Hesperian Health Guides
How to take care of hearing aids
HealthWiki > Helping Children Who Are Deaf > Appendix A: Hearing Aids > How to take care of hearing aids
Here are some tips to get better service from a hearing aid
- Keep the hearing aid far away from electrical equipment such as refrigerators and televisions.
- Do not let it get very hot or very cold.
- Keep it dry — sweat or water will damage it. During the day, remove it and wipe off any sweat or moisture. Remove the hearing aid before bathing, swimming, or when out in the rain. At night, put the hearing aid in a container with silica gel (a material that absorbs moisture). Do not use perfumes or any sort of spray on the hearing aid.
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with the cloth.
with the cloth.
Cleaning
- Use a soft dry cloth to clean it. Never use any cleaning fluid.
Earmold
- Check for wax in the earmold regularly.
- Clean the ear mold with warm water.
Battery
- To make the battery last longer, turn the hearing aid off when it is not being used.
- Keep the battery clean, and remove it when the hearing aid is not being used for a length of time — for example, when a child sleeps at night.
- Change the battery regularly. To check if it is time to change the battery, turn the sound to the highest setting. If whistling is heard, the battery is okay. If not, it is time to get a new battery. If the battery loses power faster than usual, it may be a sign of a problem with the hearing aid.
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place. Bring a battery that has been kept in the refrigerator to room temperature before using.
Try to have the hearing aid checked at a hearing aid clinic or store periodically.
Hearing aids may need repair. Usually hearing aid repair can be done only in big cities. But deaf organizations have started training deaf people to take ear impressions, to make earmolds, and to repair hearing aids.
Common problems and solutions for hearing aids
Use this list to help you to check and fix some common problems with hearing aids. If the hearing aid still does not work, it may need to be repaired.
| If the hearing aid is "dead" |  | ||
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Switch on. | ||
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Replace battery. | ||
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Check that + and - signs on battery match those on hearing aid. | ||
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Replace cord. | ||
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Clean blockage in ear mold. | ||
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Remove battery, wipe clean, and put in case with silica gel. | ||
| If the sound is not loud enough | |||
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Replace battery. | ||
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Turn sound louder. | ||
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Insert carefully. | ||
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Clean blockage in ear mold. | ||
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Clean ear wax. | ||
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Check hearing. | ||
| If bothersome noises come and go | |||
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Replace battery. | ||
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Replace cord. | ||
| If there is a 'frying' noise | |||
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Replace battery. | ||
| If the sound is not clear, or is distorted | |||
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Replace battery. | ||
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Replace cord. | ||
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Expose microphone. | ||
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Clean with soft cloth or brush. | ||