Hearing Aid Maintenance and Care

Regular hearing aid maintenance and daily care will dramatically reduce the need for repairs. Dysfunctional hearing instruments can happen for a multitude of reasons, but one of the biggest causes of hearing instrument break down is obstruction. Wax, debris, and moisture build up in the sound or microphone ports can impede the clear path for sound to pass through. The resulting sound quality may be weak, distorted, or absent! Why not take good care now to prevent greater costs later? Cleaning your aids saves you money!!!

How to clean your hearing aid:

1.Take a dry cloth and wipe the exterior of the hearing aid. Never, ever use water or other unapproved liquids to clean this electronic device!

2.Cleaning tools should have been provided with your hearing instrument by your hearing healthcare provider. Using a wax pick or loop (small plastic stick with metal or plastic loop on the tip) provided at your initial hearing instrument fitting, safely remove any wax or debris buildup from the openings on the portion that fits into your outer ear canal. Holding the aid receiver side down, gently pick away any wax or debris from the vent and sound opening (receiver). Be careful and do not push deeply into the receiver! You do not want to create a need for unnecessary repairs while trying to prevent them!

3.Change wax guards/traps/stops/springs. Many hearing aids have some sort of a wax guard, a very tiny white cup-like insert that gently fits over the receiver of the aid. Wax guards help prevent wax and debris from getting into the hearing aid. These guards should be replaced every 2-4 weeks.

•To remove the old guard, place the empty end of the provided changing stick into the guard, twist clockwise, and gently pull away the old wax guard. The small white cup should remain on the stick, and not in the hearing aid.

•To replace, use the opposite tipped end of the changing stick, insert into the receiver opening, twist, and gently pull away, leaving behind the new wax guard. The new white cup should remain in the hearing aid's sound port.

4.Take a small, soft brush and gently brush away any debris from the outer casing of the hearing aid. These brushes are usually provided with your hearing aid, but a soft toothbrush will also do the job. Hold your aid downward (receiver side toward the ground) while cleaning to prevent the wax or debris from falling further into the hearing device. Special care should be taken with the microphone ports. They are usually located near the battery door or near the top of behind-the-ear devices and look like small round openings.

5.Make sure to continue practicing regular hearing aid maintenance!

Tim Hunsaker - About Author:
Dr. Hunsaker has lived in the Las Vegas area since 2008. He is a graduate of Idaho State University and has had extensive training in the care and management of patients with hearing and balance disorders. He currently holds the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology (CCC-A) from the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). http://budurl.com/dvahendapril12art, http://budurl.com/dvamainapril12art, http://budurl.com/dvalasapril12article

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