1. In-the-Ear Hearing Aids
There are several simple steps to keeping your in-the-ear hearing aid in tiptop shape. When you remove your hearing aid always wipe it down with a soft cloth. Next, remove any earwax that's accumulated. If you don't have a maintenance tool from the manufacturer to do this, you can safely use an old toothbrush. When you're done using your hearing aid for the day, open the battery door before you put it in its case. This lets the air keep the battery area dry and helps prolong the battery life.
2. Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids
The steps for behind-the-ear models are about the same as for the in-the-ear models. But, with these models, you also have the ear mold to clean. Again, the basic cleaning is pretty simple and the real key is to be consistent--do it every night. Since ear molds contain no electronic parts, they can be washed with mild soap and water. If you prefer, you can simply soak the ear mold in soapy water for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Behind-the-Ear Tubing
Behind-the-ear models have an extra maintenance step that needs to be completed. The ear mold is connected to the ear hook (the hearing aid) by a piece of plastic tubing. You should inspect the tubing routinely to make sure it hasn't become brittle or cracked. Cracked tubing can cause several hearing problems, including feedback noise. You can buy extra tubing from an audiologist and, with a bit of practice, easily replace the tubing at home.
4. The
As with many things in life, sometimes the best thing you can do is not screw up. Hearing aids are manufactured to be durable and long lasting. But, you can quickly short-circuit their usefulness if you're not careful. So, here are some absolute No-Nos to avoid: don't use alcohol or other solvents on your hearing aids--this can breakdown the materials; avoid water and moisture--this includes wearing your hearing aids when you shower, swim, use a sauna or workout; avoid direct heat--hearing aids will quickly roll over and die if you put them in the microwave to dry them out, or place them on top of a heater, so air dry instead; be gentle--if you drop your hearing aid on the carpet, you'll probably be OK, but the tile floor in the bathroom might do permanent damage.
5. Establish Everyday Routines
Good intentions are fine; they're just not very useful. Since you rely on your hearing aids to tap into the ongoing music of life, be sure to maintain them on a consistent basis. The best way to do that is to establish a set of daily routines. Consider these routines as a starting point, then fine-tune them to fit your own needs: clean your hearing aids daily; store them in the same, safe place each night; inspect tubing at least weekly; store away from the reach of curious kids, or pesky pets; and always carry spare batteries.
