March 20th marks the first day of spring and, for many of us, that means it’s time for a spring clean. If you’re among the 15% of U.S. adults with hearing loss, you may want to add one more item to your cleaning checklist: your hearing aids.
Why Do Hearing Aid Cleanings Matter?
Earwax, sweat and other miscellaneous debris can build up on the body, tubing or earmolds of your hearing aids. The more grime sitting on your devices, the higher the likelihood that it will interfere with their sound quality. A few examples of poor sound quality include low volume, feedback (a whistling sound) or garbled voices.
Poorly maintained hearing aids are also a breeding ground for bacteria. Cleaning your devices regularly will help prevent ear infections from becoming a constant nuisance.
While you should clean your devices nightly, it’s easy to let hearing aid care fall to the wayside, making spring the perfect time to recommit to an effective cleaning routine.
Using a Cleaning Kit
A hearing aid cleaning kit comes with the tools to keep your devices grime-free. Kits typically include the following:
- A wax pick and brush
- A vent cleaner
- A wax filter changer
- A soft wipe
Some kits will also include backup wax filters, but you may need to purchase them separately.
Take these steps to clean your devices with your kit:
- Brush the body, microphone, speaker and earmolds or domes
- Use the wax pick to clear stubborn wax from the smaller crevices of your devices
- Run the vent cleaner through the devices’ air vents
- Change the wax filters if necessary
- Wipe down the exterior of the devices with the soft cloth to remove oils
If you wear BTE devices, check their manuals to see whether their tubing and earmolds are removable. If they are, remove them from their devices and wash them with warm, soapy water. Wait until they are completely dry before reattaching them to your hearing aids. You can use a blow dryer on low heat to remove stubborn moisture.
Scheduling Professional Cleanings
In addition to cleaning your devices regularly, you should also schedule service appointments a couple of times a year. The good news is that our specialists at Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic can take care of your devices right here in Cleburne. Call us today to schedule your hearing aid repair & service appointment.