Your hearing aids should improve your hearing right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be thoroughly frustrating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” scenario. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no issue doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Before you do anything drastic, go through this list. It might be time to come in and see us if you find it’s not one of these common issues. For example, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten considerably smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still have to be replaced occasionally or recharged. So staying on top of charging your batteries is important. If it seems as if the sound is fading or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, especially if you like to stock up, is a smart idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until you need to use them, always a good idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that huge pack you bought months ago likely won’t last as long as the first few did. Another trick: Wait five minutes after you open new batteries before you install them. This can help extend the battery life by allowing the zinc to activate.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Your hearing aids will accumulate dirt and debris regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have problems hearing you’re most likely more conscientious about earwax. You might find yourself with a dirt problem if sounds seem a little off or distorted.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can buy a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use things you already have around the house to keep them clean. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your cellphone or glasses, to wipe your hearing aid down after disassembling it.
Simple hygiene practices will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Clean and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and take them out while you’re doing things, 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
Moisture can wreak havoc on hearing aids, and it doesn’t take very much to do so (think sweating, not deep-sea diving). Even humidity in the air can be an issue, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain faster. Issues ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture has gotten in. They may even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Be certain that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re storing them for longer than overnight, remove the batteries entirely. It takes almost zero effort and guarantees that air can move, and any captured moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Although the latter is convenient, the steam from a hot shower is precisely what you don’t want. You will probably want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid climate. 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 purchase a pair of shoes) to absorb moisture.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it may be time for a consultation with us.