Tips for When Your Hearing Aid Gets Wet
Like many electronics, the arch-enemy of most hearing aids is water and moisture. Hearing aids are much like computers, and water is just one of the elements that spells disaster for an aid. Avoiding environments with high humidity or moisture when wearing an aid is the best way to prevent water-related damage.But we all make mistakes, and sometimes we accidentally find ourselves with an aid that’s gotten wet. Even though these circumstances can seem dire, there are steps to take to prevent or minimize permanent damage to your aid. Here’s what to do when you find your aid at risk of water damage.
Turn Your Aid Off and Remove the Battery
What damages a hearing aid isn’t just the water present, but when that water disrupts electrical signals within the aid. To prevent this disruption, your first step should be to turn the hearing aid off and remove the battery inside.It’s important that you don’t wait to see if the hearing aid is still working. If there’s even a slight chance that water is within the aid, turn it off right away and don’t wait to see if it will turn back on.
Remove the Tube and Hand Dry
Your next step should be to close the battery door, remove the tube (if you have one) and gently dry with a towel. It’s important to get the most obvious moisture removed this way, either with a soft towel or cloth or by gently shaking.Make sure not to use too rough a cloth or to shake too vigorously. You don’t want to avoid water damage just to cause other types of damage to your aid!
Dry with a Fan or Hairdryer on Low Heat
Using a hair dryer to remove water is your next step – but it’s important to be careful at this stage. Your hearing aid is just as sensitive to temperature as it is to moisture. Set your hair dryer on low heat, hold it about a foot away from your aid and allow this stream of air to remove excess moisture for about 10 minutes. Remember – even warm air can cause irreparable damage to your aid, so keep it cool!
Leave Out to Dry
This step is perhaps the most time consuming, but can spell the difference between a perfectly-working aid and one that never works again. Depending on how wet your aid got, you might need to leave your aid out to dry for up to two or three days. It’s important to stay patient and allow enough time to dry before turning back on.Unlike cell phones, putting your hearing aid in rice isn’t a good idea. That’s because small particles from the rice can get inside the hearing aid and cause even more damage. Try leaving the battery door open during this stage, or use a dehumidifier pot to speed up drying.
Clean and Replace the Battery
If you have some cleaning tools for your aid, a good time to clean off your aid is after it’s completely dry. Sometimes water can leave behind unwanted residue, but make sure to clean gently so you don’t damage any of the internal pieces.After your aid is dry and clean, replace the battery and turn it back on. You might find that your aid is in perfect working order, but sometimes there is some noticeable damage with your aid. If that’s the case, it’s likely that small repairs can have your aid in perfect working order again.If you’ve gotten your aid wet, following these steps can save your aid – but it’s a good idea to follow up with a visit with us at Atlanta Hearing Doctor. We can assess the damage to the aid (if any) and determine if repairs are needed. Plus, we can even show you tips for how to clean and maintain your aid to prevent future mistakes!Contact our team today for questions about your aid, or how to find the perfect hearing aid for you!
