Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When your hearing aid fails at its one job, it can be seriously frustrating. Here’s the good news, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Before you do anything extreme, look at this list. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary issues. For example, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still need to be replaced occasionally or recharged. So keeping up with charging your batteries is crucial. If it seems like the sound is fading or coming and going, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a worthwhile investment, especially if you like to stock up. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack might not have the same voltage as the first few even if you keep them sealed. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before installing them. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
Your hearing aids will accumulate dirt and debris regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re probably more conscientious about earwax. If you’re able to hear but sounds seem distorted or somewhat off, dirt might be the cause.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use things you already have around the house to clean them. Once you’ve taken apart your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean the screen of a computer or smartphone) to wipe down the hardware.
You can help stop your hearing aids from collecting excess grime by employing basic hygiene practices. Whenever you do something that involves liquid or dampness, such as washing your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make certain your hands are dry when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (you don’t need to be submerged, even a sweat can be an issue). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, clogging up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you could experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Keep the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. Any trapped moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to circulate with almost no effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. Don’t keep them in the kitchen or bathroom. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. If you live in a humid climate, you may want to consider getting a hearing aid storage box. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a little moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly versions get rid of moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it may be time for a consultation with us.