If you’ve got hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be seriously frustrating. Fortunately, your hearing aids should have no problem doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Before you do anything extreme, go through this list. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary issues. For example, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten considerably smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still have to be occasionally replaced or recharged. That means that it’s essential to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. 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
Investing in 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 huge pack you purchased months ago probably won’t last as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
Your hearing aids will collect debris and dirt no matter how clean you keep your ears and if you have trouble hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You might find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a little bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with things you already have around the house. 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.
You can help stop your hearing aids from attracting excess filth by employing simple hygiene habits. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or dampness, such as washing your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make certain your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a little bit of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (you won’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be problematic). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be effected by humidity in the air. Depending on how much moisture’s gotten in, you could experience problems from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Leave the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. Any trapped moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to circulate with very little effort on your part.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry place. Don’t keep them in the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. You will likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid climate. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a small moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly versions get rid of moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for you to give us a call.