How to Prevent Physical Hearing Aid Damages

Hearing aids are real little miracles of technology. They may be in-the-ear (ITE), behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids and have complex workings. Ultimately, they are nothing more than computers in miniature format and can be worn inconspicuously on the ear. Hearing aids are extremely susceptible to water, dirt, sweat, earwax, and bacteria. Here are some tips on preventing costly hearing aid damage. 

How do hearing aids get dirty?

Soiling of the earmolds and in the sound tube can occur in various ways: House dust, skincare creams, sprays, sweat and, above all, earwax are only the most obvious types of dirt that inevitably stick to the hearing aid during the day. However, there are also invisible enemies such as pollen, microorganisms and bacteria. The consequences are not only visually unattractive. 

The dirt can clog up due to such deposits, the microphone inputs on the ear can stick, and, over time, the functionality can be massively impaired. Proper cleaning and care of the hearing aids are therefore essential. Here you will find tips on how to properly clean hearing systems and prevent problems. Humidity and heat are harmful to hearing aids. It should therefore never be stored in the bathroom and always in suitable containers

How do you prevent contamination?

Everyday soiling is quite normal and in principle cannot be prevented at all. However, you can prevent all of this a good bit by being all the more careful with your hearing aids. You should take the hearing aid off before showering, applying make-up or blow-drying, and ideally not store it in a damp bathroom at all. 

Likewise, storage locations that are too warm should be avoided, such as near a heater or in locations with intense sunlight. The best thing to do is to set up a safe place for your hearing aid and its case in a small, drywall cabinet – this way, house dust does not have any open surface to attack.

What can you do to care for and clean your hearing aids?

Hear better with professional products: There are now a large number of tools that you can use to care for and clean your hearing aid. This may range from special cloths and tablets to sprays and brushes.

For basic cleaning and care, the following procedure can be used, for example:

1. Thoroughly disinfect the hearing aid with an antibacterial cleaning spray. An integrated brush cleans even hard-to-reach areas.
2. Carefully clean the hearing aid by hand with a dry, soft cloth.
3. Put the sound tube and earmolds (otoplasty) together with a special tablet in a cleaning beaker. Thanks to the active oxygen it contains, you can achieve perfect cleaning for every device.

How often should the hearing aid be cleaned?

Since you use your hearing aid daily, all kinds of dirt and other debris collect on and in the device. You should therefore check your hearing aid every day for any soiling. You can also clean your hearing aid daily to help significantly extend the service life and maintain optimal function.