Take care of your hearing aids

Your hearing aids allow you to connect with the people and things you love. Hearing aids are easy to maintain and will help you to hear as long as you make it a routine. Below are some tips for taking care of your hearing aids.

Pro Tip #1: Make sure to use the right tools

Proper hearing aid cleaning begins with having the right tools to get the job done safely and effectively. You’ll need a hearing aid cleaning kit, which will help to combat moisture and wax.

These common tools help keep hearing aids in pristine condition:

• Hearing aid cleaning brush
  The soft brush tip end cleans the body, faceplate or sound port of a hearing device. Some brushes have a magnetic battery removal tool to ease daily cleaning of aids.
• Wax pick or wire loop
  This tool is designed to help remove wax and other debris safely from hearing aid nooks and holes.
• Multitool
  These all-in-one tools are versatile because they contain both a brush and a wax loop for thorough cleaning.

Pro Tip #2: Create a Daily Routine

Set up a daily routine to make cleaning your hearing aids easier and faster. Each morning, use the pick and brush to remove any wax on your hearing aids. Before bed, wipe your hearing aids down with a soft, dry cloth, then remove the batteries and leave the battery door open overnight. This helps air out the device and extends battery life. Make sure to store your hearing aids and batteries in a cool, dry place.

Pro Tip #3: Remove hearing aids during showers

Remember to take off your hearing aids during your showers, to protect them against water or soap damage. Shower and wash your face and hair without your hearing aids in so water and soap can’t damage them. Put your aids in after you apply hair products like sprays or gels. If you forget and start to suds up with your hearing aids still on, don’t worry just take them off right away, remove the batteries and leave the battery door open to air out.

Pro Tip #4: Avoid extreme temperatures

If the temperature is below freezing and you take your hearing aids out of your ears to shovel the driveway, leave them inside the house instead of stashing them in your coat pocket. Likewise, if you take your hearing aids out to jump in the pool on the hottest day of the summer, take them inside the house instead of leaving them on a poolside table.

You should remove the batteries and keep the battery compartment open to dry overnight. If you have rechargeable hearing aids be sure to dock them according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Brush the battery compartment with the cleaning brush to keep it clean from debris.