Your hearing aids should help you hear better right? When they aren’t working properly, it can be thoroughly infuriating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” situation. Here’s the good news, with regular upkeep, your hearing aids should continue to function efficiently.
Go through this list before you do anything rash. If it’s not one of these ordinary problems, it might be time to pay us a visit to make sure there isn’t a more substantial issue. Your hearing may have changed, for instance, or you might need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
Hearing aid batteries, while improving in quality, still require recharging and replacing occasionally. That means that it’s essential to maintain your hearing aids’ batteries. If it seems as if the sound is diminishing or cutting in and out, check your battery first.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, particularly if you like to stock up, is a smart idea. Batteries have a shelf life so the last batteries in the pack may not have the same voltage as the first few even if you keep them sealed. Another trick: When you open new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This can help the batteries last longer by allowing the zinc to become active.
Potential Pitfall: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a tough time hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average person to pay attention to earwax, your hearing aids are going to accumulate dirt and debris. If you can hear but sounds seem distorted or a bit off, dirt could be the cause.
The fix: Clean ‘em Out—And Keep Them Clean!
There are lots of products available specifically for cleaning hearing aids, but you can DIY it with things 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.
You can help keep your hearing aids from attracting excess grime by employing simple hygiene habits. Whenever you do something that calls for liquid or dampness, like washing 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 small amount of moisture can really damage your hearing aid (you don’t need to be submerged, even a sweat can be an issue). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, clogging up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Problems ranging from distortion to static or even crackling might happen depending on how much moisture is inside. They might even seem to stop working.
The fix: Keep ‘em Dry
Leave the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. It takes almost zero effort and ensures that air can circulate, and any captured moisture can escape.
Store hearing aids in a cool, dry place. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the kitchen or bathroom. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but there’s just too much moisture. If you live in a humid environment, you may want to think about investing in a hearing aid storage box. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a little moisture absorbing packet, but some more expensive models remove moisture with electronics.
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.
