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. Here’s the good news, with regular upkeep, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it’s not one of these ordinary issues. Your hearing might have changed, for example, 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. So keeping up with charging your batteries is important. 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, especially if you like to stock up. Even if you keep batteries sealed until it’s time to use them, always a smart idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you purchased months ago likely won’t maintain a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you put them in your hearing aids. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to activate.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Regardless of how clean you keep your ears, and if you have difficulty hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average person to pay attention to earwax, your hearing aids will collect dirt and debris. You may find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a little off or distorted.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use things you already have around the house to clean them. 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 hardware.
You can help stop your hearing aids from collecting excess grime by practicing simple hygiene habits. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or dampness, like washing your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make sure your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (think sweating, not snorkeling). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain faster. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you might experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re taking them out for longer than 24 hours, remove the batteries entirely. It takes almost zero effort and ensures that air can move, and any trapped moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. Don’t store them in the kitchen or bathroom. Although the latter is convenient, the moisture from a hot shower is exactly what you don’t want. You will most likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in a very humid environment. Most versions use a desiccant in the form of a small moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly versions remove moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it may be time for you to give us a call.