These days, with hearing aids costing what they do, basic maintenance more important now than it ever was in the past. This is because Hearing Aids spend most of their time in an environment that is utterly hostile to them. As electronic devices, even though they are coated and treated to take moisture, they much prefer a cool, dry environment and the human ear is the opposite of that. Because of this, it's very important that hearing aid users and their caregivers know the basics of how to take care of hearing aids, so if you either use hearing aids or help somebody who does, this is for you.
Rule Number One: Keep them as clean and dry as possible.
This means brushing them off before you go to bed, keeping as much wax out of the receiver and tube as possible, and keeping them in their open case -- unless you have cats, dogs or other pets, then keep the case closed. The reason for this is it lets them dry out after spending 10+ hours in the warm moisture of your ear canal. This is probably the most important thing you can do to make sure your investment lasts its full life, as it gives the electronics a break so that things like contact corrosion and fouling don't happen as often if at all. Also, please check your ears before you step into the shower, the tub or go swimming to make sure you aren't wearing your hearing aids -- they really don't like water. If for any reason they do get wet, dry them off with a blow dryer set on cool air only -- the hot setting will damage the electronics and you don't want to do that to something you spent $3000+ each on.
Rule Number Two: Keep your clean and check appointments.
You wouldn't expect your car to last if you didn't take it in for it's oil change every 3000 miles, yet people seem to expect the same of their hearing aids. A clean and check appointment is like going to get your car's oil changed, except it usually takes less time. In this appointment, your hearing aids and molds are taken into the lab and intensively cleaned. Since the tubes on traditional Behind The Ear hearing aids very often get brittle, they are usually changed as well. After that the hearing aids are dried out and put back on you. If the tube was changed, your hearing care professional may refit the tube on you to make sure it fits right. This intensive cleaning again, helps maintain the electronics and other components of the two (or one) computers you are wearing that are helping you stay connected to the outside world.
Both of these rules are related because the main thing you need to do to maintain hearing aids is above all to keep them clean and dry. The clean and check appointment allows your hearing care professional to assist you in doing this. With your car, they recommend that you check your oil level whenever you fill your gas tank and that you go in for an oil change every 3000 miles. Your dentist recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day, change your toothbrush every 3 months and get a professional cleaning every 6 months to keep your teeth in good shape. The same applies for your hearing aids. Therefore, why not take the small amount of time it takes to maintain them, since they are an investment in your health?
Rule Number One: Keep them as clean and dry as possible.
This means brushing them off before you go to bed, keeping as much wax out of the receiver and tube as possible, and keeping them in their open case -- unless you have cats, dogs or other pets, then keep the case closed. The reason for this is it lets them dry out after spending 10+ hours in the warm moisture of your ear canal. This is probably the most important thing you can do to make sure your investment lasts its full life, as it gives the electronics a break so that things like contact corrosion and fouling don't happen as often if at all. Also, please check your ears before you step into the shower, the tub or go swimming to make sure you aren't wearing your hearing aids -- they really don't like water. If for any reason they do get wet, dry them off with a blow dryer set on cool air only -- the hot setting will damage the electronics and you don't want to do that to something you spent $3000+ each on.
Rule Number Two: Keep your clean and check appointments.
You wouldn't expect your car to last if you didn't take it in for it's oil change every 3000 miles, yet people seem to expect the same of their hearing aids. A clean and check appointment is like going to get your car's oil changed, except it usually takes less time. In this appointment, your hearing aids and molds are taken into the lab and intensively cleaned. Since the tubes on traditional Behind The Ear hearing aids very often get brittle, they are usually changed as well. After that the hearing aids are dried out and put back on you. If the tube was changed, your hearing care professional may refit the tube on you to make sure it fits right. This intensive cleaning again, helps maintain the electronics and other components of the two (or one) computers you are wearing that are helping you stay connected to the outside world.
Both of these rules are related because the main thing you need to do to maintain hearing aids is above all to keep them clean and dry. The clean and check appointment allows your hearing care professional to assist you in doing this. With your car, they recommend that you check your oil level whenever you fill your gas tank and that you go in for an oil change every 3000 miles. Your dentist recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day, change your toothbrush every 3 months and get a professional cleaning every 6 months to keep your teeth in good shape. The same applies for your hearing aids. Therefore, why not take the small amount of time it takes to maintain them, since they are an investment in your health?
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