How to Clean and Maintain Your Hearing Aids

After you’ve worn hearing aids for a while, putting them in each morning and taking them out at night becomes second nature. That’s usually when it’s easiest to forget what they’re exposed to along the way.

Earwax, moisture, dust and everyday use gradually build up simply because the devices go everywhere you do.

Like anything you rely on every day, hearing aids need regular attention to keep working the way they’re meant to. Taking care of them becomes part of owning them, just as naturally as wearing them in the first place.

What are the Parts of Your Hearing Aids

Every hearing aid has several parts that work together, although the layout depends on the style. Most have microphones that pick-up sound, a speaker that delivers sound into your ear and a battery or rechargeable power source.

Many also include wax filters, controls and small openings that let sound move through the device. Knowing where those parts are makes it easier to follow your audiologist’s instructions and understand how your hearing aids work.

Each part has its own job, so a problem in one area doesn’t always affect the whole hearing aid. For example, a blocked microphone and a clogged speaker can create different listening problems.

Parts that you handle often, like battery compartments, charging contacts and controls, also receive more wear. Becoming familiar with those parts makes routine care simpler and helps you recognize when something doesn’t seem quite right.

Safe Tools and Products for at Home Hearing Aid Care

Using the right tools helps you clean your hearing aids without damaging the small parts inside. Your audiologist may recommend supplies like:

• • A soft, dry cloth to wipe away moisture and surface debris.
  • A hearing aid cleaning brush to remove wax from microphone openings and other small areas.
  • A wax pick or cleaning loop to lift wax from spots that are difficult to reach.
  • A wax filter replacement tool if your hearing aids use disposable wax guards.
  • A hearing aid dehumidifier or drying cup to remove moisture after a humid day or heavy perspiration.
  • Manufacturer-approved cleaning products made for hearing aids instead of household cleaners or alcohol.

Ways to Protect Hearing Aids from Moisture Earwax and Damage

A hard floor, the bottom of a bag or even a curious pet can damage a hearing aid in seconds. Dry storage and careful handling between uses do as much to protect the devices as regular cleaning.

Simple Daily Cleaning Steps to Keep Hearing Aids Working Well

Most daily cleaning happens after you take your hearing aids out for the day. Wipe the outside of each device before earwax has time to dry and harden.

Check the microphone openings, speaker area and wax filter for anything that’s blocking them. If your hearing aids use domes or earmolds, look them over as well because they’re often where wax collects first.

Spending a minute on those simple checks each day is much easier than waiting until buildup starts affecting the way your hearing aids perform.

Common Cleaning Mistakes That Can Damage Your Hearing Aids

Cleaning hearing aids doesn’t require much force, but using the wrong products or techniques can damage delicate parts. To avoid unnecessary repairs, steer clear of practices like these:

• • Using alcohol, bleach or household cleaners that can damage plastic and electronic components.
  • Running water over hearing aids that aren’t designed to be rinsed.
  • Pushing wax deeper into microphone openings or speakers with sharp objects.
  • Cleaning the devices while the battery is installed or while they’re connected to a charger.
  • Using paper towels or rough fabrics that may leave lint behind or scratch the surface.
  • Ignoring worn wax filters or damaged domes instead of replacing them when needed.

When to See an Audiologist for Professional Cleaning and Checks

During a maintenance appointment, your audiologist also checks for worn filters, cracked tubing, loose receivers and other parts that gradually wear with use. Catching those problems early often prevents them from turning into larger repairs.

Professional visits aren’t only about cleaning the devices. Your audiologist also checks whether they’re still performing the way they did when they were fitted.

A hearing aid that sounds weak, cuts in and out or doesn’t seem as clear as it once did isn’t always dirty. Those changes can point to worn parts, moisture inside the device or hearing changes that call for an adjustment rather than a repair.

Keeping Your Hearing Aids Clean for Better Hearing

Hearing aids work hard every day, so regular care simply becomes part of owning them.

Cleaning them, storing them properly and noticing when something seems different all help keep small issues from turning into bigger ones. Once those tasks become routine, they take very little thought but continue to support the way your hearing aids perform.

No hearing aid stays in the same condition forever. Parts wear, wax builds up and your hearing may change over the years.

Keeping up with routine care and having your audiologist check your devices gives them the attention they need to continue working as expected. If you aren’t sure about how to clean you hearing aids schedule an appointment with an audiologist.