Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be extremely frustrating. Here’s the good news, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Go through this list before you do anything hasty. If it’s not one of these ordinary problems, it might be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a bigger problem. For instance, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still require recharging and replacing sometimes. So staying on top of charging your batteries is important. The first thing you need to do if your hearing aid starts to falter or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, particularly if you like to stock up, is a worthwhile idea. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack may not have the same voltage as the first few even if they stay sealed. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before installing them. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
Your hearing aids will accumulate dirt and debris regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have trouble hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You might find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem a 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 items 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 habits will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Wash and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and take them out while you’re doing anything, like washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that might put them in jeopardy of being spritzed, sprayed, or splattered.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (you don’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be a problem). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be impacted by humidity in the air. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling may happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They might even seem to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Leave the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, take the battery out. It takes almost no effort and guarantees that air can move, and any captured moisture can get out.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. If you live in a humid environment, you might want to consider investing in a hearing aid storage box. Pricier models plug in, but less costly options use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you buy shoes) to take in moisture.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for a consultation with us.
