How to Restore Hearing AIDS

Hearing aids need to be cleaned daily (at home) and professionally cleaned every four to six months. Earwax, moisture, dirt and debris get trapped in the delicate external microphone and receiver of your hearing aid. These trapped particles slowly destroy the protective screens that manufacturers use in hearing aid microphones and receivers. When moisture, earwax and other debris get into the microphone or receiver of your hearing aid, the hearing aid stops working. Simply cleaning a hearing aid could restore function; however, older hearing aids may require professional repair.

Things You'll Need

• Soft toothbrush
• Sewing needle
• Rubbing alcohol

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Instructions

Hearing Aid Care

• 1

  Clean the outside parts of your hearing aid. Use the original cleaning tools given to you with your hearing aid or a small soft toothbrush and a sewing needle.

  On the end of your hearing aid (the portion that fits into your ear canal), you should see small openings. This is the receiver end of your hearing aid, where sound comes out. Use the soft toothbrush and gently brush over these openings. Make sure to hold the openings down towards the floor so the debris you brush out falls away from the hearing aid.

  Flip the hearing aid over and brush the opposite end gently with the soft toothbrush, allowing debris to fall towards the floor.

  Flip the hearing aid back over so you can see the portion that fits into your ear canal. Use the sewing needle or the original hearing aid pick tool to gently pick out any debris visible in the receiver holes. The hearing-aid receiver sits about a quarter of an inch down in the hole. You don't want to push on the receiver; only pick into your hearing aid a quarter of an inch or less. Face the receiver holes back down towards the floor and repeat brushing.

• 2

  Place a fresh battery into your hearing aid and test it for sound. A new hearing aid battery only lasts for 7 to 14 days, even if you're not using the hearing aid.

• 3

  Dip the tip of a sewing needle or the original hearing aid pick tool into rubbing alcohol before using it to clean the receiver hole of your hearing aid. Very small amounts of rubbing alcohol, used in the receiver hole of your hearing aid, help dissolve built-up wax particles and restore your hearing aid's receiver.

• 4

  Have your hearing aid professionally cleaned. This service may be free (by appointment) where you purchased your hearing aid. Local clinics selling the same brand hearing aid as yours may also offer free in-office cleaning.

• 5

  Take your hearing aid to your hearing healthcare provider's office. If your hearing aid is under warranty, attempting home repair will void your warranty. Always opt for professional repair and restoration if free of charge.

• 6

  Have a new receiver and microphone put into your hearing aid. This repair has to be professionally done. Local hearing-aid clinics offer repair services. Hearing aid manufactuers offer mail-in repair service and can be found online. (See Resource 1 for a mail-in hearing-aid repair option.) Hearing-aid repair charges can range from $100 to $300 per hearing aid. You should receive a 6- to 12-month warranty on a repaired hearing aid.

• 7

  Consider upgrading to newer technology. If the hearing aid you're trying to restore is over 10 years old, it may not be worth the trouble. Hearing-aid technology has advanced greatly. Low-end technology on the market today was considered high-end 10 years ago. You can purchase a low-end digital hearing aid for between $500.00 and $1000.00. You may benefit more from investing in a new hearing aid versus repairing outdated technology.