Your hearing aids should improve your hearing right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be extremely frustrating. Here’s the good news, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Before you do anything drastic, look at this list. If it’s not one of these common issues, it might be time to schedule an appointment with us to make sure there isn’t a bigger problem. Your hearing may have changed, for example, or you might need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still require recharging and replacing occasionally. That means that it’s essential to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems as if the sound is fading or coming and going, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a worthwhile investment, particularly if you like to stock up. Even if you keep batteries sealed until you need to use them, always a smart plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you purchased months ago likely won’t last as long as the first few did. 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
Your hearing aids will collect 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. If you’re able to hear but sounds seem distorted or somewhat off, dirt could be the cause.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are lots of products on the market specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with things you already have around the house. Once you’ve taken apart your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean glasses or smartphone) to wipe down the components.
You can help stop your hearing aids from attracting excess grime by employing basic hygiene practices. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing things, like washing up, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in danger of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
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). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, blocking 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 has gotten in. They may 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 captured moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to circulate with almost no effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom may seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. You will likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. More expensive versions plug in, but less expensive models use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you purchase a pair of shoes) to take in moisture.
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.