The Basics of Cleaning and Maintaining Your Hearing Aids

Once you’ve made the transformative decision to add hearing aids into your life, you want to ensure they function properly and last for a long time. To make that happen, you’ll need to learn the basics involved in cleaning and maintaining them. When you purchase your hearing aids, your audiologist will explain how to clean and maintain your hearing aids and show you the proper ways, so you don’t harm your hearing aids.

Read Your Hearing Aid Manual

As with so many items, your will come with an instruction guide. When you first bring them home, it’s always good to read through the manual’s contents from start to finish. This serves to educate you on the proper handling and maintenance of your new hearing aids. Your hearing aid manual will also be a helpful reference. Whenever you have a question about the functionality, the proper steps on how to do something and when to contact your audiologist for hearing aid repairs, the manual is where you can turn right away for answers and instructions.

Use the Proper Tools

Most hearing aids will come with a protective case and tools. The tools may vary depending on the type of hearing aid your audiologist has fitted you with to suit your needs. Some of the tools may include the following items:

• Hearing aid brush: This is the most common tool included with hearing aids. Use the instrument to gently brush the surface of your hearing aid to rid it of earwax, debris and dirt.
• Wax loop or pick: This is used to clean or pick earwax from the point on the hearing aid where it is inserted into your ear.
• Hearing aid dehumidifier: Your audiologist may recommend a special hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier to store your hearing aids at night to prevent damage. This helps reduce condensation and excess moisture from the devices.
• Hearing aid case: If a specialized dehumidifier is not recommended, the case that your hearing aids came with is the best place to store them when they are not in use.

Avoid Exposure to Moisture

Protecting your hearing aids from moisture is crucial for their proper functioning. Avoid wearing your hearing aids in environments where they might get wet, like in the shower or while swimming. Moisture can damage the delicate electronic components, causing malfunctions. When using hair care products, such as hairspray or gel, it’s best to remove your hearing aids to prevent exposure to moisture or chemicals. Additionally, store your hearing aids in a dry and cool place when not in use, as excessive humidity can also impact their performance. Taking these precautions helps safeguard your hearing aids from moisture-related issues and ensures they continue working effectively.

Contact Your Audiologist

When you need to clean your hearing aids or need hearing aid repairs and have questions about the process, you can always contact your trusted audiologist. They are trained to help you with your hearing aids, and that includes any cleaning and maintenance needs. They are experts in the field and will walk you through the process of what to do to achieve the best results with your hearing aids.