Hearing Aid Tips

Protect Your Investment in Hearing Aids: Five Essential Tips

If you’ve shopped for hearing aids recently or already own a pair, you know that these devices are not cheap, although well worth their cost for the enhanced quality of life that comes with an improved ability to hear.   With the cost of hearing aids, it pays to protect your investment by following these “Must Do” tips (from our Hearing Aid Indianapolis location):

Tip #1:  Be aware of the temperature.

• Avoid excessive heat and cold. Do not leave your hearing aids in a hot car in the summer or a cold car in the winter.  
• Do not dry your hair with a hair dryer while wearing hearing aids.  
• Humidity and hearing aids do not mix. If you live in a humid environment, purchase a hearing aid dehumidifier. 

Tip #2:  Avoid moisture and water.

While a humid environment can damage hearing aids, moisture from perspiration as well as submersion in water can interfere with the functionality of a hearing aid. 

• Do not wear hearing aids while swimming, showering, taking a bath, during strenuous exercise that causes you to perspire or while in the sauna (unless you wear an extended-wear, deep canal device).
• Remove your hearing aids at the hairdresser or barber.
• Use an umbrella or hooded raincoat when it is raining.
• Make sure your hair and ears are completely dry before inserting your hearing aids.
• Remove your hearing aids at night and open the casing door to allow air to ventilate the interior.  

Tip #3:  Avoid shock and vibration.

• Hold the hearing aid over a cushioned surface when changing the battery.
• Store your hearing aid in the cushioned case it came in.  
• To avoid accidents, sit down to insert or remove your hearing aid. 

Tip #4: Regularly clean the outer shell of your hearing aid.

• To clean an in-the-ear hearing aid externally, wipe it off with a dry cloth.  Then brush across the receiver opening with the wax brush that came with your hearing aid.* Do not push anything sharp into the microphone port.  * If you did not receive a wax brush, consult your Audiologist. To clean wax guards, follow the instructions given to you by your Audiologist.
• To clean behind-the-ear hearing aids externally, wipe off the hearing aid with a dry cloth.   To clean the ear mold, remove it from the ear hook of the hearing aid and wash it in warm, soapy water.  Rinse thoroughly and shake out the excess moisture.  Allow the ear mold to dry overnight. 
• At least every 6 months, take your hearing aids to your Audiologist for a thorough “clean and check” and to change out microphone protectors and BTE tubing that is becoming brittle.

 Tip #5: Use Hair, Shaving and Cosmetic Products carefully

Perfume, hair spray, bath powder, shaving cream, cosmetics and hair gel can all clog the microphone of your hearing aid

Should you have any questions, please contact our Hearing Aid Indianapolis location to speak with Audiologist Michelle Koley at (888) 888-DIZZY (3499)