Hearing Aid Cleaning and Care

Take care of your hearing aids
Last update on May, 18, 2021

Caring for your hearing aids

How are new hearing aids like a new car? Getting 100,000 miles or more out of a car requires regular maintenance, including oil changes, tire rotations and engine tune-ups. Likewise, if you want years of listening enjoyment, you need to practice good hearing aid hygiene.

Just as cars need to weather the elements, hearing aids and their advanced electronics must withstand exposure to earwax, moisture, dust, temperature fluctuations and repeated handling.

Below you will find simple steps to care for your hearing aids. If you need additional help with any of these, please give us a call at 877-846-7074.

Maximize the life of your hearing aids by following these 8 steps:

  1. Clean the hearing aids on a daily basis, using a soft cloth, tissue or special hearing aid brush. Follow the instructions provided by your hearing healthcare professional for your type of hearing aid.
  2. Dehumidify the aids overnight by placing them in a dryer jar or electronic dehumidifier.
  3. Remove earwax with a wax loop, pick or brush, as instructed by your provider. Periodically change the wax filter or wax guard, if applicable.
  4. Open the battery door when not in use, and remove the batteries at night.
  5. Replace earmolds when worn out (applies to behind-the-ear or receiver-in-canal aids).
  6. Protect the aids from the elements, including precipitation and extreme heat or cold.
  7. Take the hearing aids out of your ears while showering, washing your face, shaving or using hair care products.
  8. Handle the aids with care — avoid dropping, and keep them out of the reach of children or pets.

Use proper cleaning tools

Proper hearing aid cleaning starts with getting the right tools to assemble your hearing aid cleaning kit, which will help you combat the two leading causes of hearing aid problems: moisture and wax. 

Recommended tools for cleaning hearing aids:

  • Soft, dry cloth - removes moisture and debris
  • Pick and brush - removes wax
  • Bulb blower - removes moisture from tubing
  • Dehumidifier or drying jar - removes moisture overnight

Clean your hearing aids regularly

Set up a consistent daily routine to make hearing aid cleaning easier and faster. Each morning, use the pick and brush to remove any wax. Before bed, wipe 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. Store in a cool, dry place (or use a dehumidifier or drying jar).

Remove hearing aids during daily hygine

Remember to take off your hearing aids during your own daily routine, to protect them against water or soap damage. If you do start to suds up with your hearing aids still on, don’t worry—it actually happens a lot. Just take them off right away, remove the batteries and leave the battery door open to air out.

Remove ear wax

It’s important to keep on top of ear wax, as it can block your ears (and hearing), as well as the receiver and other parts of your hearing aid device. The acidic nature of ear wax can damage the delicate electrical components. In fact, ear wax buildup is one of the most common reasons for hearing aid repairs.

How to clean ear wax from hearing aids:

  • Wipe them down with a soft, dry cloth.
  • Use the pick and brush in your cleaning kit. 
  • Visit your hearing care provider, who should be able to help clean any wax from your hearing aids or send them out for repairs, if needed.

* Tip: Dry wax is easier to remove than wet, sticky wax. Take off your hearing aids at night, then wait until the morning to remove the wax. This will allow time for the wax to dry out.

Dry out your hearing aids

If you get your hearing aids wet, don’t panic! Follow the tips below to dry out your hearing aids in the event that they get exposed to moisture.

Remove the battery

Turn your hearing aids off and remove the batteries as soon as possible. Keeping a wet battery inside of hearing aids can cause further damage. It’s also best to be on the safe side and recycle the batteries that were exposed. 

Shake it off

Remove any excess moisture you can by vigorously shaking the device and/or dabbing it with a dry cloth. This will help speed up the overall process of drying out your hearing aids.

Dehumidify

If you have the time to spare, you can simply let your hearing aids air-dry overnight. Keep them on a newspaper or paper towel in a warm spot. Alternately, if you have silica gel or uncooked rice available, you can use these as desiccants to draw out the moisture. Simply place your hearing aid in with the rice or silica gel in a sealed container. If you have one, you can also put your hearing aids in a dryer jar or electronic dehumidifier.

Avoid excessive heat

Avoid any direct heat sources when drying out your hearing aids. Excessive heat can severely damage the inner workings of your devices. 

Play it safe

Only replace your batteries when you are absolutely sure your hearing aids are completely dry. If you’re not yet 100% positive they are dry, it’s better to wait a little bit longer than to risk further damage. 
Think it may be time to get your hearing checked? Contact us

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