Keeping your hearing aids in good condition is a must when these are necessary in most of your daily life activities. Your hearing aids, after all, are essential in communicating with others, enjoying music and nature sounds, and navigating your way in the world!
But there are likely things that you’re doing wrong with them! Keep in mind that hearing aids are complex electronic gadgets that are subject to wear and tear as well as damage. You have to know how to handle them well or else they will conk out prematurely.
Did we mention that hearing aids are expensive? There’s that matter of knowing what you’re doing wrong with them and of adopting better measures.
Wrong Storage
You don’t wear hearing aids to bed, to certain activities where moisture can be an issue and during alone time when silence is desired. In these cases, proper storage is a must to prolong their usable life.
But you may be placing them in the wrong places! These include moist places like the bathroom, under your pillow and in your hot car, and anywhere else where they can get wet, hot and squashed. You shouldn’t store them in a drawer full of kitchen tools, workshop tools and other large things that can damage them.
You should find a cool, dry and clean place where they can be stored when not in use, such as your bedside drawer. You have to place them in a box, too, so they don’t become mixed up with other odds and ends.
Tip: Leave their battery door open so as to let the battery compartment dry out. This will also prolong the batteries’ life.
Wrong Cleaning
Think of hearing aids as electronic appliances and, indeed, they are! As such, they can be damaged by dirt, dust and debris from your ears and the environment. They can also be damaged by moisture and earwax, which can burrow its way through the hearing aids’ tubing and receiver.
The result: Your hearing aids ceases to function well, if not stop functioning at all. In other words, you’re going about its cleaning in the wrong way! You’re either not cleaning them every day or cleaning them incorrectly.
Start by cleaning your hearing aids on a daily basis, such as in the evening after taking them off. Be sure to use a dry, soft cloth to clean their exterior parts. You should never ever use cleaning agents, such as alcohol, since these can result in internal damage – and water is a no-no, obviously.
Other wrong ways that you’re dealing with hearing aids is dropping them and wearing them during activities where moisture is present. These include swimming, taking a shower, going to the sauna, using a blow-dryer and spraying hair products, all of which means exposing your hearing aids to moisture. Just remove them first and put back later when you’re done with these activities.
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If you think you need an hearing aid, make sure to get a hearing aid prescription. For more details of our hearing test & assessment, and hearing aid services, please contact HK Hearing & Speech Centre.
Source:
HK Hearing & Speech Centre
Specialist of Hearing test & assessment,
and Hearing Aid Prescription
http://www.hkhearingspeech.com