Your hearing aids should improve your hearing right? When your hearing aid fails at its one job, it can be extremely frustrating. The good news is, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Go over this list before you do anything hasty. If it’s not one of these common problems, it might be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a larger problem. Your hearing may have changed, for instance, or you might need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still need to be recharged or replaced occasionally. That means that it’s important to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid begins to falter or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a beneficial investment, especially if you like to stock up. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack may not have the same voltage as the first few even if they stay sealed. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you put them in your hearing aids. This gives the zinc time to activate, and can possibly extend the life of the batteries.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
Your hearing aids will gather debris and dirt no matter how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You may find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem slightly off or distorted.
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 keep your hearing aids from collecting 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 are dry when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really harm your hearing aid (think working up a sweat, not deep-sea diving). The vent in the hearing aid and the battery can even be impacted by humidity in the air. Depending on how much moisture’s gotten in, you could experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Be certain that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re storing them for longer than 24 hours, take out the batteries completely. Any captured moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to circulate with very little effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. Don’t keep them in the kitchen or bathroom. Although the latter is convenient, the moisture from a hot shower is precisely what you don’t want. You will most likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in a very humid environment. More expensive versions plug in, but less costly 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 absorb moisture.
None of these are working? It may be time to consult us.