiologist can talk you through the main features at the hearing aid fitting appointment, you should still take some time to read up on the device. Read the manual and you’ll soon have a far greater knowledge of how to keep your device in better health. Perfect.
Keep them dry
Moisture exposure will always cause problems for the hearing aids, even when they are promoted as being water resistant, which is why you must take the necessary steps to avoid those issues. The following five tips will serve you well;
- Take them off when showering or swimming.
- Try to keep them covered if caught in heavy rain.
- Store hearing aids in a container at night.
- Take extra care when using hoses and household items.
- Dry with a towel if they ever get wet.
Getting water inside the casing or amplification system will have a negative impact, but avoid drying them with hairdryers and similar tools as the heat can cause problems. Be sure to avoid getting hairspray and other materials in the device too and you won’t go far wrong.
Keep them clean
Aside from making the devices look and feel a little icky, an accumulation of dirt and debris can damage the performance of your hearing aids. Earwax is the biggest culprit of all, not least because it’s impossible to avoid contact.
Still, you can make a huge impact by cleaning them with a cotton swab at the end of each day. On a related note, replacing the wax filter on a regular basis should prevent any wax from reaching the internal parts of the device. You’d be amazed at how quickly damage occurs once the wax infiltrates these areas.
Change the batteries on a regular basis
When you encounter problems with your hearing aid devices, it’s quite likely that the batteries will be the source of those troubles. As such, this should always be one of the first items that you troubleshoot. Symptoms of battery faults include;
- No power.
- Power cuts out.
- Volume changes without warning.
- Volume drops.
- The hearing aid makes unfamiliar noises.
Check that the battery is inserted properly and test that the door shuts without obstruction. If those issues are fine, try replacing the battery. If you use the devices for several hours at a time, you may need to do this every few days.
Take care when handling them
One of the main reasons that hearing aids are so delicate is due to their size. Whether cleaning them, changing the settings or placing them in overnight storage, it only takes a little too much pressure to break them or move a part out of position. Even when this doesn’t harm the performance, it can make the devices uncomfortable to wear.
If you are likely to drop them due to unsteady hands, why not sit down at a table when making those changes? It’s always better to be safe than sorry and avoids the threat of potentially dropping the device on the floor. Of course, keeping them stored away safely at night aids the cause too.
Get them professionally tested
While giving daily care the attention it deserves certainly helps, you must not ignore the need to see an audiologist from time to time. This is the only way to be sure that you’ve spotted every issue. Besides, the audiologist may make a few minor modifications to suit your changing hearing profile.
Here at San Francisco Hearing Center, we provide those services while also showing you how to take your daily hearing aid care game to the next level. Call us today to book an appointment.
