If you have hearing aids, you should be capable of hearing, right? When your hearing aid stops doing its job, it can be extremely frustrating. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no issue doing their job if you properly maintain them.
Before you do anything extreme, go through this list. It may be time to come in and see us if you find it isn’t one of these ordinary problems. For example, your hearing aids may need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten dramatically smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still need 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
A battery tester is a beneficial investment, particularly if you like to stock up. 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 most likely won’t maintain a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before installing them. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can possibly extend the life of the batteries.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
Regardless of how clean you keep your ears, and if you have difficulty hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average individual to pay attention to earwax, your hearing aids are going to gather debris and dirt. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or slightly off, dirt could be the cause.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are plenty of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with items you already have around the house. Once you’ve disassembled your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean the screen of a computer or smartphone) to wipe down the hardware.
Simple hygiene habits will go a long way to keeping your hearing aids clean. Wash and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing things, like washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in jeopardy of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (think working up a sweat, not snorkeling). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you may experience issues from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They might even appear to quit altogether.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Leave the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. Any trapped moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to flow with almost no effort on your part.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry spot. The bedroom is a practical spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. You will most likely want to purchase a hearing aid storage box if you live in a very humid climate. Pricier models plug in, but less costly models use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you purchase shoes) to take in 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.