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How to Take Care of Your Hearing Aid
Fact Sheet #5
Just like an automobile, a hearing aid will last for years if you take care of it.
There is usually very limited information when you buy a hearing aid as to how to keep it working well for a long time. More than 75 percent of all hearing aid repairs are due to moisture and earwax accumulating in the hearing aid.
The vast majority of these repairs are 100 percent preventable.
It's extremely important to clean the entire hearing aid often. You invested a lot of money in your hearing aid, so take care of your investment -it is your connection to the world of sound!
Use a DRY-AID kit every night and electronic dry-aid kits are best as they have a germicidal light that kills most bacteria and other germs.
They also have desiccants to absorb moisture and fans to circulate air around the internal components of the hearing aid. The hearing aid is electronic and moisture is the enemy!
Preventive maintenance is the key to trouble free, long life from a hearing aid. A well maintained hearing aid can easily last 5 to 7 years, maybe longer.
Also remember that if you have an ear mold it's just as important to keep that clean by putting it in a cup of mild dish soap, drying it off and blowing out any water in the tubing. That also prevents itching and infection too!
Top 10 Tips for Taking Care of Your Hearing Aid
1. Wipe the outside of the hearing aid with mild soap (like dish liquid) but BE CAREFUL, not to get the microphone wet.
If you don't know where your microphone is, look in your owner's manual. Keep your ear mold clean too, by dropping it in a cup of dish liquid and wiping it dry outside, then blow the air out of the tubing if it is a behind the ear hearing aid.
If you have a vent in your hearing aid, check that and make sure it is not blocked with any debris.
2. Use a soft brush that comes with your aid to carefully dust off the microphone.
3. Do not expose your hearing aid to excessive heat.
4. Clean out the battery door with a Q-tip and wipe it dry. Make sure there is no moisture left inside the battery door. Do not press down on battery contacts.
5. Check the hearing aid often for loose battery doors, cracks or wear and tear.
6. If there are "on and off" switches, CAREFULLY clean any dirt off around the switch but do NOT put any sharp object inside the hearing aid! Use the tools given you when you purchased the hearing aid to clean out wax.
If your hearing aid sounds "scratchy" or distorted or is not as loud as it usually is, then it could be wax inside the earhook if it is a behind the ear aid.
It could also be wax in your ear mold, tubing or inside your ear canal. See your doctor or audiologist to have your earwax (cerumen) removed.
7. Keep your hearing aid in a DRI-AID kit at night or when you are not using it.
8. Have a "Hearing Aid Checkup" every year by your hearing aid dispenser because as your hearing changes you may not notice it is working well.
9. Teach your family members how to care for it, so if you become sick, they can keep it working well.
10. Read your hearing aid manual and see your hearing aid specialist if you need help.
For further information on any aspect of hearing loss contact your hearing aid dispenser or Hearing Loss Association of Delaware at 302-292-3066 (V/relay) or email hlade@comcast.net.
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