Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working right, it can be thoroughly frustrating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” situation. The good news is, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. If it’s not one of these ordinary problems, it may be time to schedule an appointment with us to make sure there isn’t a larger issue. Your hearing might have changed, for instance, or you may need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still need to be recharged or replaced sometimes. So staying on top of charging your batteries is crucial. The first thing you need to do if your hearing aid begins to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
A battery tester is a worthwhile investment, especially if you like to stock up. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack may not have as much voltage as the first few even if you keep them sealed. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you install them. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can potentially help the batteries last longer.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Regardless of how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a hard time hearing, you’re much more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids will collect debris and dirt. You might find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem slightly off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for cleaning your hearing aids or you can use items you already have around the house to keep them clean. Once you’ve disassembled your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean glasses or smartphone) to wipe down the components.
Simple hygiene habits will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or moisture, like washing your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make sure your hands are dry when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take much to do so (you won’t need to be submerged, even sweating can be problematic). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining more quickly. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you might experience problems from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Keep the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, take the battery out. It takes almost zero effort and ensures that air can circulate, and any captured moisture can get out.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom might seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. You will likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. More expensive models 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 take in moisture.
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.