.png){kind=logo}
Your hearing aids are important investments that give you the ability to communicate with loved ones and enjoy the sounds of the world around you. Hearing aids are built to survive the rugged environment of your ear during most hours of the day, but because they’re packed with state-of-the-art technology, they can still be susceptible to damage. Below are three of the most common causes of hearing aid damage and how to avoid them.
1. Not Cleaning Them
Hearing aids spend most of their time in the same place earwax is being produced, meaning it is all too easy for them to become impacted with wax. If earwax gets into the tubing or receiver of your hearing aids, it can affect sound quality or cause them to completely stop working.
Clean your hearing aids at the end of each day by wiping them with a soft, dry cloth. Use a wax pick/wire loop to get debris out of the nooks and crannies as needed. Never use water or cleaning agents like alcohol to wash your hearing aids, as this can corrode them and damage the inner parts.
2. Storing Them Improperly
Even when not wearing your hearing aids, they can become damaged if not stored properly. Be sure to avoid leaving your hearing aids in a bathroom where they are subject to moisture, a car when it’s hot or cold out, or anywhere they are accessible to a child or pet. Find a cool, dry place where you can store them every night, like a drawer in a bedside table or on top of a dresser.
Also, be sure to open the battery doors in order to extend the life of your batteries and allow moisture to evaporate.
3. Dropping Them
It’s easy to drop your hearing aids when you’re putting them in, taking them out or changing the batteries. To minimize damage, you should handle your hearing aids over a soft surface where they would be easy to see if dropped, like over a brightly colored towel.
4. Getting Them Wet
Many of today’s hearing aids have some degree of water resistance, which is indicated by their IP rating. However, none are totally waterproof, and too much moisture can cause irreversible damage.
Be sure to take out your hearing aids before showering, entering a sauna or swimming at Shawnee North Family Aquatic Center. Keep them away from sinks and toilets. Also, when it’s raining, be sure to wear a waterproof hood or use an umbrella.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with hearing aid experts, call Topeka ENT today.