Hearing Aid Care and Cleaning

Taking good care of your hearing aids will:

• ensure that they are working at their optimal performance; and
• extend their life.

Hearing aids are exposed to earwax, perspiration and heat on a daily basis, not to mention the occasional bump, drop or even a bite from the family pet. Without on-going care and cleaning, hearing aid performance can gradually decrease over time.

Excessive moisture and earwax in your hearing aid are the most common causes of hearing aid malfunction.

Here are a few daily tips that will keep your hearing aid clean, functioning at its best and extend the life of your device.

• Wipe the outside of the hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth to keep it free of wax and moisture.
• Remove any wax or debris from the microphone and speaker screens with a hearing aid brush.
• Store your hearing aids in a dry container and out of direct sunlight and heat. Open the battery drawer when storing your hearing aids. This ventilates the hearing aids and preserves the battery life.
• Use a dry-aid kit / dehumidifier regularly to remove residual moisture from inside the hearing aid.
• Hearing aids must not get wet. Remove them before showering, bathing or using chemicals such as hairspray.
• Use an earmould blower for Behind-The-Ear hearing aids to remove excess moisture, wax or debris. After separating the earmould from the hook on the hearing aid, gently use the puffer to puff air through the tubing.
• Keep your hearing aids in a safe, secure container, away from children and pets.

Behind-The-Ear (BTE) style hearing aids: Cleaning Earmoulds and Tubing

BTE hearing aids have three main parts:

• the earmould;
• the electronic device (hearing aid) that sits behind the ear; and
• the tubing, which connects the earmould with the hearing aid.

The earmoulds and tubing can be disconnected from the hearing aid and can be cleaned and washed on a regular basis. Here are some helpful hints:

• Remove the earmould and tubing from the hearing aid hook.
• Wash the earmould in warm, soapy water and then rinse clean.
• Use a mild hand washing soap.
• Dry them with a soft cloth.
• Clean any residual wax or debris from the mould using a hearing aid brush.
• Use a hearing aid blower to clear out any trapped wax, debris or moisture from the tubing.
• Reconnect the earmould and tubing when dry.
• And most importantly, clean one hearing aid at a time, so that you don’t mix up the left with the right (or the right with the left).