How to Take Care of Your Hearing Aids

November 9, 2017

You’ve finally made the plunge! You had your hearing test, looked at the options and chose the right hearing aids for your lifestyle. Your hearing is so much better now!

Now you pick up the sounds of rain, your grandkids, the clock ticking, and on good days you even hear a pin drop! In order to keep your hearing and health investment in great working order, there are some habits to develop that keep your hearing aids working well for years to come.

Get Into a Routine

The first good habit for a hearing aid owner is knowing where they are at all times. Just as eyeglasses seem to go missing when you need them, hearing aids get misplaced too. Although you can buy enough reading glasses to keep multiples around the house, it’s not so with hearing aids. Keeping track of them is the first rule of business!

Develop a daily routine with your hearing aids.

Always put them in the same place when you remove them.
Use the protective case provided by the manufacturer.
If you live in or travel to a very humid environment, talk to your hearing aid professional about getting a silica-based drying agent to store with your hearing aids.
Open the battery door and leave your hearing aid uncharged when not in use. This extends the life of your hearing aid and saves you money on battery purchases.

Be Gentle

Hearing aids are for wearing in most all situations, but they are easily damaged with rough or improper care. When you put your hearing aids in, and especially when changing the batteries, choose a place that provides a soft landing should you drop them, such as over a bed or a cloth surface. If you do drop them, a visit to your hearing aid specialist might be in order to see if all is well. Never yank on the tubing, over-stress the battery door hinge or put undo pressure or force on them.

When hearing aids fit properly, they stay on during moderate exercise, such as walking, jogging and bicycling. In situations that involve more vigorous movements, like contact sports, dirty or sweaty yard work or anything that might dislodge them or cause them to get damaged, be safe and take them out.

Keep Hearing Aids Dry and Cool

Hearing aids and moisture don’t mix. Remove them before showering, going in the hot tub or sauna, swimming or during a heavy downpour of rain. If your hearing aids do get wet, take them out immediately and remove the battery. Leave them out in a dry place.

Never attempt to use a hair dryer on hearing aids, because another enemy is excessive heat. Leaving your hearing aids in a hot compartment of your car, near a heat source or in direct sunlight can easily damage their sophisticated internal components. Contact our hearing aid specialist when your hearing aids get excessively wet or and ask for a “hearing aid examination.”

How to Clean Hearing Aids

Wax happens!

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is perfectly normal and essential for healthy ears. Wearing hearing aids introduces you to your earwax in ways you might never have imagined!

Your in-the-ear hearing aid will get wax on it, but just wipe it off with a soft and slightly damp cloth.

A behind-the-ear model is not immune to wax either; the tubing and dome will collect its fair share of cerumen. Wipe off the wax you see, and when the dome needs to be changed, change the wax filter as well. This is best done in a clean, soft environment, possibly over a towel, in case you drop one of these small components.

Try sitting down at a table and make yourself a workspace, for additional accident prevention.

Life can be dirty, especially when we’re trying to clean up and look pretty. Hairspray, gels, shaving lotions, sunblock, powders, and perfumes — these are all enemies of a modern hearing aid. After you’re ready to meet the world with every hair in place, then it’s time to gently put in your hearing aids.

Come to The Hearing Solution for Help

The Hearing Solution in Sacramento is dedicated to providing you with ongoing help, advice, service, repair, and the resources you need to make your hearing aid experience a success. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

If a hearing aid suffers an accident, we want to get it working again. Don’t be embarrassed, because we’ve heard everything! Please call us, email or drop by our office with your concerns.

Together we can keep your amazing and life-changing hearing aids in good working order.

Interested in learning more? Attend one of our regular hearing solution events to learn more about our unique approach to hearing loss or give us a call at 916-646-2471.

We’re accepting new patients!

Schedule an appointment with one of our audiologists or audiologist assistants to start improving your hearing today.*

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A great visit, I learned a lot and of course, would highly recommend it! Looking forward to my next visit on the 8th. Am hoping to get the recipe for the best peanut butter cookie I've had since becoming a celiac too. Thank you Rita Thompson Thank you, Rita Thompson

I just participated in my first lip reading class with you. Wow! I am so grateful for the quality job you do in teaching me over zoom, how to better focus, hold and remember information. As I grow older (everyday!) I find my attention, patience and recall not working as well as I am used to. Thank you for teaching me such valuable lessons. I look forward to continuing with you!

I loved everything about my experience with Hearing Solutions, Everyone is so nice and very accommodating through the whole process until we secured the right fit for me. I recommend The Hearing Solutions to everyone that has a hearing problem!!!

I am thrilled with the service, responsiveness and assistance The Hearing Solution provides me. The service I received from my previous audiologist does not come close.

You are tops!

Last summer I took my near-deaf sister to see Dr. Kristen. Within two hours she did the test, reprogrammed my late father’s Resound hearing aids, cleaning, and fitting. She walked out of the office, could even hear sounds from her back. Yesterday during her second service visit, Dr. Kristen even helped pull out her ear wax in both sides. Not only did she restore my sister’s hearing, her gentle, kind, and caring manners build up my sister’s confidence. She could even do zoom Bible study now. A great doctor with a beautiful heart!

The office and staff were very nice. It is a very pleasant atmosphere. I saw Elizabeth and she was very friendly and professional. I enjoyed my visit and plan to return next month for a follow up.

Very friendly environment. Helpful and knowledgeable about hearing issues and resolution. I felt right at home here.

I left your office today without the opportunity to say thank you. I just wanted to write and tell you that my appointment today was by far the best experience I've had with any audiologist in my 20+ years of hearing loss. As I write this I am listening to Schubert songs and hearing them better than I have in years. No distortion! And German text fairly understandable, especially given my old, weathered, damaged ears. Thank you so much for your patience and your incredibly positive attitude throughout the process today. Looking forward to seeing you next week!

From my 1st appointment with Dr. McWilliams I knew I was in good hands. The level of care she provides is unmatched. My Urroz was also extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

Excellent, knowledgeable, professional, lovely. What else is there to say.

The process of evaluation was very professional, comfortable, and unrushed. Kirsten is very easy to work with. I understand why Dr. Chang recommended her. All of my questions were answered in a clear manner, and I am confident in the process. My interactions with the office prior to the hearing evaluation were excellent. I look forward to the next visit. Best regards, Bill

Very pleased with her professionalism.

Very professional and kind.

The staff was pleasant, friendly, professional and explained the whole process. I could not have expected better service.

Very professional and we'll be connected to processing claims for hearing loss with the Department of Labor

Very friendly staff and goes that extra mile to make sure you have what you need. Thank you so much.

Hearing evaluation and updates to existing aids. Fabulous results!

I can not rave enough about the Hearing Solution in Sacramento. The staff is so friendly and efficient and you feel at home the minute you enter the office, The expertise of the audiologist and the technical assistants is superior. The “techies” are especially patient and are available to help you most any time. You will never leave there without your hearing needs being met.

I felt that my concerns were listened to fully. And I quickly realized that I could benefit from Kristen’s level of professional skills. And where else would a staff member flag me down on the street to make sure I found the right building! I felt so pleased and comfortable in your office. Many thanks! Betsy Major

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The staff is professional, thorough, and gracious. We could not have been happier. You are also met with refreshments and lovely sweets in the waiting room, the entire space is clean and beautifully appointed. 10/10.

Friendly, professional, and honest. They hugely helped me navigate what steps to take to improve my misophonia (not tinnitus)

Very professional, thorough, patient, friendly, educational and beautiful office setting. No pressure to sell a product, take it at your own pace. Highly recommend Kirsten and staff.

Provided a full and extensive hearing exam and matched a hearing aid that best met my needs. No high-pressure sales. Very friendly and professional. The hearing aids take a little to get used too but very happy. I Can hear out both ears for first time in five or six years.

As a physician, I am very particular about precision, attitude and patient care. I have had hearing problems for a number of years but was unsatisfied with my experience at Costco and the Major HMO in the Sacramento area. My experience at The Hearing Solution was dramatically better. From diagnosis through explanation through the careful trial periods of different brands the excellence of service, attentiveness to care and flexibility of service was outstanding. There is absolutedly no comparison between the mass market approach and The Hearing Solution. I would not have believed that the process of finding the proper hearing aid for myself could be so radically better. The Hearing Solution gets my highest rating.

On time, patient and caring. Seems very knowledgeable.