If you’ve got hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When they aren’t working properly, it can be thoroughly frustrating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” scenario. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no issue doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Go through this list before you do anything rash. It may be time to come in and see us if you find it’s not one of these common problems. For example, your hearing aids might 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 need to be replaced occasionally or recharged. That means that it’s important to keep up with your hearing aids’ batteries. 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 plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you bought 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 extend the battery life 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 much more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids are going to collect debris and dirt. You may find yourself with a dirt issue if sounds seem a little bit off or distorted.
The fix: Clean Them 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 clean them. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your computer screen or cellphone, to wipe your hearing aid down after taking it apart.
You can help stop your hearing aids from attracting excess filth by employing basic hygiene practices. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing anything, like washing up, styling your hair, or even shaving, that might put them at risk of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a little bit of moisture can really harm your hearing aid (you don’t need to be submerged, even a sweat can be a problem). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They may even seem to stop working.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Make sure that when you store your hearing aids, you open the battery door; 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 captured moisture can escape.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. Don’t store them in the kitchen or bathroom. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. If you live in a humid environment, you might want to consider investing in a hearing aid storage box. More expensive versions plug in, but less expensive models use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you buy 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 a consultation with us.