I don’t know about you, but I feel like I spend more time than I should trying to decide if I can get my belongings wet. This is where your Las Vegas audiologist has you covered by taking the guesswork out of it. Can you get your hearing aids wet? No.
Hearing aids are like any other electronic device: they can be easily damaged. Moisture, heat, earwax and dirt are the most common causes of this.
Routine Maintenance Procedures
Your Las Vegas audiologist will be the first to tell you about the importance of properly cleaning your hearing aids.
Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe all surfaces (read that: NO WATER). Do not use any solvents, cleaning fluids or alcohol. You should also invest in a multi-tool, which contains a wire loop and brush. These can help you remove all dust, dirt, debris or earwax from your device.
It is also important to prevent beauty products from getting on the device. You should apply hairspray and face lotion before you insert your hearing aids for the day. The same applies to showering and washing your face.
Troubleshooting Tips
Even if you follow the above advice, things can still go wrong with your hearing aids. Before you get in your car and drive all the way down to our Las Vegas office, we recommend trying to resolve the issues yourself by following the below tips.
- Do you hear a whistle or feedback? Your hearing aids may be inserted improperly. Try taking them out and reinserting them to see if that solves the problem. If not, earwax may have accumulated and clogged some of the ports. Try cleaning your hearing aids thoroughly with your multi-use tool.
- Do things sound distorted or unclear? If so, your battery may be dying or the connections may be dirty. Try cleaning the battery compartment and changing the battery. Sometimes simply opening and closing the battery compartment door will fix the issue. Also, double check that your hearing aids did not accidentally get switched to T-coil mode.
- Do you hear no sound at all? If so, your battery may be completely dead or debris is clogging the microphone or sound outlet. Simply replace the battery and clean the device.
If you follow these tips and are still experiencing issues, you will need to contact your Las Vegas audiologist and come into the office. We can help you troubleshoot the problem and repair the device if needed.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.