4 Causes of Hearing Aid Repairs

Hearings aids are small and incredibly vulnerable devices. While larger hearing aids may be protected, they’re still susceptible to damage and are very fragile. Your audiologist will likely go through some of the most common care tips that can help you keep them in good shape, but you should keep in mind that there are many potential faults that could occur and ruin your hearing aids.

To help you avoid some of the most common causes of hearing aid repairs, we’re going to explain four cases that most audiologists deal with on a daily basis.

1. Earwax building up

Earwax buildup is a common problem for most people that use hearing aids. This is because the hearing aids can easily be damaged by things like dust, dirt and moisture. They’re small and fragile devices and your earwax can easily build up in the important tubing of your hearing aids. This can cause them to malfunction, it can cause blockages that reduce the quality of the sound coming to your ear and improper cleaning tools can cause additional damage. In addition to cleaning your hearing aids, make sure to clean your ears with a warm, damp washcloth while showering or bathing.

2. Damage from moisture

Moisture is the enemy to all electronics. Not a single electronic works well when it's being attacked by moisture and your ear, especially if you engage in activities such as sports, can quickly build up moisture. Most hearing aids are resistant to some degree of water and moisture. However, if you have to use your hearing aids when they are susceptible to moisture, then make sure you dry them. The best way to dry off hearing aids that have been in moist environments, such as a sweaty basketball game or surprising downpour, is to place them in a drying case, available through your audiologist or hearing aid manufacturer. Do not use a blow dryer to dry out your hearing aids — the exposure to heat could cause additional damage.

3. Mistreating the devices

Dropping your hearing aids or sitting on them occur more often than you might think. They’re small devices, after all, and they can be vulnerable if left in the open or forgotten. The best practice for when you’re not wearing your hearing aids is to store them in a hard-covered case that will keep them protected from drops or the like. Practice taking better care of your hearing aids and keep in mind that they are expensive to repair.

4. Forgetting to take them out

Hearing aids become incredibly important parts of our lives, but it’s still a good idea to take them out and remind yourself that there are some situations where you shouldn’t be wearing them. For example, some people find it useful to have their hearing aids when working out or exercising, but this can easily lead to moisture damage and dirt buildup. If you absolutely need them for these types of situations, then tell your audiologist so they can pick a suitable hearing aid for your activities. Remember to take them out when you sleep so you don’t lean on them and break them, and remember to take them out if it’s raining or at least use an umbrella to keep them dry.