How to Clean Hearing Aids at Home?

Your hearing aids perform a vital function, so it is crucial to take the best possible care of them. To ensure your hearing aids keep performing at their best and to make sure that they last, they need to be regularly cleaned and well-maintained. Without proper care and attention, your hearing aids can become damaged and may stop working correctly. You can help minimize the risk of your hearing aids no longer working by making sure that you perform some simple cleaning and maintenance each day. Taking good care of your hearing aids will help them to last longer and continue to work at their very best. The at-home cleaning methods for hearing aids will differ depending on whether you have behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids or in-the-canal (ITC) devices, so it is essential to follow the correct cleaning method for your hearing aid type. If you are wondering how to clean your hearing aids at home, then these tips will help:

The correct tools for the job

Before you attempt to clean your hearing aids yourself, you will need to ensure that you have the correct tools to clean them properly. Here are the items you will need to clean your hearing aids at home:

• A clean, dry cloth for wiping over the hearing aids each day
• Wax pick: for removing any earwax that has accumulated in the hearing aid’s tube
• Hearing aid brush, or a soft-bristle toothbrush, to gently sweep away any debris from the hearing aid
• Bulb blower: to remove water from the hearing aid tube

Before you start cleaning

Before you start to clean your hearing aids, you will need to wash your hands so that you do not transfer any germs onto the hearing aids. It is also advisable to place a clean, dry cloth on the table when you are cleaning the hearing aids. This will give you a clean place to rest them, and it will also help you keep all the parts of the hearing aid in one place during the cleaning process.

How to clean a BTE device

If you have behind the ear hearing aids, you will need to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned each day to keep them working well. Each evening take your hearing aids out and check them for any debris that may have accumulated during the day. If you notice any debris on the hearing aid, you will need to use your soft brush to sweep it away. The next job is to carefully remove the earmold from the hook, which should be done gently to avoid damage. The earmold can then be wiped over to remove any debris. Remove the batteries from the hearing aid and use the soft brush to wipe the inside of the battery compartment. Along with this nightly cleaning routine, it is also a good idea to soak the earmold in warm, soapy water once a week. Doing this once a week will help to keep your earmolds extra clean, and could help to prevent them from discoloring. Always make sure that your earmolds are completely dry before you reassemble your hearing aids. You can use a bulb blower to blow any excess water out of the tubes.

How to clean ITE and ITC hearing aids

To keep your in-the-ear or in-the-canal hearing aids working at their best, they also require daily cleaning. First, you will need to use your soft-bristled brush to clean the openings of the hearing aid carefully. This first step will help to remove any built-up wax that may have accumulated in the openings. It is useful to point the hearing aid downwards when cleaning the openings, as this will allow the debris to drop out of the hearing aid. The next step is to take your wax pick and use it to carefully remove any debris that was not removed by the brush. Lastly, take your clean cloth and wipe over the casing of the hearing aid to complete the process. You should always contact your audiologist right away if you notice a problem with your hearing aid so that it can be repaired. For more information about hearing aids get in touch with the friendly team of professional audiologists at Quality Hearing & Audiology Center. Schedule your consultation today by calling (816) 205-7220 today.