Hearing Aid Repair And Maintenance
Your Hearing Aid Deserves TLC
Hearing aids are highly sophisticated, durable electronic devices that are exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions and can survive for many years if properly maintained. It’s important to utilize a few daily checks to help preserve hearing aid longevity.
Don’t use hair sprays, creams, or gels on your hair while wearing the hearing aids.
These materials can clog the microphone and even begin to break down the plastic of the hearing aid case. Use your hair products first and then insert the hearing aids.
Don’t store your hearing aids where young children or pets can reach them.
Pets are attracted to the plastic and can destroy your investment in a matter of seconds. This is a common problem.
Don’t allow the hearing aid to become wet.
Although most modern hearing aids use nano-coating to protect them from moisture and corrosion it’s best to avoid showering, bathing or going into the swimming pool or sauna with the hearing aids in your ears.
Don’t place the hearing aids in direct heat.
It is tempting sometimes to place a damp hearing aid in the microwave or conventional oven. Unfortunately, the heat will damage the hearing aids in rather short order. To dry the hearing aid, simply open the battery door and allow it to dry out on its own or hold a hairdryer 18 to 24 inches from the hearing aid and direct warm air toward the aid for approximately 5-10 minutes. There are also special dehumidifiers or desiccants available that do a wonderful job in drying out the hearing aid. Talk to your audiologist about these items.
Do not store them in your car.
Remember never store the hearing aids near direct sunlight or a heat source. The extreme heat may melt the plastic.
Don’t drop the hearing aid.
If the hearing aid falls on a carpet, rug or upholstered furniture it usually will not cause the aid any harm. Hard-floor surfaces or countertops have the potential of damaging the hearing instruments.
Investigating hearing aid damage insurance coverage with your provider can protect your hearing aid investment.
Prolong the life of your hearing aids with regular care
If the hearing aid falls on a carpet, rug or upholstered furniture it usually will not cause the aid any harm. Hard-floor surfaces or countertops have the potential of damaging the hearing instruments.
Investigating hearing aid damage insurance coverage with your provider can protect your hearing aid investment.
Prolong the life of your hearing aids with regular care.
Proper hearing aid maintenance will ensure optimal hearing aid function for many years, but it is not a substitute for regularly scheduled visits to assess medical and non-medical aspects of hearing healthcare.
Here are some things you can do to prolong the life of your hearing aids:
Regular cleaning.
Cerumen (ear wax) is the number one issue related to hearing aid failure. As such, it is extremely important that routine preventative maintenance is performed to prevent wax buildup in the patient’s ears and hearing aids. Although the surfaces of many modern hearing aids have been nano-coated to prevent wax and oil buildup, the microphones and receivers may become clogged with cerumen, dust, hair spray or body lotions if not properly maintained. Some hearing aids are equipped with replaceable microphone screens and wax guards; proper maintenance of these components will ensure that sound is picked up and delivered to the ear properly.
Check batteries.
A common complaint related to poor hearing aid performance occurs when the batteries are old, damaged or inferior in quality. Depending on their size, hearing aid batteries should last approximately one to three weeks. Inexpensive battery testers are available to ensure that batteries are at full strength and working at peak performance.
Perform listening checks.
When residual hearing allows, patients should be encouraged to conduct a brief listening test each morning on their hearing aids to ensure that they sound clear and consistent – not weak, scratchy or intermittent. Despite the development of sophisticated equipment used to test hearing aids, the human ear serves as the best way to monitor for distortion and sound quality related issues.
Minimize moisture in the hearing aids.
This is essential to proper hearing aid function. A hearing aid desiccant (drying container) will prevent moisture from building up inside the hearing aids and will lengthen their lifespan. There are many different styles available depending on budget, patient lifestyle and wearing environment. Advise the patient to always remove the batteries from the hearing aids before placing the devices in the drying containers.
Avoid feedback.
Feedback is the whistling sound that can be heard from the hearing aid. It occurs when amplified sound exits the receiver and re-enters the microphone to cause oscillation. Patients should not hear feedback if the hearing aid is correctly positioned in their ear. The presence of feedback may suggest a buildup of cerumen, changes in hearing or hearing aid malfunction. If feedback persists, patients should schedule a follow-up evaluation to assess the situation.
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