Ivor Lewis
As a fully qualified Fellowship member of both the British, and the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, he has years of advanced training both locally and nationally.
Find Out More About Ivor
Just like any other device, hearing aids need to be kept clean and in tip top shape if they are to continue working optimally and last for as long as possible.
If left untouched, a build-up of dirt or ear wax can block up the holes and tubes in your earpiece, leading to problems such as whistling, muffled sound and sometimes even no sound.
Wherever possible, then, it is a good idea to use clean hands to insert and remove hearing aids to prevent this. On top of that, washing the earmoulds of behind-the-ear devices thoroughly at least once a week in soapy water or with a specialist cleaning kit is also recommended. Ideally, this should be interspersed with a quick daily clean using a cleansing wipe.
A few things to remember before washing:
- Be sure to detach the earpiece and tubing from the rest of the device – the hearing aid itself should only be wiped with a soft cloth or tissue to avoid water damage to the inner workings.
- Think of your device as being rather like a watch: you want to clean the face and the straps, but not the mechanism – that part is best left to the specialists. Avoid using alcohol, solvents or any other cleaning solutions, as they can also potentially lead to unexpected faults and problems
- Afterwards, allow the earmoulds to air dry thoroughly before re-assembling them. At this juncture, it is worth taking a minute to ensure that you put back the left and right earpieces correctly to avoid any problems with fit or comfort later on.
Some other handy maintenance tips:
- Many people are not aware of this, but sticky substances such as makeup and hairspray can also create blockages in microphone openings, as well as affect the workings of control dials and switches. It is therefore always best to apply makeup and style your hair BEFORE inserting your hearing aids and be sure to wash and dry your hands thoroughly after using hand lotion or body care products for the same reason.
- Moisture and heat are other common culprits that can affect the ability of hearing aids to function, so wherever possible, avoid storing your device in the bathroom or near a kettle, stove or radiator overnight to be on the safe side. It is also wise to leave battery storage containers open for a few hours after use so that any moisture that may have collected inside the case can evaporate.
That aside, it is also important to maintain good ear hygiene. If you are over 55 years of age, and experiencing excessive earwax production, you may want to consider making use of our free professional earwax removal service to help you keep on top of what can be a fairly common problem. For more information on our hearing aids, visit: https://www.hiddenhearing.ie/hearing-aids/types-of-hearing-aids
