Hearing aids are not infallible and sometimes they will require repair work to ensure that they continue to perform well. This repair work can quickly become expensive but there are a few things you can do to bring the costs down or even avoid them altogether.

Clean your hearing aid regularly

One of the best ways that you can elongate the life of your hearing aid and avoid costly problems is by cleaning it properly and regularly. Never use water to clean your hearing aid, instead use a soft toothbrush or a tissue to remove wax buildup. Because there are so many small parts to your hearing aid, wax can find its way in and cause further problems. Regular gentle cleaning will prevent this.

Troubleshoot at home

Though hearing aids can be quite fiddly, there are a number of small fixes and replacements that you can do at home. These include replacing the batteries when they wear out and replacing the wax filter too. As both of these jobs are relatively regular, it is well worth asking your audiologist to show you how to do them at home on your own.

If you are worried that your hearing aid isn’t working properly, it is also worth trying a couple of simple fixes at home before you go to your audiologist. Switching your hearing aid off and on again can help if you are experiencing a lot of whistling noises and taking your hearing aid out and replacing it has a similar effect.

Keep your hearing aids dry

Your hearing aids are very sensitive to moisture and many wearers don’t realize that moisture will build up naturally over the course of the day. The best way to help this is to open up the battery compartment, remove the batteries and then leave your hearing aid to air out overnight. This will allow the moisture to escape and avoid unnecessary buildup.

You should always remove your hearing aids before you wash, shower or go swimming to avoid getting water in them. Working out while wearing hearing aids shouldn’t be a problem but if you perspire a lot, a hearing aid sleeve or sweatband will add an extra layer of protection. Similarly, you can buy hearing aid dehumidifiers that are inexpensive and may help to prolong the life of your hearing aid.

Keep the warranty and get insurance coverage

The final way to avoid costly hearing aid repairs is to ensure that you keep hold of the warranty your hearing aids come with. This will usually cover you for up to two years and will significantly reduce your repair costs. You may also wish to take out insurance for your hearing aids to assist you with unexpected costs or the possibility that a replacement will be required.

If you take care of your hearing aids, then they are much more likely to last longer and act more effectively. Learning a few simple methods for replacing some common parts will also help you to look after your hearing aids and avoid extra costs.