If you’ve got hearing aids, you should be capable of hearing, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be really frustrating. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no trouble doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Go over this list before you do anything rash. If it’s not one of these common issues, it might be time to pay us a visit to make sure there isn’t a bigger problem. For example, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing could have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still have to be occasionally replaced or recharged. That means that it’s essential to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems like the sound is diminishing or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, particularly if you like to stock up, is a practical idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until it’s time to use them, always a good plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that huge pack you bought months ago likely won’t hold a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can possibly help the batteries last longer.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have difficulty hearing, you’re much more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids are going to collect dirt and debris. You may find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a little bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can get a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use things 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 the screen of a computer or smartphone) to wipe down the hardware.
You can help stop your hearing aids from attracting excess grime by employing basic hygiene habits. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or moisture, such as washing your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make certain your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (think working up a sweat, not snorkeling). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain more quickly. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They may even seem to shut down.
The fix: Keep Them 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 no effort and guarantees that air can circulate, and any trapped moisture can get out.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. 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 models eliminate moisture with electronics.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for you to give us a call.
