Top tips for looking after your hearing aids

As life slowly gets back to ‘normal’ you may be out more and if you’re lucky, even going on holiday. With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit some tips on looking after your hearing aids.

First things first

You should clean your hearing aids each day and it couldn’t be simpler. The external parts should be wiped with a dry cloth or special cleaning wipe. Be careful to avoid the microphone and other internal parts. You should store your aids somewhere clean and dry out of the reach of children and pets.

Different types of aid

If you wear an in-the-ear hearing aid (ITE) then make sure you change the filter regularly. You can also remove any wax on the hearing aid with the small brush that came with your aids.

Receiver in the ear (RIC) hearing aids also have filters and for my patients who wear Audeo Ms or newer, I have created a video showing you how to do this:

https://youtu.be/47gW_jPbkI4

If you wear a behind-the-ear hearing aid (BTE) you need to maintain the tubing. This is usually changed every 6 months either by yourself or me but do ask if you’re unsure.

Water

Pretty much all hearing aids are water-resistant these days but not waterproof! Before you head to the beach or pool do bear this in mind. Generally speaking, it’s not so much the water that can damage your aid but things like chlorine or salt. If your hearing aid does get wet, take it out of your ear, remove the battery and dry it gently with a cloth. If you can be without it, you may want to leave it to air or use a drying box.

Are you getting ready for your first meal out after lockdown? Don’t forget that your hearing aids also don’t like make-up or hair spray so put your aids in afterwards.

Batteries

Hearing aid batteries typically last around a week but it depends on the aid. If you are planning on going away then make sure you have a supply of batteries with you. A lot of my patients now wear rechargeable hearing aids so make sure you remember any charging accessories you may need.

Other considerations

As life starts to get back to normal you may find that noisy environments are now more of a challenge. If this is the case, check out my Christmas blog which tackles some of these issues: https://peterbyrom.co.uk/hearing-at-christmas/

In the clinic

Whether you’re planning a holiday, a family get-together or a gentler return to normality, there is plenty of new technology to help. In the clinic, I continue to put patient safety first. If you’re not familiar with the steps I take regarding COVID-19, you can find the details here:

https://peterbyrom.co.uk/clinic-and-covid-19/

As always, whatever your hearing needs are I am delighted to help and look forward to seeing you soon.

Stay safe,

Peter