If you are considering purchasing a hearing aid, or you are a new hearing aid wearer, all the information can be daunting and overwhelming! There are a lot of things to remember, but wearing and taking care of a hearing aid does not have to be complicated. That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind when caring for the hearing aid, as well as a few supplies that are helpful to keep on hand.
Cleaning the hearing aid
You will want to clean your hearing aid every morning before you put it into the ear. The reason I recommend cleaning it in the morning versus the night before is that w
hen you take it out of your ear the night before, if there is wax on it or in it, the wax will still be warm and soft and sticky. If you wait to clean it in the morning, the wax will be dried and will flake out much more easily. Your hearing aid should come with a little brush or loop tool similar to the image on the right.
Use the loop end to gently clean the part of the hearing aid that goes down into your ear canal, then use the brush to brush the picked wax off of the aid. Ask your hearing healthcare professional to show you the best way to clean your instrument.
Sanitizing the hearing aid
For those of us who live in hot or humid climates, it can be important to clean and sanitize the instruments regularly. DO NOT USE ALCOHOL OR ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES ON YOUR HEARING AIDS. The chemicals from these products are too harsh and can damage the casing on the aids. You do have the option to purchase some disinfecting wipes such as these. Using our disinfecting wipes made especially for hearing aid material will help keep your hearing aid from developing a musty smell and will also prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Earwax can carry bacteria and diseases, not to mention fungus that can grow in the ear. Using a disinfecting wipe on the aids every day helps prevent the spread of this.
Removing moisture from the hearing aid
One of the biggest culprits of a dead hearing aid is humidity and moisture. Moisture gets into the tubing and the circuitry of the hearing aids and can block sound from getting through or can corrode and damage the innards of the aids. One helpful way to prevent this from occurring is by placing the hearing aids in a dehumidifier at night while you sleep. There are several options out there, as far as dehumidifiers go. We offer a Dehumidifier jar for $10. A desiccant inside the jar can be reheated in a microwave or oven to be reactivated when several months have passed, so this is an economical solution. There are electric dry and store humidifiers that will run you $150-300, but not everyone’s budget can afford that.
While there is a lot to remember about caring for a hearing aid, it can be a relatively simple and easy process. With just a few of the right tools, your hearing aid maintenance will be simple and effective.
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