If you’ve got hearing aids, you should be able to hear, right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be thoroughly infuriating, it’s a real “You had ONE job” situation. Luckily, your hearing aids should have no issue doing their job if you take proper care of them.
Consider this list before you do anything rash. If it’s not one of these common issues, it may be time to pay us a visit to ensure there isn’t a more substantial issue. Your hearing might have changed, for example, or you may need a hearing aid recalibration.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten significantly smaller and lifespans are improving, the batteries still need to be occasionally replaced or recharged. So staying on top of charging your batteries is important. The first thing you need to do if your hearing aid begins to falter or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Purchasing a battery tester, especially if you like to stock up, is a practical idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until it’s time to use them, always a good idea, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that huge pack you purchased months ago probably won’t hold a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you unpack new batteries, wait 5 minutes before putting them in. This gives the zinc time to become active, and can possibly extend the life of the batteries.
Potential Pitfall: Grease, Grime, And Other Gross Stuff
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a hard time hearing, you’re much more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids will gather dirt and debris. If you’re able to hear but sounds seem distorted or slightly off, dirt might be the cause.
The fix: Clean Them Out—And Keep Them Clean!
You can purchase a kit for keeping your hearing aids clean or you can use items you already have around the house to clean them. Once you’ve disassembled your hearing aids, use a soft, microfiber cloth (like you’d use to clean glasses or smartphone) to wipe down the hardware.
Simple hygiene practices will really help with keeping your hearing aids clean. Wash and dry your hands before you take care of your hearing aids, and take them out while you’re doing things, such as washing up, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in danger of being spritzed, sprayed, or splattered.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Moisture can be a real problem for hearing aids, and it doesn’t take much to do so (think working up a sweat, not deep-sea diving). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or causing batteries to drain faster. Depending on how much moisture’s entered, you may experience problems from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They might even seem to stop working.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Leave the battery door open when you store your hearing aid overnight and any longer than that, remove the battery. It takes almost no effort and guarantees that air can circulate, and any trapped moisture can get out.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. The bedroom is a smart spot, skip the bathroom or kitchen. Keeping them in the bathroom may seem convenient but moisture is just too much. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to think about purchasing a hearing aid storage box. Most models use a desiccant in the form of a little moisture absorbing packet, but some more costly versions get rid of moisture with electronics.
None of the above are working out? It may be time to speak with us.
