How to Properly Clean and Care for Your Hearing Aids

A hearing aid is a high-quality and intricate instrument used to help you to hear better. These instruments are made carefully and require delicate handling to survive. They need to be cleaned and maintained in a way that shows you respect that while they are there to boost your hearing, they are also fragile and limited in their strength. When you don't take care of your hearing aids, you end up spending out more money than necessary to get them replaced – and you’ll disrupt your own hearing while you wait for new ones. Choosing not to spend time maintaining your hearing aids is a bad decision. Not only will you impair its performance level, but you’ll reduce the lifespan of the hearing aid entirely. 

It’s vital that you learn how to look after and clean your hearing aids. You should treat them as you would any medical device, and your audiologist is the one person who can give you the best possible advice when it comes to the cleaning methods you need to use. At a glance, here is how you should clean and care for your hearing aids: 

1. Always wash your hands before handling your hearing aids. You don't want to introduce more dirt than necessary.
2. Take out the battery before you introduce any fluids or cleaning cloths to the surface of the hearing aid.
3. Clean the microphone carefully with a small brush and a wax pick. This will remove any gathered wax.
4. Use the brush again to brush any dirt off of the openings in the hearing aid casing. Consider working from the top-down, brushing out any dirt as you go.
5. Remove the earmold from the device and put it into soapy, warm water. Before you go to sleep, you should be wiping this down with hot water every night. 
6. Always leave your hearing aid to dry in a hearing aid jar so that no more dirt is introduced while you sleep.

Each of these points on the list is going to ensure that your hearing aids are as clean as possible.

What to look out for when cleaning your hearing aids

When you speak to your audiologist about the best cleaning practices, they should also tell you the things that you should look out for when you are cleaning your hearing aids. You can take as many precautions as possible, but if you don't give yourself adequate time to clean your hearing aids, you’re going to rush it and possibly not clean them as thoroughly. One wrong move can really do some damage to the delicate parts on the inside. There are several tips to keep in mind when you are moving through each stage of the cleaning process, and the best one is to ensure that you have the right tools. Your audiologist should be able to direct you through the process properly and give you the proper insight.

How often should you clean your hearing aid?

It’s not a particularly hard process to clean your hearing aid, but it does take a lot of time. You don't need to do it every night, but you should wipe your hearing aids down and soak the earmold nightly. For those deeper cleanings, once a week should be more than enough.

Every single day when you come into the house after work, give your hearing aids a chance to breathe. Take the battery out and let it air. Your hearing aids are mostly in your ears every single day, and they need some space to let any hair or built-up sweat dry out. It also helps to remove the dust particles that build up in the day.

Cleanliness is a top priority

When you pay out for a hearing aid that your audiologist tells you will change your life, you must look after it. You need to remember that your hearing aids are delicate, and they will get dirty over time. With a little time and attention, however, you can ensure that your hearing aids are in the best possible condition. It is so important not to miss your weekly cleaning sessions just as it’s vital not to forget to wipe them down each night. 

For more information on your hearing aids, you need to call our experts at Associated Specialists in Hearing Disorders & Hearing Aids on 951-778-0181. Our qualified audiologists will be more than happy to talk you through the health of your hearing aids and how to clean and care for them properly.