Care of Hearing Instruments

The Daily Hearing Aid Check

* Look for visual signs of damage such as cracks, broken parts, clogged openings or moisture droplets.

* Use your battery tester to make sure that the battery is in good working order and providing power to the hearing aid. To help you determine how long each battery will last mark down on a calendar the day you put a fresh battery into the hearing aid. Do the same thing when you put in the next battery and that will give you an idea of how long the batteries last.

* Place the battery in the hearing aid and turn it on (to the ‘M’ or microphone position).

* It is best to check batteries at night. Some types of batteries will "revive" a bit overnight so you think they are working well but then they will lose power after a short time in the morning. Always carry an extrabattery or two with you.

* Listen to the hearing aid through the stethoscope and slowly increase and decrease the volume while you talk into the aid. The sound should be clear and strong without crackling or intermittent sounds.

* To make sure the hearing aid is producing a clear sound for you, set the hearing aid to a volume where you like to listen through the hearing aid. Listening through the stethoscope, say some sounds such as ‘oo’, ‘ee’, ‘m’, ‘sh’, ‘s’ and a few sentences. Again, adjust the volume control up and down to make sure there is no crackling or that the hearing aid is not cutting in and out.

* Before attaching the earmold to your hearing aid (where applicable), check to make sure it is clear and free of any rough spots that could irritate the ear.

Simple Good Rules of Good Hearing Aid Care

The Hearing Aid

* Wipe hearing aid with a tissue daily
* Keep it in a dry, temperate place – avoid excessive heat
* Switch it off before you take it off
* Avoid getting aid wet
* Avoid dropping aid
* Keep it away from hairsprays and X-rays
* Don’t sleep with the hearing aid in your ear
* Open the battery door when the hearing aid is not in use
* Keep it out of the reach of children and pets
* Don’t attempt home repairs
* Know about your warranty
* Insure your hearing aid

The Battery

* Use the proper size battery. Batteries come in the following sizes:
675 - (blue); 13 - (orange); 312 - (brown); 10 - (yellow); 5 - (available for CIC but not common)
* Match the ‘+’ on the battery to the ‘+’ in the battery door of the hearing aid
* Buy fresh batteries from a reliable source and ask how long the batteries have been “on the shelf”
* Discard old batteries
* Keep spare batteries in a dry place away from metal
* Carry an extra battery or two with you at all times
* Keep out of reach of children and pets
* Check to make sure battery is working by turning the hearing aid on and cupping it in your hand and listening for a whistle

The Earmold (Behind-the-ear hearing aids)

* Before cleaning the earmold, remove it from the hearing aid.
* Let the earmold dry completely before replacing it on the hearing aid. It is good practice to wash the earmold at night before you go to bed so it has time to dry completely overnight. It is advisable to purchase a forced air earmold blower to help make drying the mold quicker and easier
* Keep the opening of the earmold free of wax
* Have stiff or cracked tubing replaced promptly. It is recommended that the tubing be changed approximately every 6 months

Cleaning hearing aids that fit in the ear (In-the ear, In-the-canal, min-canal, completely-in-the-canal hearing aids):

* These hearing aids need to be cleaned every time they are removed from the ear
* Wipe with a dry tissue
* Get a small brush from your dispenser and brush the opening of the hearing aid to remove any wax. Have your dispenser show you how this is done properly.

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