How to Maintain Your Hearing Aids

Maintaining your hearing aid is critical. If you look after it, it will look after you. When it comes to your hearing aids, it's important to know how to look after it properly. If you aren’t sure, booking an appointment with an audiologist can help you to look after your hearing aids better, as far as cleaning and habits are concerned, but also how you can use them better in your everyday life. 

Cleaning your hearing aid

Clean your hearing aid every day, and with each hearing aid, there is a cleaning kit that comes with a cloth, wax pick and wax brush. As one of the most common problems with hearing aids is wax, preventing earwax should be a priority:

• Clean your hearing aid every day to prevent wax build-up by wiping off the hearing aid every morning. But only do this when the wax has dried up, as this makes it easier to remove.
• Do not wipe debris or wax onto the microphone ports.
• Maintain the hearing aid tubing by cleaning it regularly, as this prevents wax build-up. 
• When you are cleaning built-up wax, hold the hearing aid and gently clean it with the wax brush. If there are additional bits of wax in the ports, use the wax pick gently.
• Finish cleaning your hearing aid by wiping the entire device with the cloth. This removes any leftover debris.

Important things to remember

Following a checklist to guarantee the longevity of your hearing aid is essential, and it is important to do the following:

• Put your hearing aid out to dry every day to remove moisture and wax.
• Examine the microphone inlets and receiver end before putting it on in the morning.
• Wax and debris can get onto the battery; always check the battery compartments and the battery contacts too.
• Examine the wax guard to check if it needs changing, as this can make the hearing aid last longer.
• Examine your hearing aid regularly to check the casing and joins for cracks or aesthetic problems.

Protecting your hearing aid

As well as maintenance, protecting your hearing aids from external issues is crucial. Wax is the main issue, but you should also be aware of the following:

• Remove your hearing aid before any contact with water, as any moisture will render your hearing aid unusable. Leave the battery compartment open at the end of every day to let it dry out. 
• Make sure your fingers are dry and clean before handling your hearing aid, as dirt and oil from the skin may block the microphone input.
• Remove your hearing aid before applying makeup or hairspray. Small particles can clog the microphone input.
• Keep hearing aids away from pets and children, as children may damage the delicate device, but pets may eat it as hearing aids can emit a high-frequency noise that attracts dogs.

A hearing aid can make a massive difference to the quality of your life. Looking after it properly is so important. Regular maintenance won’t just keep your hearing aid in top shape, but it will mean fewer visits to the audiologist.