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Cleaning your hearing aidsLast updated on: September 7th, 2023 Regular hearing aid cleaning will provide years of reliable better hearing. Find out how to clean your hearing aids and protect your investment. Hearing aids are a significant investment, and to keep them in top working condition, require regular upkeep like cleaning. Unlike most electronics, hearing aids have to operate in conditions that are far from ideal: the inside of your ear canals where they are subjected to earwax and moisture. Regular cleaning you can do yourself combined with routine maintenance provided by your hearing care professional will give you years of reliable better hearing. Before you get started, it may be helpful to first review the various parts of a hearing aid and common hearing aid types. General care tips for hearing aids
Hearing aid cleaning toolsEarwax can accumulate in the opening at the end of a hearing aid where the sound comes out causing muffled sound or feedback (whistling). Left long enough, it can damage the receiver. This is why you want to keep hearing aid cleaning tools on hand. Always follow the guidance of your hearing aid provider. Most likely, they'll recommend one or more of these common cleaning tools:
How to clean ITE (in the ear) hearing aidsWhen cleaning an ITE model:
How to clean BTE (behind the ear) hearing aidsTo clean a BTE hearing aid:
Additional considerationsFor all types of hearing aids, do the following at night:
In some cases, it may be worthwhile to use a hearing aid dehumidifier, especially if you live in a humid climate, spend considerable time outdoors or perspire heavily. There are two types of hearing aid dehumidifiers. One type is a simple plastic jar with a desiccant that draws out moisture overnight. The other type is called a dry & store unit that uses ultraviolet light and air to dry and sanitize hearing aids. Both accessories are probably available through your hearing healthcare professional or online. Some rechargeable docking cases also dehumidify the devices as they charge. See other accessories you may want to invest in.
When to see a professionalHearing aids should be professionally cleaned regularly as recommended by your hearing care provider. They have vacuums with specialized attachments that gently suck wax from hard to reach areas, and they know how to safely clean vents, microphone screens, windscreens and receivers. If you're hearing aids aren't working correctly, cleaning is the first step of troubleshooting common hearing aid problems. If you are not sure how to properly clean your hearing aids or if you feel your devices need special attention, ask your hearing care professional for help. If you need help finding an audiologist or hearing care specialist near you, our directory of consumer-reviewed hearing clinics is a good place to start. Joy Victory, managing editor, Healthy HearingJoy Victory has extensive experience editing consumer health information. Her training in particular has focused on how to best communicate evidence-based medical guidelines and clinical trial results to the public. She strives to make health content accurate, accessible and engaging to the public. Read more about Joy.
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