If you have hearing aids, you should be capable of hearing, right? When they aren’t working properly, it can be downright frustrating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” scenario. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Before you do anything extreme, consider this list. It may be time to come in and see us if you find it’s not one of these ordinary problems. Your hearing might have changed, for instance, or you may need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten dramatically smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still need to be replaced occasionally or recharged. That means that it’s important to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. The first thing you need to do if your hearing aid starts to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a practical investment, particularly if you like to stock up. Even if you keep batteries sealed until you need to use them, always a good plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that huge pack you bought months ago likely won’t last as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to activate.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will accumulate dirt and debris no matter how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re probably more conscientious about earwax. You might find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem a little bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with things you already have around the house. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your cellphone or glasses, to wipe your hearing aid down after taking it apart.
Simple hygiene practices will go a long way to keeping your hearing aids clean. Clean and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing things, like washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that might put them at risk of being spritzed, sprayed, or splattered.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (you won’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be problematic). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be impacted by humidity in the air. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Keep the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, take the battery out. It takes almost zero effort and ensures that air can circulate, and any captured moisture can get out.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry place. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Even though the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is specifically what you don’t want. You will probably want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid climate. Pricier models plug in, but less costly models use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you buy a pair of shoes) to absorb moisture.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for a consultation with us.