Taking Care of Your Hearing Aids
MAKE SURE YOUR HEARING AIDS ARE CLEAN AND SOUNDING CLEAR
Hearing aids need to be cleaned and cared for in order to maintain proper function. Be sure to clean your hearing aids regularly following the instructions in your hearing aid fitting folder and attend all of your hearing aid follow-up appointments with your clinician. It is not unusual for hearing aids to need small repairs, maintenance, and adjustments over time.
HEARING AID REPAIR
If your hearing aid doesn’t seem to be working right, you can bring it in to one of our clinics or attempt to correct the issue on your own following the cleaning and troubleshooting tips below. Many issues can be fixed in clinic or, if necessary, hearing aid(s) can be sent away and repaired by the manufacturer. If you are having issues or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our clinics for guidance.
HEARING AID MAINTENANCE & CLEANING
Regular care and cleaning of your hearing aid(s) is important for their longevity and for maintaining their function. Hearing aids that are well taken care of typically last longer and provide louder and clearer sound resulting in a better hearing aid experience for you.
Hearing Aid Care and Cleaning Tips
- Each hearing aid has a colour indicator on it. Left = Blue Right = Red
- Use a hearing aid dehumidifier every night. This prevents moisture from damaging your hearing aid(s).
- Wipe and brush your hearing aid(s) in a downward manner every morning before putting them on.
- Clean custom ear mold(s) or the tip of your hearing aid(s) weekly using disinfectant wipes.
- Change your wax guard(s) every 2 months or sooner if you notice it is dirty with wax and other debris.
- If you are using disposable domes, change them every 2 months along with your wax guard(s).
- Keep your hearing aid(s) away from water. Remove them before showering and swimming. Also, do not store them in places with a lot of moisture such as the bathroom.
- Avoid exposing your hearing aid(s) to extreme temperatures. For example, do not leave them in your car.
- Keep your hearing aids in a closed case when you are not wearing them, especially if you have pets.
- If you tend to have problems with wax build-up, have your ears cleaned on a regular basis by your certified audiologist or your family physician. This will prevent wax from entering your hearing aid(s) and causing damage. Learn more about our wax removal services.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR WAX GUARD
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR DOMES
Hearing Aid Troubleshooting Tips
We strongly encourage all clients to contact us immediately if they are having any problems or difficulties with their hearing aids. However, if you are unable to make it in OR would like to troubleshoot the issue on your own, here are some helpful tips for some common hearing aid issues.
My hearing aid(s) is squealing/whistling
- Is the aid on/in the ear properly?
- Is there wax in the ear canal?
- Is there a tear/hole in the tubing/wire? Ear hook? Mold? Casing?
- Is the hearing aid dirty or missing a component?
My hearing aid(s) is not staying in my ear
- Is it in the proper ear? (Red = right; blue = left)
- Is the dome/custom tip/earmold in deep enough?
- Try pulling up and out on the outer ear while inserting
- If you use a retention tail, is it sitting in the bowl of your ear properly?
No sound is coming out of my hearing aid(s)
- Is the battery dead?
- Are the battery contacts inside the aid clean?
- Is there wax/skin cells/debris inside the wax guard/tubing?
- Have you been using your dryer nightly?
My hearing aid(s) sound muffled/distorted
- Have you been using your dryer nightly?
- Is there wax in your ear canal? In the wax guard? In the tubing?
- If you have tubing, is there moisture in the tubing?
- Have you been brushing your microphone ports?
My hearing aid batteries are not lasting as long as they should
- After taking the sticker off, do you wait 2-5 minutes before putting your battery in your hearing aid?
- Is there any sticker residue blocking the holes on your battery?
- Have you been using your dryer every night?
- Is the battery in the right way – positive side facing up?
- Are you remembering to turn your hearing aids off every night?
- Have you been wearing your hearing aids in extreme temperatures?
- Have your listening environments become more demanding?
- Are you using a streaming device with your hearing aids?
After Warranty Care
Regular servicing of your hearing aid(s) once they are out of warranty is important as it ensures your hearing aid(s) are functioning properly and it may extend the lifespan of your hearing aid(s).
Our clinics offer regular After Warranty Service appointments to all hearing aid users whether they are current clients of ours or clients transferring from another clinic.
THESE APPOINTMENTS INCLUDE:
- Thorough cleaning of your hearing aid(s)
- Replacement of minor hearing aid parts such as tubing, domes, wax guards, and retention tails, etc.
- Listening check
- Diagnostic testing of your hearing aid(s). This testing ensures your hearing aid(s) is working properly according to manufacturer specifications.
- Otoscopy
During your After Warranty Service appointment, our registered audiologists will provide you with information on how your hearing aid(s) look and sound. We will be able to tell you if your hearing aid(s) are showing signs of age such as high distortion, high internal noise and low volume. If necessary, we will also go over how to properly care for and clean your hearing aid(s).
Book An After Warranty Service Appointment
