New to hearing aids? Here are some tips to help you take good care of your devices so they stay in good shape for years to come.
Getting new hearing aids is exciting! Your devices are going to change your life, improving the way you communicate and experience the world around you. That being said, it’s important to remember that your hearing aids are an investment—one that requires regular care and maintenance.
Below are a few tips to help you take good care of your hearing aids so they stay in tip-top shape for years to come.
Store Your Hearing Aids Properly
While very durable, your hearing aids can get damaged under certain conditions. Pets, young children, and extreme temperatures are just some of those factors. The good news is that you can easily protect your hearing aids by keeping them in their case when you’re not using them and storing them in a safe area where they won’t be exposed to potentially harmful situations.
Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry
Your hearing aids are designed to withstand getting wet to a certain degree, but they can become damaged when submerged in water. The best way to avoid water damage is to take them off when taking a shower or when going swimming. If you live in an area that is very humid, you can go the extra mile and store them in their case within a dehumidifying box. Or, if you’ve recently bought another electronic device that came with a silica package (usually labeled “do not eat”) you can put that in your hearing aid case, which will also help keep your devices and batteries in great shape.
Be Mindful of Your Hearing Aid Batteries
Speaking of batteries….Whether your hearing aids come with rechargeable or replaceable batteries, it’s important to preserve battery life. For one, you’ll want to make sure that your devices are fully charged when you’re ready to wear them so you don’t have to worry about them turning off when you need them most. Second, (and this is especially true for hearing aids that work with rechargeable batteries), it’s important to charge them periodically because letting rechargeable batteries get fully drained can cause them to lose potency.
Use the Charger Your Devices Came With
If your hearing aids run on rechargeable batteries, it’s important to use the charger that came with your devices because it is specifically designed to work with them. Using an off-brand charger can actually have a damaging effect on your batteries because general chargers don’t have the same types of safety settings that are built into custom ones. As a result, they might keep charging your hearing aid batteries long after the battery life is full and cause them to degrade.
Keep Your Hearing Aids Clean
Clean your hearing aids regularly to keep your hearing aids performing optimally. Your devices come with cleaning tools that are designed specifically for them, which will work to remove wax buildup and other dirt. You can also use a dry and soft cleaning cloth to clean your hearing aids on the outside—never use water, cleaning solutions, or other products that aren’t approved for use with your hearing aids. We recommend cleaning your devices (including the sleeves) at least once a week to keep them working properly.
Additionally, you can help keep your hearing aids clean by taking them off and storing them safely away when you’re going to use products like hairspray, lotion, or cologne. This will help prevent any product residue from getting on your devices and potentially causing them to get damaged.