If you have hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be extremely frustrating. The good news is, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Go through this list before you do anything hasty. If it’s not one of these ordinary issues, it might be time to pay us a visit to make sure there isn’t a larger issue. For example, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still need to be recharged or replaced sometimes. That means that it’s essential to keep up with 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
A battery tester is a practical investment, particularly if you like to stock up. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack might not have as much voltage as the first few even if they stay sealed. 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
Your hearing aids will collect debris and dirt regardless of how clean you keep your ears and if you have difficulty hearing you’re probably more conscientious about earwax. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or somewhat off, dirt might be the cause.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with things you already have around the house. 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.
You can help keep your hearing aids from collecting excess grime by practicing simple hygiene practices. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or moisture, like cleaning your face or styling your hair, take your hearing aids out and make sure your hands aren’t wet when handling them.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a little bit of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (think sweating, 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 is inside. They could even seem to stop working.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Keep the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. Any captured moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to flow with very little effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to store your hearing aids. Don’t store them in the kitchen or bathroom. Storing them in the bathroom may seem convenient but moisture is just too much. You will likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. Pricier models plug in, but less costly options 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 might be time for you to give us a call.