Essential DIY Hearing Aid Maintenance: A Little Care Makes a Big Difference

Springtime is almost upon us! Dirt and pollen being tossed around by the wind can set up shop in your hearing devices, possibly damaging internal parts. Like most electronic devices, hearing aids need occasional TLC.

Hearing aid maintenance includes protecting them from moisture, extreme temperatures, harsh chemicals, sharp objects, and potential damage from dropping. It also calls for simple cleaning that can make a big difference in your device’s performance.

Is Cleaning My Hearing Aids at Home Optional?

Regular clean and checks are imperative to the life of your hearing devices, but you really must help keep them clean between visits as well. Otherwise, they may start to sound weak or distorted.

A little maintenance can go a long way and can curb easily addressed issues such as:

• Insufficient volume
• Distorted audio
• “Whistling” or feedback
• Poor battery power
• Background noise

What Are the Benefits of Maintaining My Devices?

When you see how cleaning improves the performance and longevity of your hearing aids, you’ll realize why it’s a necessity to add this task into your regular routine. Keeping your hearing devices clean offers a variety of benefits.

Here’s what you can expect when you take proper care of your hearing aids:

• Sound Clarity: Earwax, dirt, and moisture can collect inside hearing aids. This gunk can clog sound ports and ruin sound quality. After getting into the habit of taking care of your devices, you’ll notice that their sound quality vastly improves after a cleaning.
• A Long Life: They’re not porcelain, but hearing aids are actually quite fragile, like tiny little computers. Easily damaged by moisture and dust, regular cleaning and maintenance protects them from further damage.
• Fewer Skin Reactions: People with even mildly sensitive skin may find hearing devices especially irritating when they’re dirty. They may even experience skin infections. Keeping your devices clean reduces that likelihood.
• Less Earwax Buildup: Excess earwax buildup is something that can lead to any number of ear and hearing problems. Wiping down your devices every night prevents you from reintroducing old earwax into your ear canal.
• Peak Performance: These appointments consist of a deep hearing aid cleaning, replacement of worn-out parts, and any reprogramming you may need. Your clean-and-check appointments are designed to ensure your hearing aids continue to work like new.

How Do I Clean My Devices?

Between visits for professional routine clean and checks, here’s what you can do on your own to keep your devices clean.

Most basic hearing aid maintenance can be accomplished in the comfort of your own home. A simple tool kit, some basic household supplies, and common best practices make hearing aid maintenance a snap — for example, practices like turning off your devices when not in use and storing them away from children and pets.

Using the tools and instructions provided with your hearing aids:

• Brush or wipe off visible wax — don’t use water or chemicals!
• Run your brush across the microphones to remove any debris.
• For a small wax guard, inspect and replace if necessary. For tubing, pick out any wax using the provided tool.
• If your devices have a vent or air passage, run your thin filament tool through the vent space to push any wax out.
• Store your hearing aids every night — even better, keep them in a dehumidifier.
• If you have rechargeable hearing aids, be sure to wipe down the charging contacts.
• If you have a detachable ear mold, remove it from the rest of the hearing aid and place it in a warm bath of soapy water.

Keep your devices in shape with a little at-home care and routine professional clean and checks!

Put it on the calendar — contact us to schedule a clean-and-check today!