6 hearing aid tips
- Keep them clean: Whatever the type of hearing aid, water or other fluids should not be used to clean it. Instead, clean the surfaces of the hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth and use the special brush tool supplied with the hearing aid to clean around the sound outlet, microphone opening and vent.
- Keep them safe: Lean over the table when inserting and removing your hearing aid. Hearing aids could be damaged if they fall on the hard floor. Always store them in the case you were provided with when you are not wearing them to avoid losing them or stepping on them. Keep them away from pets. Dogs like to eat hearing aids so always keep them put away in your case.
- Keep them dry: Hearing aids should never be exposed to high temperatures or moisture. Don’t wear your hearing aids while showering, swimming, during radiation treatment, or when using a hair dryer. If they are exposed to moisture, there are hearing aid dehumidifiers available to store them in to absorb out any moisture.
- Keep in touch: Your level of hearing loss may change over time, which means that your hearing aids will have to be adjusted to meet your new hearing needs. It’s important to keep in touch with your hearing professional and have regular hearing evaluations to get the most out of your hearing aids.
- Keep your batteries fresh: Open your hearing aid battery door when you aren’t using it to assure that your device isn’t using power when it’s not in your ear. Unopened hearing aid batteries should be stored in a dry place at room temperature – like a drawer. It is not necessary to store them in a refrigerator. We do not recommend storing them in your vehicle because extreme hot or cold temperatures will decrease the battery life.
- Keep them on: It is common for new users to feel strange wearing their hearing aids. New sounds and the feeling of a medical device in your ear takes some getting used to. The best way to adjust to wearing hearing aids is to wear them as much as possible. Start with short periods of time and gradually work up to a couple hours and eventually wear them every day. Soon you won’t even realize you are wearing your hearing aids.