Now that you have hearing aids and see the benefits they provide, it’s important to maintain them properly. They are a big investment in your future and ensure that you’re always able to communicate.
While we wish regular cleanings were not needed, it’s a small price to pay to be able to have healthy hearing.
We always recommend professional cleanings once every six months.
We can clean in all the nooks and crannies that these small pieces of technology have. We are trained professionals and will be able to notice any technical problems that may be present as well.
However, just because you visit the dentist twice a year, doesn’t mean you can stop brushing your teeth at home.
The same holds true for hearing aids. While you don’t have to clean them three times a day, like your teeth, there is something you can do to protect your hearing aids from normal wear and tear.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Hearing Aids?
Over time, your hearing aids collect wax, dust, debris, and moisture. If left unattended, these obstructions can cause irreparable damage, which could leave your hearing aids useless.
Not only that, you may not notice that your hearing aids have ceased to function properly and your hearing will revert back to its old habits. Not treating your hearing loss effectively could cause more than just loss of hearing.
You may start to experience cognitive decline. This happens to patients who have dealt with hearing loss for many years. They can develop dementia, depression, or even Alzheimer’s disease.
At-Home Cleaning Tips
Gather The Necessary Tools – Being prepared will save you time and frustration. You’re dealing with a very small piece of sophisticated circuitry; you don’t want to have to stop what you’re doing to go search for that special tool.
Always have a soft dry cloth, soft bristle brush, wax pick, special drying area, and/or ball blower.
Be Gentle – Again, this is a very delicate piece of machinery and should be treated as such. While we encourage you to do this cleaning yourself, if you’re uncomfortable or fear you will damage them, bring them to us and we can help.
If it’s your first time cleaning your hearing aids, then we are more than happy to walk you through the procedure if you bring them to us. We can also help over the phone if you get stuck.
Avoid Cleaning Solutions – Liquid and circuitry don’t mix. Although you may have good intentions of trying to get your hearing aids sparkling clean, this won’t help. Avoid all cleaning liquids, including water.
Only Remove What You Can – Scrubbing and picking at a problem area may cause damage to another aspect of your hearing aid. If you encounter a rough area that seems to not be coming off, then contact us and we can help.
Use the soft brush and soft cloth to remove excess earwax, dust, and moisture. Anything beyond that may require a professional cleaning.
Schedule A Regular Cleaning – If you always have a professional overseeing your cleanings, then you’ll know what you’re doing right and where you can improve. Having helped thousands of patients, we can identify how effective your cleaning routine is. But we can only do this if you bring them in and let us check “under the hood.”
How Do You Know If Your Hearing Aids Need Cleaning?
If you notice a decline in performance, then it’s time to get them cleaned and checked. It may be a case of a basic clean or further maintenance/repairs. You may also need to get them adjusted, as your hearing has changed since your last checkup.
Whether you’re new to hearing aids or had them for years, we can help you maintain them and protect your investment. Ultimately, they are more than an investment, they are your connection to the world.
Call us to schedule your professional cleaning and let us help you protect your hearing for the long term.