If you have hearing aids, you should be capable of hearing, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be seriously frustrating. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no problem doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Consider this list before you do anything hasty. If it’s not one of these common issues, it might be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a more substantial issue. For instance, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still need to be recharged or replaced sometimes. That means that it’s essential to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems like the sound is fading or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
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 it’s time to use them, always a good plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you bought months ago likely won’t last as long as the first few did. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you unpack new batteries before you install them. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will gather dirt and debris regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You may find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem a little off or distorted.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can get a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use things you already have around the house to keep them clean. Once you’ve disassembled your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean the screen of a computer or smartphone) to wipe down the components.
Simple hygiene habits will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Whenever you do something that involves liquid or dampness, like washing 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
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (you won’t need to be submerged, 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 more quickly. Depending on how much moisture’s gotten in, you might experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even seem to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them 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 ensures that air can move, and any captured moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. Although the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is specifically what you don’t want. You will most likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a little moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly models eliminate 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.