If you have hearing aids, you should be capable of hearing, right? When they aren’t working correctly, it can be extremely infuriating, it’s a total “You had ONE job” scenario. Here’s the good news, with regular maintenance, your hearing aids should be up to the job.
Before you do anything drastic, look at this list. If it’s not one of these common problems, it might be time to pay us a visit to make sure there isn’t a more substantial problem. For example, your hearing aids might need recalibration, or your hearing may have changed.
Potential Pitfall: Low Batteries
While hearing aid batteries have gotten dramatically smaller and lifespans are getting better, the batteries still have to be replaced occasionally or recharged. So staying on top of charging your batteries is crucial. The first thing you should do if your hearing aid begins to fail or cut in and out is check the battery.
The fix: Keep ‘em Fresh
Investing in a battery tester, particularly if you like to stock up, is a smart idea. Even if you keep batteries sealed until you need to use them, always a good plan, they have a limited shelf life, and so the last batteries in that giant pack you bought months ago most likely won’t hold a charge as long as the first few did. Another trick: When you open 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: Gross Things Like Wax And Grime
No matter how clean you keep your ears, and if you have a hard time hearing, you’re a lot more likely than the average individual to stay on top of earwax, your hearing aids are going to gather debris and dirt. If you can 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 things you already have around the house to keep them clean. You can use a microfiber cloth, like the kind you use to clean your cellphone or glasses, to wipe your hearing aid down after disassembling it.
You can help stop your hearing aids from collecting excess grime by employing simple hygiene habits. Clean and dry your hands before you handle your hearing aids, and remove them while you’re doing things, such as washing your face, styling your hair, or even shaving, that may put them in jeopardy of being spritzed, sprayed, or splashed.
Potential Pitfall: Trapped Moisture
Even a small amount of moisture can really harm your hearing aid (you won’t need to be submerged, even a sweat can be problematic). Even humidity in the air can be a problem, blocking up the hearing aid’s air vents or draining faster. Depending on how much moisture’s gotten in, you might experience problems from sound distortion to static, to crackling. They might even seem to shut down.
The fix: Keep Them Dry
Be sure that when you store your hearing aids, the battery door is open; and if you’re storing them for longer than overnight, remove the batteries entirely. Any captured moisture will be able to evaporate and air will be able to flow with very little effort on your part.
A cool, dry place is the best spot to keep your hearing aids. Don’t store them in the bathroom or kitchen. Keeping them in the bathroom might seem convenient but moisture is just too much. You will most likely want to get a hearing aid storage box if you live in an overly humid environment. Pricier versions plug in, but less expensive options use desiccants or gels (yes, like those “throw away do not eat” packets you find in the box when you buy shoes) to take in moisture.
If you’ve tried all of these and none of them are helping then it might be time for a consultation with us.