Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working right, it can be downright frustrating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” scenario. Here’s the good news, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. It may be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these common issues. For instance, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten dramatically smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still have 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 begins to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a beneficial investment, especially 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 giant pack you purchased months ago probably won’t hold a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you unpack new batteries before you put them in your hearing aids. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to activate.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will accumulate debris and dirt regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or a little off, dirt could be the cause.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can buy a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use items you already have around the house to clean them. Once you’ve taken apart your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean glasses or smartphone) to wipe down the components.
Simple hygiene practices will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Whenever you do something that involves liquid or moisture, like cleaning your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make sure your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a little bit of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (think sweating, not deep-sea diving). 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 might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Be sure that when you store your hearing aids, you open the battery door; and if you’re storing them for longer than 24 hours, take out the batteries entirely. Any trapped moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to circulate with almost no effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. Don’t store them in the bathroom or kitchen. Even though the latter is convenient, the moisture from a hot shower is exactly what you don’t want. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to think about purchasing a hearing aid storage box. Pricier models plug in, but less expensive 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.
None of these are working out? It might be time to speak with us.