Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working right, it can be downright infuriating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” situation. Here’s the good news, with regular upkeep, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Before you do anything drastic, consider this list. It may be time to come in and talk with us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary problems. Your hearing may have changed, for example, or you may need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten considerably smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still need to be occasionally replaced or recharged. That means that it’s important to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid begins to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Purchasing a battery tester, especially if you like to stock up, is a smart idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until it’s time to use them, always a good idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you purchased months ago probably won’t maintain a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a tough time hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average individual to pay attention to earwax, your hearing aids will accumulate debris and dirt. You might find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use things 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.
You can help stop your hearing aids from accumulating excess filth by practicing basic hygiene practices. Clean and dry your hands before you handle 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 in danger of being spritzed, sprayed, or splattered.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really harm your hearing aid (you don’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be an issue). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, clogging up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They might even seem to shut down.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re storing them for longer than 24 hours, remove the batteries completely. It takes almost no effort and guarantees that air can circulate, and any captured moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. Even though the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is exactly what you don’t want. You will probably want to purchase 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 costly models get rid of moisture with electronics.
None of these are working? It may be time to speak with us.