Top Care Tips to Avoid Hearing Aid Repairs

Your hearing aids are an integral part of your day-to-day life. Once you have had them fitted, you begin to rely on them to give you the hearing experience that you have come to enjoy. 

Most hearing aids are good enough these days to last, especially if you get them from a high-quality provider. However, on the rare occasion that they do malfunction, it can be an incredibly difficult and isolating time while you wait for them to be repaired. 

However, with a bit of preventative hearing aid care and tender loving care, you can extend the life of your hearing aids and devices and lessen the chances of them needing a repair.

Here are some top care tips to help to avoid hearing aid repairs:

Store them in a dry place and avoid moisture

Your hearing aid devices are made of some incredibly complex and sophisticated elements, held in a tiny case. When they are exposed to excess moisture, like everything with an electrical, component, they can be damaged. Although the majority of – new hearing aids are water-resistant, it is a good idea to take them out if you are swimming or bathing.

If they do get wet, dry them straight away with a towel. Do not be tempted to use a hairdryer or other source of heat as this can damage the elements.

Change the batteries when needed

If you leave your hearing aid batteries in for an extended period of time, they can cause damage to your devices. The trapped moisture will oxidize the batteries and harm the elements. When not in use, remember to leave the battery door open. If you will not be using your devices for a few days, it is recommended that you remove the batteries.

Also, try to clean the battery contacts in your devices while swapping out batteries. This can be achieved by rubbing them down gently with a dry cotton swab. If your device's battery contacts are dirty, it can cause a poor connection and mean that they do not work as effectively. 

Handle them with care

While hearing aids are much more robust than they used to be, they should always be treated with caution. Be careful not to drop them by holding them secretly. When cleaning or changing the batteries, place them on a soft surface, such as a towel.

When not in use, keep them in a secure location. Make sure that they cannot be touched by children or animals.

Keep them clean

You should be cleaning them regularly at home, but every so often, schedule them in for a professional clean with your audiologist. They know how to get in all the spots and get them spotlessly clean. They will also be able to replace the filters and wax guards if this is something that you are not able to do yourself. They are also much more likely to spot any signs of damage or faults before they become significant.

By following these above tips, you are likely to lengthen the life span of your hearing aids and avoid needing to wait for them to be repaired.