Build Your Own Hearing Aid Maintenance Kit

All hearing aids need maintaining, but how do you know where to start? In this blog post we give you advice on the vital pieces of kit you need to build your own hearing aid maintenance kit.

Why do I need to maintain my Hearing Aid?

In addition to being a potentially expensive investment, every hearing aid is a delicate piece of equipment that needs to be properly maintained in order to perform to its best capacity and deliver the results that the wearer expects. After the purchase and initial adjustment from your audiologist, it is your responsibility to provide protection and care for the hearing aid and all its parts. You need to make sure that the device is functioning correctly, clean it regularly, replace components if needed, use the appropriate type of batteries and avoid exposing it to excessive heat and moisture. To guarantee that your hearing aid will serve you in the best possible way for many years, it is good to equip yourself with some basic hearing aid accessories. That way, you can build your own maintenance kit and be prepared for daily care and emergencies.

Quick Hearing Aid Maintenance Checklist

1. Have you cleaned your hearing aid recently?
2. Do you have spare replacement parts to hand, e.g. wax filters?
3. Are the batteries fresh?
4. Are you storing it in a safe place when it's not in use?

Read on for more details.

Cleaning your Hearing Aid

Regardless of the type and model of the hearing aid you have, cleaning it should be a priority. There are various cleaning and hygiene products available to choose from to keep your hearing aid free from debris, dust, earwax and moisture. Essentials include cleaning wipes to gently remove dirt, antibacterial cleaning pens for delicate parts, flexible cleaning wires for removing debris from thin tubes and hearing aid brushes. In addition, you should consider an air puffer and dehumidifier to take away or absorb any moisture accumulated during the day or a certain activity as it may be detrimental to your device’s electronics. You can get all of these together in a Hearing Aid Cleaning Kit.

What spare parts should you have?

Another important aspect to consider when taking care of your hearing aid is its separate parts. If you have a behind the ear hearing aid, you should know that you need to replace components such as tubing and domes on a regular basis as they wear out with time, can deform or crack. Along with cleaning them with the appropriate tools, every few months you will need to buy new ones. To have spare parts in case of emergency such as a sudden tearing or breaking as well as to save yourself some expense, you can purchase a whole pack of the domes or tubing you need. There are different kits available, with the same or a variety of components for the different hearing aid models. You should also replace your Wax Guards/Filters regularly. They can clog up and affect the quality of sound you receive in your ear faster than you think.

How do you know if the Batteries are fresh?

Batteries are an integral part of the hearing aid. Many manufacturers produce batteries and you may need to test different brands to find the ones you like. All batteries have a number and colour indication so you know which are suitable for the type of hearing aid you have. You should be careful to use only new batteries and make sure there is no corrosion and moisture in the battery compartment as it can damage the hearing aid. Accessories you can use to protect and test your batteries are for example the small and light Rayovac Battery Caddy that can store up to 6 batteries or Rayovac Battery Tester with an LCD display showing the remaining power in the batteries and having space for two spare ones.

What is a safe way to Store a Hearing Aid

Proper storage is a vital part of hearing aid maintenance, and is the best way to avoid problems with your hearing aid. There are storage solutions available whether you are travelling or at home and for all budgets. So, if you aren't using your hearing aid then it should be put away safely in its case or a dehumidifier. Hearing aids that are left out are vulnerable to being broken, played with by children or pets, and getting dirty and wet.

Further information

If your hearing aid has been damaged then it might be repairable. Our page on hearing aid repairs explains how we can help repair your hearing aid (including our 12-month warranty).

We also have useful posts on our blog which may interest you:

• Hearing Aid Cleaning
• Which Hearing Aid Batteries are Best?
• 5 Reasons to use a Storage Case for your Hearing Aid

About Hearing Direct

We are one of the world's leading hearing aid specialists. HearingDirect offers a wide range of affordable products, and information resources to help improve the quality of life for the hard of hearing. We sell:

• Hearing aids,
• Batteries,
• Accessories such as earplugs,
• and amplified devices such as super loud alarm clocks and amplified phones.

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Author: Stuart Canterbury

Stuart joined the hearing aid industry just at the start of the digital revolution in the mid 1990s. He was part of a team that transformed one of the minor manufacturers in to a major player in both production and retail of high technology hearing aids. This journey included working on public / private programmes to accelerate the uptake of high technology hearing aids across a wide distribution. This passion for improving the value and access to good quality hearing lead to the foundation of HearingDirect. After almost a decade and hundreds of thousands of customers we are starting to establish online sales as a practical, cost-effective channel to provide great hearing to all those who need help.