Hearing aids can be great for home life, the outdoors, going out to shopping centres or parties and enable you to move freely between these different environments. They keep you socially engaged by helping you effortlessly understand conversations around you. They also help keep your brain constantly active with sound, giving it its daily dose of exercise. This has been shown to have positive effects on the brain and can slow the rate of cognitive decline.
Contemporary hearing aids may be small in size, but they’re big on cutting edge technology and need to be looked after.
These hearing aid cleaning and care tips will help you continue to get the most out of them for as long as possible.
How do I clean my hearing aids?
All hearing aids need some simple regular tender loving care to keep performing at their best. Here are some general tips for hearing aid cleaning.
- Ensure your hands are clean and dry when inspecting or cleaning your hearing aid.
- Avoid using harsh cleaning agents on your hearing aids as these can damage their electronics.
- Only use specially designed hearing aid cleaning tools, not scissors or needles, to clean your hearing aid.
- The inside of your ear is a moist, oily environment, so it’s important to clean your hearing aids regularly – ideally after every use, or two to three times per week at a minimum.
Cleaning in-the-ear (ITE) aids
Carefully wipe your device with a soft, dry cloth or tissue, ensuring no moisture gets into any openings. ITE devices have a wax guard system to prevent earwax from getting into the hearing aid. These filters can be cleaned with the small brush or wire supplied with the aid. They may need to be replaced with a new guard when very blocked.
Click here to watch a video on cleaning in-the-ear hearing aids.
Cleaning behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
Wipe the external microphones (the part that sits behind your ear) with a soft, dry cloth or tissue. Use the brush or wire tool supplied with your device to clean any earwax from the speaker (the part that sits inside your ear). You may need to change the wax guard (white filter that stops earwax from entering the speaker) when it becomes blocked and starts affecting the performance of your hearing devices.
Click here to watch a helpful video about cleaning these types of devices. For video tips on how to clean a slim tube hearing aid click here.
If this all sounds a little confusing, visit your audiologist. They are more than happy to explain the different parts of your aid and show you how to clean it, even if you’ve been shown before!
Tips for looking after your hearing aid
Here are a few more helpful tips for hearing aid care:
- Moisture can damage your hearing aid, so dry it well after cleaning and take it out to swim or shower.
- Make sure your ears are dry before inserting your hearing aids.
- Avoid getting hairspray, cosmetics or makeup on your hearing aid. Apply these before inserting your aids.
- Replace dead batteries immediately and keep replacement batteries on hand.
- Always store your aids in a clean, dry place away from any heat sources.
- Try to keep your ears free of earwax to limit it from affecting the aid.
- Store your aids and batteries in a specific place, out of reach of children or pets.
If you’re unsure about how to clean your hearing aids or don’t have the tools you need to do so, Active Audiology can supply you with tips and tools. We have clinics conveniently located across Melbourne. Get in touch with our helpful team on 1300 364 007 or contact us here.
Disclaimer
All information is general in nature.
