Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be extremely frustrating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” situation. Fortunately, your hearing aids should have no problem doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. If it’s not one of these ordinary issues, it might be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a larger problem. Your hearing might have changed, for example, or you might need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still need to be replaced occasionally or recharged. That means that it’s essential to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems as if the sound is diminishing or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Purchasing 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 smart plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you bought months ago probably won’t maintain a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can possibly help the batteries last longer.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
Your hearing aids will collect dirt and debris regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have difficulty hearing you’re probably more conscientious about earwax. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or slightly off, dirt may be the cause.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use things you already have around the house to clean them. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your computer screen or cellphone, to wipe your hearing aid down after disassembling it.
You can help keep your hearing aids from gathering excess grime by employing basic hygiene practices. Whenever you do something that involves liquid or dampness, such as cleaning 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
Moisture can be a real problem for hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (you don’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be a problem). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be effected by humidity in the air. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling may happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, you open the battery door; and if you’re storing them for longer than overnight, remove the batteries entirely. Any trapped moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to flow with almost no effort on your part.
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 moisture from a hot shower is exactly what you don’t want. If you live in a humid climate, you may want to consider purchasing a hearing aid storage box. Most versions use a desiccant in the form of a small moisture absorbing packet, but some more expensive models remove moisture with electronics.
None of these are working out? It might be time to consult us.