What do you need to know about hearing aid care? This is a question that many people ask themselves when they begin to notice their hearing decline. If this sounds like something you may be wondering, read on for more information about how it can help improve your quality of life!
Maintaining your hearing aids is simple! Here are some quick tips to help you out:
- Always wipe down the behind of the ear with a damp cloth and allow it to dry before inserting it into your ear canal. This will prevent dirt and other debris from getting stuck inside, leading to an increase in wax production or infection.
- Cleaning hearing aids generally only needs done once per week; however, be sure that if there is any reason for concern like a sudden change in volume or tone quality or unusual feedback, more frequent cleaning may be necessary.
- Remove batteries when not wearing them as this reduces corrosion around power contact points and prolongs battery life overall. It is recommended to replace batteries every week and a half as well.
In the ear (ITE)
First, turn off the hearing aids when not in use. Keep them at a moderate volume to avoid any sudden increased pressure from damaging your devices or eardrums when wearing them. This means listening to music and television should be done with caution because excessively loud sounds can potentially cause long-term damage that can negatively impact your ability to hear going forward. If there is an unexpected change in sound quality, such as whistling or feedback, then immediately have the device looked at by an audiologist.
Behind the ear (BTE)
For starters, all BTE hearing aids should be cleaned at least once per week. You can use an alcohol wipe or wet cloth to remove any earwax build-up around the tubing and skin of the device before wiping it down with a dry cloth afterward. Be sure not to get water in your ears while cleaning, as this could potentially cause infection!
When not wearing them, the patient must also remove batteries, not rust while sitting idle for long periods, decreasing battery life over time. In addition, people who wear their devices regularly will want to replace batteries every one-two week depending on how frequently they are used since new disposable batteries have been known to last longer than older ones that may already be broken in.
In the canal (ITC)
Finally, if you’re wearing ITC hearing aids, they are primarily maintenance-free! Just make sure to carry an extra set of batteries with you wherever you go in case the original ones die while not at home. However, some people report that it is necessary to clean behind the ear every three months because earwax may accumulate on top of the tubing very quickly, even when replacing your battery regularly. It can be quite tricky for airflow to pass through without any blockage. This kind of build-up could cause feedback issues that need prompt fixing immediately by an audiologist.
