Your hearing aids should improve your hearing right? When your hearing aid fails at its one job, it can be seriously frustrating. Fortunately, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these common problems. Your hearing might have changed, for instance, or you might need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still need to be replaced occasionally or recharged. That means that it’s essential to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems like the sound is diminishing or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a practical investment, particularly if you like to stock up. 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: Wait five minutes after you unpack new batteries before you install them. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can possibly help the batteries last longer.
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. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or a little off, dirt may be the cause.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can get a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use items you already have around the house to keep them clean. 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.
Simple hygiene habits will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Clean and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and take them out while you’re doing things, such as washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that might put them at risk of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can be a real problem for hearing aids, and it doesn’t take much to do so (you don’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be an issue). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, clogging up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining more quickly. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling may happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They might 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, remove the battery. It takes almost no effort and guarantees that air can move, and any captured moisture can escape.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. Storing them in the bathroom might seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. You will most likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid climate. Most versions use a desiccant in the form of a small moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly versions remove 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.