Like all technology, hearing aids can lose their effectiveness or even break completely if they are not treated with the proper care. Thankfully, the hearing experts at Gainesville Hearing Services have outlined a list of basic tips that can help owners properly care for their devices. These tips, however, are just a starting point, and they are not designed to fix or prevent all problems. If you are having issues with your hearing aid, be sure to call Gainesville Hearing Services and schedule an appointment to have it inspected.
General hearing aid care
- Handle your hearing aids carefully. Do not toss them around, drop them, or leave them within reach of pets or small children.
- When you are not using an aid, remove it, turn it off, and open the battery door. When it is not in your ear, keep your device in a cool, dry, safe place.
- Clean each hearing aid daily with a soft bristled toothbrush, soft cloth, or the cleaning implement that came with it. Earwax, dirt, and other debris can cause your device to malfunction and should be removed each day. Be sure to handle each device with care, as cleaning vigorously or carelessly can cause permanent damage. If you are unsure of how to clean your hearing aids, contact Gainesville Hearing Services.
- Change your hearing aid filters on a regular basis. These filters accumulate wax at different speeds for each person, so monitor the condition of your specific devices and replace your filters accordingly.
- Avoid excessively high or low humidities, as either one can cause damage to your hearing aids.
- Keep your hearing aids away from sources of moisture such as showers, rain, or even hair spray. Even devices that are designed to resist moisture should be protected whenever possible to increase durability.
Though following these tips will help increase your devices’ longevity, they may still have issues at some point in the future. If this happens, visit an audiological professional immediately. The experts at Gainesville Hearing Services have years of experience in diagnosing hearing aid problems, and we can make sure you get the repair or replacement you need to keep hearing your best.
Hearing aid batteries
Just as every person’s ear is unique, so too is every person’s hearing aid. This is most apparent in terms of battery life, which can last anywhere from three days to three weeks depending on the type of hearing aid and how often the wearer uses it. For example, someone who only wears their device while going out in the evenings will get much more use from a single battery than a person who wears theirs for 14 hours a day. Likewise, somebody with severe hearing loss will go through batteries more quickly, as their device will require more power to provide the proper amplification. The life of a battery is also dependent on countless other factors, including temperature, humidity, and even altitude.
Once you have a general idea of how quickly you go through batteries, many experts recommend that you keep at least a month’s worth of spares at any given time. Hearing aid batteries come with a color-coded key, so you will always know exactly which kind to order.
- Blue = 675
- Orange = 13
- Brown = 312
- Yellow = 10
You should replace your batteries whenever the sound becomes distorted, the hearing aid makes a soft beeping sound, or you can no longer turn the volume up loud enough to hear properly, as these are all signs that the battery is nearly out of power.
Just like hearing aids as a whole, batteries benefit from proper care throughout their lifetimes:
- Do not keep bare batteries in your pocket or anywhere else where they might come into contact with pieces of metal such as coins or keys. This metal can cause batteries to short, severely lessening their lifespan or even causing them to rupture.
- Store your extra batteries at room temperature. DO NOT store them in the refrigerator, even during hot weather, as the moisture in the fridge can cause even worse damage.
- Always replace burnt out batteries with new batteries rather than those that have been sitting around for years. These older batteries will eventually lose their charge after long periods of inactivity..
With a bit of proper love and care, your hearing aids should continue to serve you well for anywhere from 4-6 years. If you have any questions about hearing aid maintenance, battery replacement, or hearing aids in general, call Gainesville Hearing Services to schedule an appointment at our Gainesville office today.