It's important to protect hearing aids from damage. Check and clean your hearing aid every day. This will help to keep it working for longer.
You can visit the National Hearing Aid Repair Centre every 3 to 6 months to have your device checked and cleaned. We can also help if a hearing aid is not working as usual, or has stopped working.
Get your HSE hearing aid checked or repaired
Tips for caring for a hearing aid:
- Handle the hearing aid with care.
- Store it in a safe place that's dry and cool.
- Change the batteries often so they do not suddenly run out of power.
- Switch your hearing aid off when you're not using it.
- Remove the battery if you do not use it for a long period of time.
- Clean the hearing aid using the small brush or the soft cloth that came with it.
- Clean the battery contacts often with a cotton swab, taking care not to bend the contacts.
Do not wear a hearing aid:
- in the shower
- while swimming
- when using a hair dryer, hair spray, or other types of spray
Cleaning your hearing aid
When you remove the hearing aid each day, wipe it off with a soft, dry cloth. Then inspect it to make sure there is no buildup of earwax.
Carefully remove any earwax you see. Most manufacturers provide you a tool to clean the hearing aid. This may be a brush, a wire pick, or a combination of both.
An old toothbrush also works well. Make sure that the tools you use are always clean before working on your aids.
After you clean your hearing aid, open the battery door and place the aids in the case. This reduces the buildup of moisture and makes the battery last longer.
Never insert tools into the sound outlet. This could damage the receiver. If you cannot clean the hearing aid completely, ask us for help.
Contact your local HSE audiology service or the HSE's National Hearing Aid Repair Centre for help.
Earwax
Earwax buildup on your hearing aid can:
- block sound to the ear
- cause whistling
- cause feedback
If you notice the volume on your hearing aid is becoming weak, a buildup of earwax may be the problem.
If you're still having trouble after checking the hearing aid, we can check it and try to repair it.
Ask your GP to have your ear canals checked or cleaned regularly.
Never try to remove earwax yourself. You could damage your ear.
Moisture
Water can damage the electronic circuitry in a hearing aid.
To protect a hearing aid, always remove it before:
- swimming
- showering
- bathing
- exercising
Dry any sweat from around your ears to protect the hearing aid.
Do not leave hearing aids in a bathroom as condensation can cause damage.
Batteries
Turn off your hearing aid when it's not in use. Make sure to keep extra batteries with you.
Remove a dead battery right away. This stops the battery from leaking and damaging the hearing aid.
The average lifetime of a hearing aid battery can vary. On average, they last around 7 to 10 days for 12 hours a day.
Replacing a battery
Do not take off the sealing label until you are ready to insert the battery into the hearing aid.
How to use a blower or puffer to remove moisture
A blower or puffer can remove moisture from the earmould or tube. These are available in most hearing aid shops.
Disconnect the tube from the hearing aid and insert the blower into the tube. Squeeze the blower 10 to 15 times to remove moisture from the tube.
Earmoulds
If you have an acrylic or silicone hearing aid, use a blower daily. This will remove any moisture from the tube of a behind-the-ear (BTE) aid.
You can also wash the earmould with mild soap and water. Disconnect the earmould from the aid before you wash it. Make sure the earmould is completely dry before attaching it to the hearing device again.
Replace the tubing every 3 to 6 months, or if it becomes hard or discoloured. When the tubing becomes hard, the sound becomes weaker.