If you have hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be really frustrating. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Go through this list before you do anything hasty. If it’s not one of these common issues, it might be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a larger problem. For example, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still need to be recharged or replaced occasionally. That means that it’s essential to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid begins to falter or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a worthwhile investment, particularly if you like to stock up. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack might not have as much voltage as the first few even if they stay sealed. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you install them. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to activate.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a tough time hearing, you’re much more likely than the average person to pay attention to earwax, your hearing aids will accumulate debris and dirt. You might find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem a little off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products on the market 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 disassembling it.
You can help stop your hearing aids from gathering excess filth by practicing basic hygiene habits. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and take them out while you’re doing things, like washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in danger of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
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 underwater, even a sweat can be problematic). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, clogging up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain more quickly. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Keep the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. It takes almost no effort and ensures that air can move, and any captured moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. Don’t keep them in the kitchen or bathroom. Even though the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is exactly what you don’t want. You will likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid climate. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a little moisture absorbing packet, but some more expensive models get rid of moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it may be time for a consultation with us.