For most of us, hearing aids are quite an investment into our relationships, happiness, and overall quality of life. Because of this, as well as their small and intricate nature, it is important to understand how to properly care for and clean your hearing aids. Following these procedures can help you to increase the longevity and efficacy of your hearing devices.
Properly Caring for Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are small; however, they are packed full of advanced technology and intricate microchips. It is important to take proper care in keeping hearing aids safe.
- Keep hearing aids out of your morning routine. While some hearing aids are water resistant, it is important to make an effort to keep your hearing aids as dry as possible. Removing your hearing aids before taking a shower and leaving them outside the bathroom is a good way to ensure that your steamy shower doesn’t damage your aids. It is also a good idea to apply all of your makeup, face creams, sunscreen, perfumes, and hairsprays before inserting your hearing aids, to ensure none of these foreign substances come into contact with your hearing aids.
- Store hearing aids in a safe and dry location. At the end of each evening, it may be tempting to remove your hearing aids and simply place them on your night stand, however, this may not be the safest place. We often also keep glasses of water here that could spill, or our aids could be exposed to curious pets as we sleep. Keeping your hearing aids inside a case in a drawer would be a much safer option.
- Change batteries often. Batteries left inside of hearing aids for an extended period of time can cause damage to your aids. Make sure you are changing your hearing aid batteries regularly and when you do, ensure to wipe the batter contacts with a dry cotton swab. Some manufacturers recommend leaving the battery door of your hearing aids open as you sleep.
Properly Cleaning Hearing Aids
It is not recommended that you attempt deep cleaning of the intricate mechanics of your hearing aid. However, there are still many at-home techniques hearing aid users can follow to keep their hearing devices clean.
- Get the proper tools. A wax pick and brush specifically created for hearing aid cleaning are invaluable tools for at-home hearing aid care. These tools are gentle enough to be used on hearing aids, however, it is still important to use these tools carefully.
- Examine and clean the exterior of your aids. Each evening, examine your hearing aids for any debris or ear wax and gently wipe them down with a dry cloth.
- Clean the openings of devices. If you have ITE hearing aids, use a hearing aid brush to gently clean away dust, debris, and earwax from the nooks and crannies of your hearing aid. Be sure to hold the device with the opening you are cleaning facing downward, so debris falls out of the hearing aid rather than back into it. After using the brush, you may gently use the hook to clean out any additional earwax that you can see.
- Clean the earbuds. If you have BTE hearing aids, it is important to properly care for the devices’ ear molds. Remove the ear molds from the hearing aids and wipe them clean each night. Once a week, soaking your ear molds in warm, soapy water can keep them from becoming discolored and stained over time. Be sure that your ear molds are completely dry before using.
- Schedule regular cleanings with us at Atlanta Hearing Doctor. Daily, light cleaning for hearing aids is easy to complete at home, however, more in-depth cleanings need to be completed by a hearing aid specialist or audiologist. It is important to schedule and keep regular checkup appointments with us to ensure your hearing aids are well-maintained and working properly.
If you are unsure about how to properly care for or clean your hearing aids, reach out to our friendly team at Atlanta Hearing Doctor today. We would love an opportunity to walk through care techniques specific to your unique situation and model of hearing aids.
