If you have been experiencing hearing loss, then your audiologist or ENT doctor might recommend hearing aids to you. As the most common treatment for hearing loss on the market, these devices can make a pretty significant impact on your life.
That said, they also need a little care and maintenance themselves. Here, we’ll look at a few tips you can take note of to ensure you keep them in good working condition.
Give your hearing aids a test
Always test your hearing aids before you start wearing them in the morning. You can perform a hearing test with the help of a listening tube, which will allow you to be able to better hear any breaks in the sound, feedback, or other unexpected sounds before you put them on. If you hear those sounds, you may be due for a repair.
Cleanliness is crucial
Hearing aids need to be cleaned every day, particularly at the end of the day when you’re no longer wearing them. Your device may have come with one, but you can easily get hearing aid cleaning kits, with different types designed for different models, including wax hooks to reach and clean out wax as well as dry cloths to wipe them clean. Make sure that you don’t use water to clean them, as well.
Be mindful of water
You don’t want to clean your hearing aid with water because, unless they are specifically designed to be waterproof, moisture can cause all manner of malfunctions. Don’t wear your hearing aid when you are washing your face, showering, in the bath, or washing your hair.
In fact, it’s usually best to keep them out of the bathroom when the water is running altogether. A hearing aid dehumidifier can keep them safe when you’re not wearing them.
Keep replacement batteries on you
Get to know how long you can expect your batteries to last, and test them with the help of a battery tester so that, if your hearing aid acts up, you can make sure that the batteries are not an issue.
Get to know your hearing aid longevity, as well, as it may be the case that your device’s expected lifetime might be nearing its end. When you take your hearing aid out for the night, be sure to take the batteries out of it and leave the battery compartment open.
Keep an ear out for feedback
If the microphone has been shifted too close to the receiver or your hearing aid isn’t fitted properly, an unpleasant sound, usually like a high-pitched whistling, might be heard.
This is feedback and a good sign that something is wrong with your hearing aid. Try repositioning the microphone or adjusting the volume first. If that doesn’t help, it might be time to look for repairs.
Hearing aids can undoubtedly make a huge difference in the wearer’s life, but you should also ensure that you give them the care they need. Hopefully, the tips above help with just that.
