Approximately 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. These delicate devices bring you a world of clearer sound—and cleaning them regularly is crucial to ensuring they run smoothly.
What Do I Need To Clean My Hearing Aids?
Different hearing aid styles may require different tools, so ask your hearing aid specialist or consult your device manual before cleaning. A few standard tools include:
- Hearing aid brush: to clean the device casing
- Soft cloth: to wipe off wax and oil from the device casing
- Wax pick: designed to remove wax and other debris
- Multi-tool: a dual-ended combination of a hearing aid brush and wax pick
- Wax filters: to replace clogged filters
- Vent cleaner: a long rod that goes through the vent to the other side of a hearing aid to remove wax
How to Clean Your Hearing Aids
Cleaning may change between styles, but it frequently includes the following steps:
- Brush the microphone ports, casing and ear mold or dome to remove wax and debris
- Use a wax loop or pick to remove shallow wax blockages
- Push wax out of the vent with the vent cleaning tool
- Brush or change the wax filter
- Wipe the casing off with a soft cloth
For behind-the-ear hearing aids, remove and clean the tubing that connects the primary device to the earmold or speaker. If the tubing is rigid or cracked, schedule an appointment with your hearing aid specialist to replace it. If the tubing and earmold do not contain any wires or a built-in speaker, you can wash them with warm, soapy water. After washing, use an air blower to dry the tubing completely, wipe it down and reattach it to the device.
For specific cleaning instructions, check your device manual.
What if I Get My Hearing Aids Wet?
If you get your hearing aids wet or spend a lot of time at the Takoma Aquatic Center, you should take a few extra steps to care for your devices, including:
- Dry off the external casing
- Remove the battery and dry the battery compartment
- Place your devices in a specialty drying box or use a small blower to dry your devices thoroughly
- Place your battery back in its compartment
Schedule a Deep Cleaning
In addition to daily cleaning, you should schedule a professional cleaning with one of our specialists every three to six months. We can thoroughly clean your devices and check their programming to ensure they’re still meeting your needs.
For more information about caring for your devices or to schedule a cleaning, contact Hearing Center Silver Spring today.