General Repairs and Maintenance of a Hearing Aid

When it comes to hearing aids there are a lot of dos and don’ts associated with them. For instance, don’t wear them in the shower, but do clean them daily. Hearing aids are a very small and complicated device and if not taken care of properly can cost users a lot of money. However, if they are taken care of properly they can last a long time and become simple to maintain. So here are a few things to remember when it comes to the care and maintenance of your hearing aids.

• Clean daily. It is very important to clean your hearing aids each time you remove them. Daily maintenance includes gently wiping them down with a cloth and cleaning out the vents with the provided tools from the hearing aid manufacturer and your hearing health professional.
• Schedule yearly check-ups. It is important not only for you, but for your hearing aids to have, at the very least, yearly check-ups. This ensures your hearing aids are in proper working order and are still performing to the needs of your hearing loss. Having a yearly hearing test and hearing aid maintenance confirms your hearing loss is being monitored properly and your hearing aids are working to give you the best possible sound.
• Professional cleanings. Sometimes it can be hard to clean your hearing aid properly, especially due to their small size. If this is a problem, see your hearing health professional and they will be more than happy to help clean your hearing aids. This also allows them to check your devices to ensure they are performing properly and they will be able to diagnose any other problems that may have occurred to your hearing aids.
• Regular tubing changes. Occasionally, the tubing of your BTE will need to be changed, as will the domes of open BTE hearing aids. This is normal. Sometimes the tubing will crack or break because over time they tend to dry out. With open BTE, the tubing will stretch and the domes will become blocked with wax or may warp. This is completely normal. Some will need to have this done every three months some every six months and some may need it done yearly. Talk to your hearing health professional regularly about the condition of your tubing and domes in order to determine the best time for your change them.

As with anything care and maintenance is important to keep it working in top condition. With regular care and maintenance by you and your hearing health professional your hearing aids should continue to run smoothly and last you a long time.