Modern hearing aids are small, clever and tougher than they look, but they spend their days in a warm, slightly damp and occasionally waxy place, and they take a fair bit of handling. Most of the repairs we see at our Wickersley clinic are not down to bad luck. They build up quietly over weeks and months from a few small things.
The reassuring part is that the large majority of those problems are preventable, and the habits that prevent them take only a minute or two a day. Here is what actually makes the difference.
Why do most hearing aid repairs happen?
Three culprits are behind nearly everything that lands on our workbench: moisture, earwax and the odd knock. Moisture works its way into the electronics. Earwax blocks the tiny sound outlet or clogs the filter. And a drop onto a hard floor, or a spell forgotten in a coat pocket, does the rest.
The good news is that none of these are mysterious, and most are either preventable or a quick fix rather than a full repair. A little daily care goes a very long way.
What should my daily routine look like?
You do not need a kit of special tools. A short, consistent routine each evening is worth far more than an occasional deep clean.
- Wipe them down every night with a dry, soft cloth or a clean tissue. Pay attention to the part that sits in your ear.
- Keep water away. No rinsing under the tap, no baby wipes, and no alcohol or household cleaners. These do more harm than the wax ever would.
- Let them breathe overnight. If yours take a battery, open the battery door before bed so any moisture can escape. Rechargeable models simply go on their charger.
- Store them somewhere cool and dry and out of the bathroom. A bedside drawer is ideal. A sunny windowsill or the top of a radiator is not.
How do I keep wax and moisture at bay?
Earwax is the single most common reason a hearing aid goes quiet, so this is where your effort pays off most.
- Change the wax filter when sound becomes faint or muffled. They clip in and out in seconds, and we are happy to show you how at a visit.
- Clean the dome or earmould gently with the little brush most aids come with, and check the tubing on behind-the-ear models for trapped moisture.
- Use a drying pot if you have naturally damp ears, work outdoors, or exercise a lot. It draws out overnight moisture that a cloth cannot reach.
- Take them out before showering, swimming, or using hairspray or perfume, then pop them back in once everything has settled.
Healthy ears make for happier hearing aids, too. If wax is building up faster than your aids can cope with, our gentle microsuction wax removal clears it safely, and a little routine ear care keeps things comfortable between visits.
What about batteries, charging and storage?
How you power your aids matters more than people expect.
- Rechargeable aids: keep the charging contacts and the charger itself free of dust, and make sure each aid is seated properly so it actually charges overnight. A half-charged aid that dies by teatime is usually a seating problem, not a fault.
- Battery aids: after peeling the tab off a new battery, wait a minute before closing the door so it can activate fully. If you are not wearing the aids for a few days, take the batteries out.
- Mind the temperature. Do not leave aids or batteries in a hot car, a cold porch or a steamy bathroom. Room temperature suits them best.
When should I bring them in?
If your aids start whistling and will not stop, cut in and out, sound quieter than usual, or crackle, try the basics first: a fresh wax filter, a clean dome, a wipe down and a night in a drying pot. More often than not, that sorts it, and you might not need us at all.
If it carries on, bring them to us. Many small jobs, such as retubing a behind-the-ear aid or a proper clean and check, are quick and straightforward, and we would far rather sort a niggle early than watch it turn into a bigger repair. We are also happy to service hearing aids bought elsewhere, whatever the make.
Not sure whether your aids need attention or just a good clean? book a hearing-aid consultation and bring them along, or call us on 01709 437250 and we will point you in the right direction.
