If you use hearing aids, it’s essential that you know how to properly maintain them. Hearing aids are small but powerful pieces of technology that can have a profound impact on your day-to-day life. Access to hearing aids can help you to navigate all sorts of situations more easily, whether that’s communicating with people at work, being able to watch your favorite show on tv without subtitles or being able to understand public interactions.

Maintaining your hearing aids can ensure that they’re always working to the best of their ability and can also help you to avoid repairs or replacements resulting from damage. But what can you do to maintain your hearing aids as best possible? Here are some suggestions that you should take on board.

Take Care of Your Batteries

Your hearing aids are likely reliant on batteries, which need to be maintained as well as the main body of the hearing aid. Without fully working batteries, your hearing aid isn’t going to be much use at all. When your hearing aids aren’t in use, you should make sure to open the battery doors, as this will help to release any moisture that may have built up in the interior casing.

If you know that you’re not going to use your hearing aids for a few days, it’s recommended that you remove the batteries during this interval. If you need your batteries replaced, consult your audiologist, who will make sure you’re using the right battery and fitting it properly.

Avoid Wax Build Up

Wax will inevitably build up inside your hearing aid over time. Wax production is a natural part of your ear’s self-cleaning process and, when your hearing aid is in your ear, the wax is likely to build up around the aid itself. You should make sure to avoid wax buildup by regularly removing wax from your hearing aid using a wax pick. Your audiologist will be able to show you how to do this. You may also want to replace the wax filter, which helps to protect the internal components of the devices from earwax damage.

Have Your Hearing Aids Cleaned Professionally

Cleaning is an important element of hearing aid maintenance. It’s important that you have your hearing aids cleaned professionally, as it can be difficult to clean your hearing aids properly and fully yourself. It’s recommended that you carefully clean your hearing aids yourself, but that you also have your aids cleaned professionally once every four to six months. An audiologist can properly clean your hearing aids at the same time as examining them to check for damage and repair if needed.

Don’t Immerse Your Hearing Aid in Water

It can be easy to forget that you’re wearing your hearing aid and to keep it in when you immerse yourself in water, for example, in the shower, in the bath or when you go swimming. But it’s important to avoid this. Most hearing aids aren’t fully waterproof and water exposure can cause serious damage.

Hearing aid maintenance really is essential to avoid hearing aid repairs. Hopefully, some of the advice above will make all the difference when it comes to avoiding this and maintaining your hearing aids as best possible.