Hearing Aids: Maintenance & Cleaning
In order for your hearing aids to last long and work effectively, they must be cleaned, dried and stored properly. These small yet powerful electronic devices spend a lot of time in earwax and moisture, which makes it crucial to clean and maintain them regularly.
Suffering From Earwax (Cerumen) Blockage?
Cerumen management, also known as earwax removal, is the process of safely and effectively removing excessive wax buildup in the external auditory canal (EAC). Seeking earwax removal near you? This can be done through irrigation or other methods at any of our two offices in Forest Hills or Brooklyn. Irrigation is a process that involves using water to flush out the earwax from the external auditory canal.
Ready to find relief from earwax build up? Schedule time with our top audiologist today.
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It’s best to clean your hearing aids every day. Whether you have a behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-ear (ITE) device, keeping your hearing aids clean is relatively quick and easy.
BTE Hearing Aid Care
Here are some tips for BTE hearing aid care from our team:
- BTE hearing aids should be wiped daily with a clean, dry cloth.
- Be sure to take the earmold off of the hook to clean it. Wiping your earmold daily and soaking it in warm, soapy water weekly will prevent staining and discoloration.
- Let the earmold sit overnight so it can dry before you use it again.
- Don’t use alcohol on earmolds as this could be damaging.
BTE hearing aids have tubing which are typically changed every 6 months, although this may vary depending on the audiologist’s personal recommendations.
ITE Hearing Aid Care
Here are some of the most important things to remember when caring for your ITE hearing aid:
- ITE hearing aids should be wiped with a clean, dry cloth or a moist cleaning wipe.
- Be careful not to let any liquid get into the microphone or any other opening.
- Many ITE hearing aids contain a filter that prevents wax from getting inside. However, the filter itself should be changed regularly based on the audiologist’s recommendation.
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean the microphone port and openings in the device. Alternatively, the audiologist may provide a special brush for you to use.
- Make sure you hold the device downward so any built-up wax or debris can fall out of the device. If there is still wax-build up inside any openings, use a wax pick or a wire loop to get the rest out. (Wax picks and wire loops are tools that are designed to safely remove wax and debris from hearing aid holes).
- Wipe off your hearing aids with a soft cloth or a tissue after you’re done removing wax.
Drying And Storing Your Hearing Aids
- Dry all individual parts of your hearing aid before reassembling it using a drying box/pouch. These devices circulate warm, dry air around the hearing aids and automatically switch off once the drying cycle completes.
- Never dry your hearing aids using a hair dryer or microwave. These become too hot, causing the plastic parts of the hearing aid to distort, and the electronic components can be damaged or destroyed.
- Make sure to not store your hearing aids in direct sunlight to avoid warping or distorting.
