Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be thoroughly frustrating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” scenario. Fortunately, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Before you do anything drastic, go through this list. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary problems. For instance, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten dramatically smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still need to be occasionally replaced or recharged. So keeping up with charging your batteries is important. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid starts to falter or cut in and out is check the battery.
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 might not have as much voltage as the first few even if you keep them sealed. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before installing them. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to activate.
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 are going to collect debris and dirt. You may find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products on the market 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 disassembling it.
You can help stop your hearing aids from accumulating excess grime by practicing simple hygiene habits. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing anything, such as washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in jeopardy of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really harm your hearing aid (you won’t need to be underwater, even a sweat can be a problem). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain faster. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They may even seem to shut down.
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 zero effort and ensures that air can circulate, and any trapped moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. Don’t store them in the kitchen or bathroom. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to think about investing in a hearing aid storage box. 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 might be time for a consultation with us.