Maico Audiological Services
To help keep your hearing aids functioning properly for years to come, you’ll want to learn about proper care and maintenance. And although it may seem like an additional burden, with the right process your hearing aid care will come to be effortless and automatic.
The secret is developing productive habits.
If you integrate your hearing aid care into your everyday and nightly routines, before long it won’t feel like any additional work at all.
Here are a few tips for the day-to-day care of your hearing aids (which your hearing specialist will also discuss with you):
Clean your hearing aids daily – Make an effort to include your hearing aid cleansing into your evening routine, so it will become as automatic as brushing your teeth. Daily cleaning is important because daily hearing aid cleaning can prevent the accumulation of earwax, dirt, and dust into the different components of the hearing aid, which can cause distorted sound over time.
You’ll want to clean your hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth, while averting any liquids that could damage the hearing aid electronics. Check with your hearing specialist for specific directions on cleaning each model of hearing aid.
You might also consider investing in a hearing aid sanitizer, which uses ultraviolet light to safely and thoroughly kill dangerous pathogens. Hearing aid cleaning kits are also available with all of the instruments you’ll require to safely clean the device without destroying the electronics.
Always check the batteries – Hearing aid batteries should always be examined and replaced regularly to ensure peak hearing aid functionality. Consider using a battery tester early in the day to assure you have enough power for the rest of the day, and keep an extra set of batteries with you.
Before bedtime, when your hearing aids are not being used, shut them off and store them in a cool, dry place with the battery door open.
Store your hearing aids in a secure place – In regard to storage, you’ll want to keep in mind three things:
- Keep the hearing aids away from moisture. This means that storing your hearing aids in the bathroom is probably a bad idea.
- Try to avoid subjecting the hearing aids—and hearing aid batteries—to extremes in temperature. You’ll want to store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place.
- Avoid storing your hearing aids out in the open, where they can become damaged.
We recommend storing your hearing aids in a case or drying kit inside the drawer of a bedroom side-table. This will defend the hearing aids from moisture, temperature extremes, and damage from being bumped off the table.
Also, remember to take out your hearing aids prior to showering, swimming, or using a hair dryer or hair spray.
Maintain ear hygiene – Even though earwax has many helpful characteristics, including protection and lubrication of the ear canal, it can cause severe damage to your hearing aids. As it gets lodged within the hearing aid components, sound can become distorted.
Make sure you’re sustaining proper ear hygiene, and if you experience significant earwax, consider scheduling a visit with a professional.
Carefully put in your hearing aids – While inserting your hearing aids, lean over a table or soft surface in case the hearing aids fall. Hearing aids are made with delicate electronics, so a fall on a hard surface can cause significant damage.
Even with scrupulous cleaning and maintenance, after a while the hearing aid will require more complete cleaning or repair.
To make sure that you continue to attain the best sound possible, we encourage having your hearing aids professionally cleaned by a hearing professional a minimum of two times a year.
Hearing care professionals can provide a deep cleaning, a tune-up, and will sometimes replace parts. Staying current on this regular maintenance will prolong the life of your hearing aids and will ensure that you achieve the optimal sound.