Harrisonburg Hearing Blog

All Ears: Get the Most Out of Your Hearing Aid With These Effortless Hearing Aid Care Tips

2/15/2017

Hearing loss is a condition that is often associated with age, with 3 in 10 people age 60 and older experiencing hear loss. However hearing loss can affect anyone, regardless of age, even children and young adults! For example, 1 in 14 people ages 29 to 40, or 7.4%, already have hearing loss to some degree. This could be for a number of reasons, but it's important to remember that regardless of age, help with hearing is readily available! After all, losing your hearing doesn't mean you have to lose or sacrifice the quality of your life.

Although many people are understandably reluctant to use assistive listening devices such as hearing aids at first, they often wonder why they didn't take the plunge sooner once their hearing is restored and they start to experience the benefits. Hearing aids not only help with your hearing, but they can also improve several other areas of your life that may have been impacted as a result of your hearing loss, such as your work, personal relationships, and even recreational activities.

In order to keep hearing aids functioning properly, it's necessary to exercise proper hearing aid care. Without regular maintenance, you run the risk of your hearing aid performing poorly. Although your audiologist or hearing consultant can show you how to properly maintain and care for your hearing aid and its accessories, here are a few simple hearing aid care tips that will be music to your ears.

Remember to check the battery
This hearing aid care tip might seem like a no brainer, but with today's busy schedules, it can be incredibly easy to forget. On average, hearing aid batteries last 1 to 2 weeks at most, but this can differ depending on the specific model of hearing aid that you have. You can use a battery tester to ensure your hearing aid battery operating at full strength and peak performance. It's also helpful to always have a spare battery handy, so consider keeping one close by in a cool, dry place.

Clean your hearing aides on a regular basis
An essential part of proper hearing aid care is keeping your hearing aid clean. Dirt, grime, skin secretions, and ear wax can prevent your hearing aid from functioning properly, so be sure to clean it the earmolds off as needed with a mild solution of soapy water. Use a forced air blower, never a hair dryer, to remove excess moisture before attaching your clean earmolds to your hearing aid.

Minimize moisture
Like most electronic devices, moisture is the enemy of hearing aids and can impair their function. You can eliminate moisture build up on the inside of your hearing aid by using a hearing aid drying container on a regular basis. Before doing so, remember to remove the batteries. Dry storage kits contain silica which draws moisture out and absorbs it. Too much moisture can encourage bacterial growth while preventing your hearing aid from working as it should.

Listen to feedback

Regular listening checks and adjustments can help you get the most out of your hearing aid. If you're experiencing feedback or whistling sounds, the likely cause is an improper fit of your earmold, which allows amplified sound to reenter the microphone. Your hearing aid should sit comfortably and securely in your ear, and hearing feedback could mean that the earmold isn't the right size and needs replacement.