Hearing Aid Maintenance and Caring Tips

1. Hearing Aid Maintenance and Caring Tips A dirty hearing aid is not only unhygienic but it can as well cause it to malfunction. Well- maintained hearing aids can last multiple times than those that are not cleaned regularly. If you want your hearing aid to last long and to ensure optimal performance, make sure that your hearing device is always clean. Below are some of the maintenance and caring tips that can help you properly handle and clean a basic hearing aid. Tools To Use You need to use the right tools to properly clean your hearing aid. You can check with your doctor to know the right tools for your hearing aids. Among the helpful tools used in cleaning advanced hearing aids are hearing aid brush with soft tip, wire loop or wax pick, and a multi-tool or an all-in-one tool. Handling and Caring Tips   Avoid touching your hearing aid if your hands are wet or dirty. If you are going to wash your face, take a shower, apply hair products like gels or sprays, apply a makeup, or spray perfume, make sure to take your hearing aid off first. Doing so will prevent substances from getting into your hearing aid. Even premium hearing aids can get dirty so make sure to clean yours every single day, preferably before going to bed. 

2.  Never use alcohol or wet wipes with alcohol or chemical as these substances can damage your hearing aid. Avoid leaving or exposing your hearing aid to extreme temperatures.   Remove the hearing aid batteries . Clean the battery compartment using a cleaning brush and open it to let it dry overnight.  Consider investing in hearing aid accessories like a dehumidifier especially if you are living in a region with a humid climate. A hearing aid dehumidifier can help draw out moisture from a hearing device. Maintenance Tips There are two primary types of intermediate hearing aids - the in the ear or ITE model hearing aids and the behind the ear or BTE hearing aids. The ITE and BTE hearing aids are cleaned and maintained in different ways.  ITE hearing aids maintenance tips When cleaning an ITE hearing aid, focus on its openings including the microphone ports. Make sure to face the area you are cleaning downward so the removed particles will fall out of the device and prevent them from getting lodged inside. If possible, use a hearing aid brush. If not available, you can use a soft bristle toothbrush. After doing so, clear out trapped particles from the holes using a wax pick or hook. Lastly, remove the debris or dirt from the hearing aid case by wiping it with a dry, clean, and soft cloth or tissue.  BTE hearing aids maintenance tips The first thing you need to do when cleaning a BTE hearing aid is to check and remove any debris off the device. You can use either a clean, dry fabric or a soft-bristled brush for this. Then, take off the earmolds from the hook. Clean the earmolds by wiping them daily. The earmolds of even the best hearing aids can get stained or discolored if not maintained properly. To avoid staining and discoloration, soak the earmolds in warm, soapy water at least once a week and let them dry completely before using them again. Next, remove water or excess moisture off the tubing using a bulb blower then leave it overnight to dry.