Maintaining your hearing aids will prolong their life and ensure their effectiveness.
The buildup of wax, oils, and other debris will affect their sound quality and performance. Continual neglect could shorten their life span and lead to costly repairs.
To avoid problems, your hearing aids should be maintained daily and checked every six months by your hearing care provider. Daily maintenance is simple and will only take a few minutes of your time. At the very least, you should inspect your hearing aids after every use for possible wax or debris that may be blocking the microphones or sound port. If there is any wax or debris, remove the blockage with your cleaning tool. Thoroughly wipe the tip of the device with an alcohol pad. If you notice that the sound quality is either not as vibrant as it should be or has diminished, it is time to change the little, white wax guard or your earpiece. Store in a safe, dry place. These simple steps will take just a few minutes but may be all you need to do to maintain your hearing aids and avoid problems.
During the six-month checkup, your hearing care provider will perform a thorough cleaning, complete a diagnostic check of the components and circuitry, identify and correct any potential problems, and measure the devices’ performance on the computer.
Here is a guide to help you with the wear and care of your hearing aids and troubleshooting should you encounter any problems.
Wear and Care Instructions
- Look for wax obstruction on tip of earpiece. Remove with wax pick on cleaning tool.
- Wipe down the earpiece with an alcohol pad.
- Open the battery door using the fingernail catch.
- Store in a safe, dry place away from pets and moisture
- If you cleaned the devices the night before, they should be ready to wear.
- Close the battery door and put on.
- You can change your battery weekly or when the battery expires.
- Your devices have a warning indicator that will tell you when to change your hearing aid batteries.
- Expect 8–12 days (#312 battery) and 4–6 days (#10 battery) of battery life under normal conditions.
- The battery’s positive side is flat. The negative side has a bevel and is usually color coded.
- Remove or place the battery in the battery holder with your fingers or by using the magnet at the end of your cleaning tool.
- Always remember that the negative side goes in first and face down. The positive side faces up.
- Never force the battery door closed. If it won’t close, check to see if the battery has been inserted properly.
- The Mercury-free batteries contain no harmful chemicals and may be thrown in the trash.
- Turn your head and look over your opposite shoulder.
- Behind-the-Ear style: Place the casing on top of your ear. Pinch the receiver wire at its bend and insert the earbud/earmold into the ear canal. Seat the earbud/earmold in your ear canal using the forefinger and push toward your nose.
- In-the-Ear style: Hold device with lettering facing away from you. Pinch the device between the forefinger and the thumb and insert it into the ear canal. Push in using a finger and push toward nose.
- Behind-the-Ear style: Always take the earpiece out of the ear canal first. Then, remove the casing from the back of the ear
- In-the-Ear style: Pull the device out using the extraction string or push on the back of the ear with your thumb, and use your forefinger to dislodge it.
- Remove battery immediately and throw away.
- Remove white wax guard and ear bud (if applicable).
- As soon as you can, blow out the battery compartment, sound port, and microphones using a hair dryer on medium setting for several minutes.
- Put devices in a warm, open place overnight or for at least 12–24 hours. Sticking them in a bowl of uncooked rice can be helpful as well.
- Make sure the battery compartment is completely dry before inserting a new battery.
- Replace the white wax guard and earbud (if applicable).
- Check tip of device for wax or debris.
- Replace white wax guard and earbud (if applicable).
- Check to make sure the sound port and microphone openings are not plugged with wax or debris.
- Replace battery.
- Make sure battery is inserted properly.
- Check device for damage.
- Check for damage to speaker or speaker wire on Behind-the-Ear styles.
- Check for moisture or debris in the battery compartment.
- Check to make sure the sound port, microphones, wax guards and earbuds (if applicable) are clear of debris and moisture.
- Blow out the battery compartment and sound port using a hair dryer on medium setting.
- Change the battery.
- The hearing aid may not be inserted properly, so remove and reinsert it.
- Check if wax guards or earbuds are plugged.
- See your Bend or Redmond audiologist to remove earwax that has accumulated in your ear canal.
- Reprogram your hearing aids.
Questions?
Call us today at 541-382-3100 for scheduling at all Oregon COENT clinics. We can also help answer questions regarding insurance and what to expect for your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!
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