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Hearing aids are expensive and it’s just common sense to take care of them. Here are six tips discussed in an article on Healthy Hearing that will extend the life of your hearing aids.
1. Invest in a hearing aid dehumidifier. As you move through the day, hearing aids can obtain moisture which can over time cause wear and tear on your hearing aids. Talk to a professional about a hearing aid dehumidifier that does just what it says it does. Remove your hearing aids before hitting the sheets, remove the hearing aid batteries and place them in the dehumidifier and gently, overnight, the gadget dries out the inside bits of your hearing aid. 2. Clean away ear wax. Ear wax and hearing aids are not a happy combination. In fact, ear wax can gum up the works, clog the hearing aid speaker or microphone, give less than peak performance and eventually cause your hearing aids to be sent in for repair. Your hearing professional should instruct you on how to clean your hearing aids and provide you with special cleaning tools. Use the tools as directed but most importantly inspect your hearing aids each time you remove them from your ears. If you see wax, wipe away with a soft cloth. For earwax down inside the hearing aid, consult with your hearing professional to learn how to properly clean your particular hearing aid model. Finally, practice good ear hygiene. If ear wax build-up is a problem consider using over the count ear wax softeners. Follow the directions on the box and you’ll keep your ears clean enough. 3. Clean the hearing aid’s microphone screens. Microphone screens are subject to was and debris and when they become filled with debris the hearing aids’ performance can suffer. If you have experienced a sudden loss of volume or your directional microphone settings for noise does not seem to be working, your microphone screens may be plugged up. If you see debris in the microphone screens try wiping away. If it does not remove, consult with your hearing professional. Microphone screens can easily be cleaned and/or replaced if necessary by your hearing professional. 4. Repair or replace behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid tubing. BTEs and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids utilize tubing to deliver sound from the hearing aid unit behind the ear to the ear canal. Over time, this tubing can harden and subsequently crack or cause change in sound quality. This may be an easy fix if your hearing professional gives you a quick lesson, but to be on the safe side, have your hearing professional replace any old, stiff or worn tubing from the hearing aids. 5. Before you go to sleep, let a little air in. Before you go to bed for the night, pop open the battery doors of your hearing aids. This will allow air in to allow drying on the inside and keep circuits running smoothly. This also will reduce the drain on your hearing aid batteries. 6. Avoid extreme heat or cold. This is an easy one. Don’t leave your hearing aids near the heater or in a car during 100 degree weather or on the flipside in below zero weather. Today’s hearing aids are made to rugged, reliable standards so you don’t have to coddle the darned things; however, they are electronic devices and should be treated the same as your new flashy HDTV or laptop computer. Protect that investment you made in quality of life by taking a few extra steps and providing a little tender loving care. Keep them clean, reduce moisture, use a safe, recommended means of keeping the ear canals clear of waxy buildup and, finally, if you have any questions, ask your hearing professional. They are your best resource for showing you the in’s and out’s of your particular hearing aids. (by healthyhearing.com)
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