How to care for your hearing aid?
Partial hearing loss significantly reduces the comfort of daily life. This is why people with hearing loss benefit from technological and medical advances that help them hear and function better. However, a hearing aid is a complex device that is sensitive to some external factors. How you can care for it so that it lasts as long as possible?
What is a hearing aid?
Hearing aids are not a given in modern medicine. These devices were used many years ago, but the level of technology at the time did not allow them to be used to their full potential. The digital era has brought a breakthrough in hearing care. Today’s hearing instruments are complex, highly sensitive structures, consisting of microphones, an amplifier, a receiver, a battery compartment, a housing, and controls.
Harnessing digital technology also makes these devices sensitive to certain activities. The cost of buying and fitting hearing instruments is relatively high, so it is important to ensure that they last as long as possible. Statistically, good quality hearing aids can last from five to seven years. This is dependent on m.in. from the model. You can extend this time if you take good care of the device.
How to handle your hearing aids?
Every hearing aid consists of physical parts and electronics. While the former are resistant to various factors, in the case of electronics can be said to be quite sensitive. Amfon’s hearing care professional tells you how to handle your device to avoid major malfunction or complete failure. Here are some basic rules.
- Protect your hearing instruments from moisture and strong shocks.
- When you are not wearing your hearing aids, store them in a special box for this purpose.
- In hot weather, often dry the camera and battery compartment.
- Do not leave the device in direct sunlight.
- If you are at the beach, protect it from sand and sea water.
- Remove the device before applying cream or other cosmetics to the skin.
- Avoid exposing your batteries to cold temperatures – carry your hearing aids in your pocket when out in the cold.
- Protect your appliance from sudden temperature changes.
- If you accidentally get your device wet, open the battery door, remove the cell and dry the inside.
- Make sure that you clean the earmolds regularly and gently, and let your hearing care professional check their condition periodically.
Drying hearing instruments is a basic maintenance task. For this purpose, you can choose a drying box in which you can also place special capsules. You can also use the latter yourself by placing it in a sealed container with your hearing aid. Capsules are less expensive and can be used repeatedly.