Extending the Longevity of Your Hearing Aids

Ensuring your hearing aids last long is essential for keeping them working well. Adopting strategies to extend their lifespan is key for ongoing use. By following certain practices and habits, you can help your hearing aids stay in pristine condition. Understanding and integrating these tips into your daily routine can greatly impact how long your hearing aids remain functional.

A Hearing Aid’s Lifespan

A good hearing aid should last between three and seven years if you look after it well enough. Everyone is different, and your lifestyle can affect this. And there are also things you have no control over that can damage a device. However, a daily cleaning can help keep small parts like the microphone free of debris. This is essential because it can buildup and cause permanent damage, therefore reducing the lifespan. It also helps to use the box that the device came in.

Storing Hearing Aids Correctly

Using the box, the device that came in will help make it last longer. The plastic box provided is typically moisture-free and will help protect against sunlight. It also helps if you store the device somewhere cool, as higher temperatures can damage the fragile electronics inside. Generally, you should also store the device or the box with the device somewhere safe and high up to prevent someone from accidentally stepping on it.

Simple Hearing Aid Repairs

You don’t need to schedule a visit with an audiologist for most minor repairs. If you experience feedback or distortion, try the following troubleshooting repairs before calling an expert:

• Clean the casing and earmolds, often using a cotton swab and sterile wipes.
• Remove your devices if they will be exposed to harsh wind or water.
• Replace the wax filters on the device every three to four weeks.
• Store your hearing aid in a safe, secure and moisture-free space.
• Keep the battery door open at night to prevent moisture from getting inside.

The casing can succumb to wax and other debris, so a gentle cleansing will help remove any loose particles. In many cases, just replacing the batteries can also help solve most issues.

Personal Ear Hygiene

Most of the debris that gets inside your hearing aid comes from your ears. When this builds up, it can lower the lifespan of the device. Good personal ear care will help lower the effect your ears have on a device. Never use cotton swabs, as they can damage your ears. Instead, use eardrops that soften earwax and help it loosen. Wax can then be removed by rinsing your ears in the shower. If in doubt, your audiologist can give you more advice about caring for your ears.

Be Mindful of the Batteries

Replacing batteries can help solve many hearing aid issues. A more suitable option is to also care for the batteries as much as the device. Batteries are prone to moisture, so air them out by opening the battery door each night and removing the batteries.

Get Help from an Audiologist

Your audiologist can offer assistance when it comes to hearing aid repairs and extending the life of a device. Schedule an appointment when you feel you have done all you can with maintenance.