Prolonging Hearing Aid Life
Hearing aids are a significant investment, both financially and in your overall quality of life. It is in the best interests of every person wearing hearing aids to take the few easy steps needed to maintain their optimum performance and maximize their use life.
Two of the most damaging environmental factors to good hearing aid operation are moisture and dirt. Moisture comes not only from humidity in the air, but from the humidity of your body (sweat). Daily use of a moisture absorbing product (dessicant) that can be either chemical (eg., silica gel packets) or electronic (eg., desk-top de-humidifier containers) helps to remove moisture accumulating in either the tubing of the device, or in the case of the device where the electronics are located.
Most hearing aids come with either or both a small brush and a cleaning cloth. These can be used to wipe off grime or dirt that has accumulated on the hearing aid’s surface.
Finally, ear wax can accumulate in the hearing aid sound openings that rest in your ear canal. A small metal loop, usually located on the end of the brush accessory, can be used to remove small accumulations of ear wax in these openings. If a large accumulation is evident in an in-the-ear type hearing aid, you may want to have your audiologist remove the wax to insure that no damage is done to the electronic components of the hearing aid.
It is also a great idea to have your hearing aids checked out every six months or so by your audiologist while the hearing aids are still under factory warranty. Some problems that may be identified during these check-ups can be addressed by in-warranty replacement of malfunctioning parts or unusual case damage.
AuDNet, Inc. is a nationwide network of independent audiology providers. All AuDNet audiologists have earned advanced university degrees in audiology, and are fully trained to interpret case histories, carefully test and evaluate all aspects of the auditory system, advise physicians on hearing loss and balance etiologies, and treat hearing loss and balance conditions that are not amenable to medical or surgical intervention.
The first consideration in seeking hearing care is the expertise and skill of the care giver. Through the AuDNet network of audiology providers, patients have an easy and effective way of insuring that they are receiving hearing care and treatment from qualified and highly trained audiologists.