When you wear hearing aids, regular device maintenance is an essential part of hearing well every day. During regular follow up appointments, we work with you to ensure you are well-equipped to manage the necessary ongoing maintenance at home. Good maintenance is a preventative measure to keep your hearing aids working well for you during the years you have them.
The following is an overview of the most common issues that cause improper hearing aid function. Try these suggestions to help you fix any problems you may be experiencing with your hearing aids:
My hearing aids stopped working.
Dead batteries:
(Rechargeable Batteries) Place your hearing aids in the charging station for 30 minutes. then listen to see if they have started working. You can now use these for eight hours or put them back in the charger to get a full charge.
(Disposable Batteries) Take the sticker off a new battery for two minutes and then replace the old one.
Earpiece clogged with wax
Look for wax in the earpiece. It can be any shade of yellow. It may be in the air vent or the wax guard. Thoroughly clean the hearing aid earpieces, using the black brush provided at your dispensing. If you no longer have this brush, a soft bristled toothbrush is a good alternative.
The air vent is a channel that runs through the length of the ear mold or casing of a custom hearing aid. It appears beside the space where sound comes through on the earpiece. Clean that air vent using a vent cleaner. If you do not have a vent cleaner, an interdental flossing brush works well as an alternative.
Try changing the wax guard. If you don’t have any wax guards on hand, you can obtain additional wax guards by calling 1-888-457-3453.
Cleaning spray for hearing aids can be purchased to clean the earpiece and loosen wax build-up. If you don’t have cleaning spray available, you can use a soft cloth with some diluted rubbing alcohol as an alternative. Never spray cleaning spray directly onto the hearing aid, as the moisture can enter the inner workings and erode the wiring and connections.
Microphones clogged with debris
The microphones are located on the top of the body of your hearing aids. This is where sound from your environment enters the hearing aids to be turned up for you. It is important these are kept clean. You can do this by cleaning them with the black brush provided at your dispensing. If you no longer have this brush, a soft bristled toothbrush is a good alternative.