Caring for your hearing aid

It is important to take good care of your hearing aid.

What is the best way to care for my hearing aid?

• Hearing aids should not be worn at night time (while asleep)
• Keep the mechanical part of the aid away from water, heat, hairspray or body sprays (allow the product to dry first before inserting the hearing aid)
• Turn the hearing aid off when not in use to save battery power
• Clean the hearing aid using a soft cloth and remove any accumulated earwax on the ear mould daily

Why does my hearing aid whistle

This problem can be caused by the following:

• The hearing aid mould may not be inserted correctly
• If the ear mould has been in use for many years, it may no longer be creating a good seal in the ear entrance
• The ear canal may be blocked or contain excess wax
• The ear may be infected and the canal may be blocked with infective discharge
• The hearing aid may be faulty

Can I clean the ear mould?

In-the-ear aids should generally be cleaned using a soft cloth because the electronic part is integrated into the shell. Some in-the-ear aids come with a special wire loop and/or brush which can be used to clean them. If your aid comes with a wire loop or brush, ask your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser to show you how to use them so that you do not damage the aid in the process of cleaning it.

Behind-the-ear aids have a mould and tubing that can be disconnected (together) from the hearing aid. They can then be washed in warm soapy water and rinsed under a running tap. This is especially important to do if you notice the tubing is blocked. Shake the mould and tubing to remove excess water. Allow the mould and tubing to dry completely before reattaching it to the hearing aid. This will ensure that no moisture enters the electronic part of the hearing aid. To reattach the ear mould to the hearing aid, make sure the curve of the ear mould matches the curve of the instrument and then attach the tubing.

What should I do if problems persist?

You should consult your audiologist or hearing aid centre if:

• the ear mould causes pain or discomfort
• earwax cannot be cleared from the ear mould
• the hearing aid whistles even after it has been cleaned and wax is not clogging the opening