Hearing Aid Care, Batteries and Troubleshooting

The daily routine

Evening: after taking the aids out

1. Wash hands and dry them. Work over a table with a soft towel, so a dropped aid does not break. 2. Wipe the aid with a clean, dry, soft cloth or a tissue. 3. Brush the microphone openings and the receiver or tip gently with the small brush provided. Do not poke with pins or sharp objects. 4. Check the wax guard or filter on the sound outlet. Replace it if it looks dirty or blocked; see below. 5. Clean the earmould or dome: wipe soft domes; wash hard earmoulds as taught, disconnecting them from the aid and tube, in lukewarm water with mild soap, rinsing and drying fully with an air blower or leaving them to dry overnight. Never put the electronic part in water. 6. Open the battery door on disposable battery aids at night, so air circulates and the battery does not drain. 7. Place the aids in a dry box or dehumidifier, or a container with a drying capsule or desiccant, as the clinic suggests, away from heat and children. 8. For rechargeable aids, place them in the charger, check the light shows charging, and keep the charger plugged in a safe place.

Morning: before putting them in

1. Check the aid looks clean and the tube is not cracked or hardened. 2. Check the battery or charge. 3. Switch on and listen for a clear sound, and cup a hand over the aid to hear a gentle whistle, which suggests it is working. 4. Insert as taught, and check the fit.

Weekly and monthly care

• Weekly: a more thorough clean of the earmould, replace the wax guard if needed, wipe the battery contacts with a dry cloth, and check tubing for moisture.
• Monthly: inspect tubing for stiffness or cracks; many tubes need replacing every three to six months, as hardened tubes alter sound and cause feedback. Ask the clinic.
• Every three to six months: a professional clean and check, as advised. Annual servicing keeps the aid performing and detects early problems.
• Replace domes according to the clinic's schedule, often every one to three months, or sooner if torn, discoloured or loose.

Wax guards and filters

The tiny filter in the sound outlet traps wax. When it clogs, sound weakens or disappears, and many people think the aid has died.

• Use the tool and replacement guards supplied by the clinic, and follow the steps: remove the old guard with the tool, insert the new one and check it is seated.
• Replace as soon as sound drops, or weekly in people who produce a lot of wax.
• Do not push wax deeper into the sound outlet.
• Ask the audiologist for a demonstration, since models differ.

Excess ear wax can also block the ear itself; see ear wax and hearing: safe care.

Batteries

Disposable (zinc-air) batteries. Most come in standard sizes, each with a colour code on the pack: for example yellow, brown, orange or blue, in order of increasing size. Use the size that the aid requires.

• Peel the tab from a new battery and let it sit in the air for about a minute before use, to activate it.
• Insert with the flat, positive side up, in the right direction, and close the door gently. If it does not close, check the direction rather than forcing.
• Typical life is several days to about two weeks, depending on the size, the aid and the amount of streaming. A fading, weak or distorted sound, or a beep, suggests a dying battery.
• Keep spares in the original pack in a cool, dry place, not loose in a pocket or bag with keys or coins, which can short them.
• Do not refrigerate and do not use expired batteries.
• Dispose safely: discard used batteries in a collection bin where possible, and keep them away from children, pets and people with dementia.
• If swallowed, it is a medical emergency; call 112 or go to hospital at once and do not induce vomiting.
• For stiff fingers or poor eyesight, ask for a battery tool, a magnetic pick-up or a rechargeable model.

Rechargeable aids. Place them in the charger every night; the light or the aid's tone indicates charging. Check run time against your day. Replace the rechargeable cell or aid as the maker advises, since capacity falls over time. Power cuts may prevent charging; plan accordingly, with a power bank or spare disposable battery aids if the clinic provides them.

Moisture, sweat and the Indian climate

Humidity, sweat, rain and steam are the enemies of hearing aids.

• Do not wear aids in the shower, steam room, pool or heavy rain, and remove them before head-oiling, hair-dyeing or using spray.
• Dry overnight in a dry box or with desiccant, and replace desiccant as instructed. Silica gel packs need re-drying or replacement.
• Wipe sweat after hot walks and before bed. Use a hearing aid sweatband or cover if advised.
• Avoid leaving aids on bathroom shelves, kitchens, car dashboards, windowsills or in the sun.
• Keep them in a closed case when not worn, away from dust, monsoon damp and pests such as cockroaches and ants.
• If wet, switch off, open the battery door, remove the battery, wipe and dry with a soft cloth, and place in a dry kit for several hours. Do not use a hair dryer or oven, since heat can damage the electronics. Contact the clinic if sound does not return.

Hair oil, creams and sprays

Hair oil, creams, perfume and hairspray can clog microphones and earmoulds. Apply them before putting the aids in, and keep products away from the device. Wipe the aid afterwards.

Troubleshooting guide

The aid is dead or silent - Check it is switched on and the volume is up. - Replace the battery with a fresh one; check direction and tab. - For rechargeable aids, check charge and connection. - Replace the wax guard and check the tube or earmould for wax or moisture. - Check the aid for visible damage. - If still silent, take it to the clinic.

Sound is weak or muffled - Replace the wax guard and clean the dome or earmould. - Check the battery and tubing; blow out moisture in tubes with an air blower. - Check your parent's ears for wax; if the ear feels blocked, see a doctor, since wax or fluid may be the problem. - Ask for a hearing test if hearing may have changed.

Whistling or squealing (feedback) - Reseat the aid; check dome size and fit. - Check for ear wax. - Keep hands, hats and scarves away. - Check the tube is not cracked. - If it persists, the earmould may need remaking or the aid reprogramming.

Crackling or intermittent sound - Moisture or dirty battery contacts. Dry and clean. - A faulty connection or damaged receiver wire needs repair.

Distorted or too loud - Check the volume and programme setting, and whether the battery is low. - Ask the clinic to review the programming.

Aid keeps falling out - Check dome size and fit; ask about retention lines, a different dome or a custom mould.

Sore ear - Remove the aid and rest; if redness, pain or discharge persists, see a doctor. See the first weeks with a hearing aid: what to expect.

Rechargeable not holding charge - Check the charger and contacts; contact the clinic if the cell has aged.

What not to do

• Do not repair the aid yourself, open the casing or use glue.
• Do not use sharp objects to clean openings.
• Do not use alcohol or cleaning sprays on the electronics unless the maker recommends.
• Do not dry with heat.
• Do not ignore ear symptoms such as pain, discharge, a blocked feeling or sudden hearing change.

Keeping a care kit

Keep a small box with: the cleaning brush and cloth, spare wax guards and domes, spare batteries or charger, a dry kit, a battery tester or a note of the battery size, the clinic's phone number and the warranty card. Put it in a fixed place and teach family members and carers where it is. See care diary and handover notes.

Helping a parent who cannot manage

If your parent has arthritis, poor eyesight, tremor or dementia, caregivers may need to insert, remove and clean the aids. Ask the audiologist to teach the carer, and consider larger aids, rechargeable models and simpler controls; see dementia and medicines: managing safely for ideas on routines. Keep a checklist by the bedside.

When to ask a professional

Take the aids to the clinic if they are not working after the simple checks, if they need a deep clean or retubing, or if hearing seems to have changed. See an ENT doctor if there is ear pain, discharge, a blocked ear, bleeding or sudden hearing loss. Ask the audiologist about warranty and repair. Call 112 if a battery is swallowed, or for sudden hearing loss with weakness, facial droop, severe dizziness or confusion.