When Hearing Aids Become Wet (OMG!)

Faster heartbeat, faster breathing and the need to scream like the world’s gone mad! Yes, that’s exactly how we would feel, too, if our hearing aids become wet. And we’re not just talking about slightly damp due to the sweat in your ears – we’re talking about getting the entire thing wet in water.

What can you do? Well, don’t panic just yet so you can have a clear mind and calm disposition to deal with the issue. What’s done is done and the best thing you can do is to move forward and find solutions.

Here are the steps that you can do to rescue your wet hearing aids.

Remove from Water ASAP

Instead of just looking at your wet hearing aids in the tub or toilet, perhaps screaming a few times, you should immediately remove them! The sooner you can remove them, the better their chances of actually surviving the dunk in water. Their covering acts as a protective barrier, too, but it won’t last long so urgency is a must.

Turn Them Off

If your hearing aids were turned on when they were accidentally placed in water, you should immediately turn them off.  Then, you have to remove the batteries and throw them properly. You should never turn them off and then on just to see if they are still working.

Close the battery door and remove the tube, if your hearing aids have one. Dry the tube and the hearing aids gently using a soft, clean and dry towel. Shake them as gently as possible so that more water can be removed from their inner parts.

Remove More Water

Even with the dry pats and gentle shakes, there will likely be water trapped inside the hearing aids. You should then use other methods to remove the trapped moisture.

In this case, a small fan or a hairdryer should do the trick.

• Turn on the hairdryer but set it to the lowest setting.
• Aim the nozzle of the hairdryer on the hearing aids for a few minutes at a time. Be sure to keep the nozzle a good distance away from the hearing aids. This is because excessive heat has the same effect as water and, in fact, it can be more damaging than a short spell in water.

After a few minutes, leave the hearing aids to dry out. This can take a few days to accomplish but be patient. You shouldn’t replace the batteries and turn the hearing aids on in an hour or so after drying them out.

Also, leave the battery door open while waiting for them to dry out. You may also place the hearing aids inside a humidifier pot, which will speed up the drying process.

After a few days, put on fresh batteries in the hearing aids and turn them on. You may just have a functioning pair already! Otherwise, you should consider getting them to a professional repairman.

Source:

HK Hearing & Speech Centre

Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,

and Hearing Aid Prescription

http://www.hkhearingspeech.com