You rely on your hearing aids for your day-to-day activities, which makes any kind of repair issue inconvenient to deal with. Because hearing aid repairs can be frustrating to deal with, it’s important to know what you can do to keep your devices in optimal shape. Of course, there are some instances where you can’t prevent a problem, meaning it has to be fixed. But, for the most part, a lot of issues can easily be delayed or avoided with proper maintenance and care.
So, in order to keep your hearing aids in the best shape possible, it’s crucial to learn how to properly maintain, clean and care for your devices. This includes the right way to store the device, the conditions you should avoid to keep your hearing aids safe and other factors to consider when handling the technology.
Store your hearing aids in a dry place
If you consult an audiologist and ask the number one cause of hearing aid problems, they’ll say that moisture is the culprit. Hearing aids aren’t designed to be waterproof, and any slight bit of moisture that gets into the circuitry will damage it. One way to avoid this problem is by storing your hearing aids in a dry place. Keep them in their case when you’re not wearing them, and ensure they’re not left in rooms with high humidity – like the bathroom or kitchen. It can also help to use a dehumidifier to extract moisture from the place that your hearing aids are in, just to be extra safe.
Don’t wear your hearing aids in wet conditions
Following on from this point, you should avoid wearing your hearing aids in any wet conditions. This means taking them out when you wash, go swimming, are walking in the rain – or even if you’re exercising and getting sweaty. Removing the device will protect it from moisture damage and we recommend this even with water-resistant hearing aids. If any moisture does come into contact with your device, then you should dry it right away with a clean cloth.
Maintain the battery compartment
When it comes to hearing aid repairs, a lot are made because of battery issues. Commonly, people keep their hearing aid batteries in for as long as possible. As a result, moisture can be trapped inside the compartment, causing battery corrosion. This damages the hearing aid, leading to all sorts of performance issues and malfunctions. Your audiologist will typically suggest that you open the battery compartment whenever you’re not using the hearing aids. This lets the batteries ‘breathe’ and ensures no moisture gets trapped inside. It’s also a good idea to remove the batteries if you’re not using your hearing aids for an extended period and make sure you clean the compartment with a dry cloth at regular intervals.
Clean debris from the microphone and receiver
It’s common for the microphone and receiver to end up covered in debris. More often than not, this debris comes in the form of earwax. Think about it; you’ve got this device in your ear for hours on end, it’s only natural for some wax to rub off onto it. This poses a problem as the wax can harden and disrupt the performance of your device. It won’t work as well as it should, which is why you need to clean your hearing aids every day. Get a very soft cloth and carefully remove earwax from the receiver and microphone. Some audiologists also suggest using a cotton swab to do this, but the vital point is that you don’t use any water or cleaning solutions!
Handle them carefully
Our last bit of advice is to handle your hearing aids with care. This is so easy to do, which means it’s even easier not to do! Don’t throw around your hearing aids or leave them unprotected on the side of your bed. Always treat them like the delicate things they are; and always keep them in their case when you’re not using them, preferably somewhere that’s hard for kids to get to so no one accidentally picks them up!
When should you seek out repairs?
If you do all of these things, then you’ll avoid a lot of running repairs for your hearing device. However, if you ever experience issues with your device, and you’ve tried cleaning it or changing the batteries to no avail, then you should seek out repairs. Never attempt to unscrew or take apart your hearing aid by yourself as this will only lead to more problems. Go to your audiologist, and they can carry out professional hearing aid repairs at their clinic.
If you’re looking for someone to help with all your hearing needs – including hearing aid repairs and maintenance – then contact Sound Advice today. We have a range of services designed to help you get the most out of your hearing aids and maintain good hearing health. Call us at (818) 748-8613 to learn more.