Hearing aids are an investment that requires careful maintenance. Keeping them clean improves their longevity so that you can enjoy sound clarity and speech recognition for many years to come. Here’s a step-by-step guide to a thorough hearing aid cleaning.
Disassembly
Before you get started, wash your hands to avoid spreading germs to your hearing devices. Work over a soft surface, like a towel, to prevent damage to the components in case you drop them.
If you have behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids you’ll need to take them apart to clean them effectively. Detaching the earmold and tubing allows you to get into the tiny crevices. In-the-ear (ITE) or in-the-canal (ITC) devices don’t usually require disassembly, but they may have a wax guard that needs to be removed and exchanged.
Cleaning
- Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away moisture, oil and earwax that’s accumulated on your hearing aids. Then, use a soft bristle brush, pick or loop to remove earwax from receivers, mics and other electrical components.
- Set a hair dryer on low heat to clear moisture out of the tubing.
- Wash BTE earmolds in warm soapy water to disinfect and deodorize them.
- Open the battery compartment and wipe away moisture.
- Check the battery contacts for corrosion. Use a dry cotton swab to clean them if you see any white, powdery build-up.
- Change the wax guard if you see built-up earwax.
Dehumidifiers
These machines are good for overnight cleaning and drying. Some styles also sanitize and deodorize hearing aids. If you use a dehumidifier to dry your devices, you’ll need to monitor its components as well. Most of them have a liner that absorbs the moisture from your devices, but they expire and need to be replaced to stay effective.
Talk with Your Audiologist
It’s important to schedule a deep cleaning of your hearing aids every couple of months. The audiologists at Audio Help Hearing Centers have the expertise to get into all the nooks and crannies of your devices without damaging the delicate components. They’ll also make any necessary adjustments to your hearing aids.
Call 888-832-9966 or contact Audio Help Hearing Centers online to schedule a cleaning for your hearing aids.
