Hearing Aid Cleaning Instructions

Considering the environment a hearing aid is expected to function in--a moist, warm, wax-producing ear--to function properly, hearing aids must be kept dry and clean when not being worn. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, proper maintenance and care will extend the life of your hearing aids. Proper care will also, according to Unitron Hearing, ensure the best performance quality possible from your hearing aids.

Microphone and Receiver

• Custom-Fit or In-the-Ear Hearing Aids:

  This type of hearing aid has a microphone located on the part of the aid that sits outside of the ear canal. Normally the microphone is located near the battery door, volume control or push button. Dry skin, wax and oils get on this area need to be brushed off. If the microphone gets clogged up, you will not hear anything from your hearing aid. You should have received a small brush with your aid; if not, use a soft toothbrush and gently brush over the entire area where the microphone is located. When brushing, face the area you are brushing toward the floor, so as you brush the debris falls away from the hearing aid.

  The receiver is the portion of the hearing aid that goes down into the ear canal. It needs cleaning as well. If it becomes completely clogged with wax, no sound will be heard from the aid. Hold the receiver end toward the floor and brush over it. Make sure to brush back and forth and also in circles over the receiver. The bristles will go into the receiver and sweep out any debris inside. Do not used compressed air or try to blow or suck anything out of the receiver. If you see a piece of wax stuck inside, take a sewing needle or safety pin and gently pick the piece of wax out of the receiver end. Most hearing-aid brushes have on the opposite end of the brush a pick that is used to remove pieces of wax lodged in the receiver.

  Most places that sell hearing aids offer free in-office cleaning. They use a special vacuum to clean the receiver and microphone. Professional cleaning should be done every four to six months.

  Open-Fit or Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aids:

  These types of hearing aids have a silicone piece that goes into the ear canal, and the aid is placed behind the ear. The piece that goes into the ear should be wiped with a tissue every time it's removed; this keeps wax and moisture from going into the tube of the instrument. Once a week, clean this silicone piece with an alcohol wipe. A hole on the end of this piece goes into the ear. This hole is where the sound comes out, and it must be kept clean. Use the pick side of a hearing-aid brush, a sewing needle or a safety pin to gently pick out wax from that hole. It's important with this type of aid to keep ear wax from going up into the tube that connects the aid to the silicone earpiece.

  The microphone is located on the aid by the on/off switch, volume control or push button. Use a hearing-aid brush or soft toothbrush to gently brush over this part of your aid. The receiver is located where the tube connects to the aid. Normally, a hook is shaped to fit over the top of the ear, and the receiver is under that hook. Little holes are on either side of the receiver; brush all around that area.

  Most places that sell hearing aids offer free in-office cleaning, behind-the-ear aids need to be professionally cleaned every four months. A professional needs to replace the tubing on them every four to six months.

Vent

• Most hearing aids have a vent; this is a hole that runs from the front of the hearing aid through to the end that goes in the ear. Hearing aids have venting to allow air and sound to travel in and out of the ear canal. When this vent gets full of wax, you will notice an echo to your voice or certain sounds. This vent should be cleaned out once a week, using a vent-cleaning tool, a toothbrush or a thin, long piece of plastic like those used to attach tags to clothing. The vent runs the whole length of the aid and has no components or wires in it to worry about damaging. To make sure you are cleaning the vent, look at the top of the aid, where the battery is. Look for a small round hole on one of the edges. Now flip the aid over, and you should see that same hole in the same place on the bottom. To clean, take the plastic piece and run it through the entire length of the vent, or take the toothbrush and brush both ends of the vent hole, making sure the bristles go in the hole.

  When you purchase a hearing aid, make sure to ask the hearing specialist how to clean your aid. Some aids have special wax filters on the receivers that must be changed, some may have no vent, and some have two microphones that need cleaning.

Drying

• Use a dri-aid kit or dry-and-store box for your hearing aids. Moisture kills hearing aids. Hearing aids last longer and work better if they are dried out at night. Ask your hearing specialist about a dri-aid kit or case. This device uses silicon to absorb the moisture out of the aids. They come in many different sizes and styles. Your hearing specialist can recommend which drying kit will work best for your type of hearing aid. When you take your aids for professional cleaning, ask about a dry chamber in the office; they can put your aids in for a few minutes and dry things out.