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Your hearing aids represent a significant investment in both time and money, which means you want them to last as long as possible. On average, the lifespan of hearing aids is between three and seven years. To make sure your devices live a long, useful life, it’s essential to clean them properly every day.
Tools for Cleaning Hearing Aids
While you should consult with your audiologist about what the best tools are for your particular devices, they’ll probably make some of the following recommendations:
Cleaning brush. A cleaning brush has a soft tip for cleaning the body, faceplate and sound port of your hearing aids. Some include a magnetic battery removal tool as well.
Wax pick/wire loop. This tool helps remove wax and other debris from your hearing device’s nooks and crannies.
Multi-tool. These devices are versatile and contain both a brush and a wax loop.
These tools can be purchased inexpensively online or possibly a local drug store such as the Topeka Pharmacy.
How-To Guide for Cleaning Your Hearing Devices
Different styles of hearing devices require different steps for cleaning.
Cleaning In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aids
Follow these steps to clean your ITE device:
Use the cleaning brush to clear wax out of the openings of the device, including the microphone ports. Be sure to hold the device with the opening facing down so loose particles fall out instead of becoming lodged further inside.
Any debris left behind by the brush should be cleaned using the wax pick/wire loop.
Wipe the entire device with a clean, dry cloth or a tissue. You want the casing to be spotless.
Cleaning Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aids
To clean your BTE device, follow these steps:
Look for debris and remove it with the cleaning brush.
Remove the earmold from the hook. Some earmolds may become stained or discolored over time. Be sure to wipe them clean daily, and soak them in warm, soapy water once a week. The molds should be completely dry before re-attaching them.
If there is water in the tubing, use a bulb blower to force it out, then allow it to dry overnight.
For more information about cleaning or maintaining your hearing aids, call Topeka ENT today.