Managing and Maintaining

Managing and Maintaining

Ensuring your hearing aids are well maintained minimises the need for repairs and prolongs their performance and life

Hearing aids can represent a significant investment, providing a vital connection to friends and loved ones, so to make sure you are getting the most from your hearing aids, for as long as possible.

Without regular care and maintenance wax and moisture can lead to:

• Feedback or whistling
• Cutting out altogether
• Gradual or sudden loss of volume
• Muffling or distortion of high frequency sounds

Ensuring your hearing aids are well maintained minimises the need for repairs and prolongs the performance and life of your hearing aids. Here are some simple steps you can take…

KEEP YOUR HEARING AIDS CLEAN

• Removing earwax from your hearing aids can prevent temporary malfunction and permanent damage.
• Using the small brush or the soft cloth that came with your hearing aids to clean, if you can’t clean the hearing aid completely, ask your hearing professional for help.
• Never insert tools into the sound outlet. Doing so could damage the receiver.
• Change filters often so they don’t collect wax or dirt.
• Regular use of hearing aids can result in the build-up of earwax. Have your ear canals cleaned regularly  as an accumulation of earwax can prevent sounds from traveling from hearing aid to middle ear.
• Don’t wear your hearing aids if you are sleeping or if you have an ear infection.

KEEP YOUR HEARING AIDS WELL MAINTAINED

• Wipe your hearing aids with a tissue or cloth when you remove them from your ear.
• Change hearing aid batteries often so they don’t suddenly run out of power.
• Switch off your hearing aid when you’re not using it. If you don’t use it for a long period of time, remove the battery.
• Battery contacts should be cleaned regularly. Use a cotton swab, taking care not to bend the contacts. Dirty battery contacts can cause improper device function.

STORE SAFELY IN A DRY, COOL PLACE

• Handle your hearing aids gently, avoid dropping your hearing aids
• Store your hearing aids when not being worn
• Store away from children and dogs! It is common for hearing aid to be brought in for repair or replacement because of being chewed by a dog.

AVOID MOISTURE AND HUMIDITY

• Don’t expose your hearing aids to moisture or drop them in water, not even to clean them
• Remove your hearing aids before showering, swimming, visiting the beach or hairdresser
• Avoid wearing your hearing aids while using a hair dryer, applying hair spray or other types of spray

AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES

• Avoid extremely cold temperatures
• Avoid direct or excessive heat
• Do not leave your hearing aids in the sun, in a hot car or near radiators or heaters
• Remove your hearing aids before using a hair dryer
• Remove your hearing aids before undergoing Short-wave Diathermy or other electrical treatments – ask your audiologist or doctor if you unsure