November 25, 2015

Ask the Audiologist

margaretBy Margaret Christiansen, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

Will my hearing aids ever break down or need to be repaired?

Like any piece of electronic equipment, hearing aids break down from time to time. The frequency of hearing aid break down varies greatly depending on a number of factors including age of the hearing aid, wearing practices, and cleaning routines. While careful use and care of your hearing aids will help reduce problems with your aids, the need for occasional hearing aid repairs will arise.

Hearing aids are small computers that we wear all day and in lots of different environments. They are subjected to changes in temperature and humidity, which introduce moisture into the components of the hearing aids. Hearing aids are also subjected to ear wax, which can make its way into the hearing aid and cause problems. To reduce the problems you experience, it is important to be diligent with the care and maintenance of your hearing aids.  The most important things you can do are:

  • Clean your hearing aids on a daily basis. Your audiologist can demonstrate proper cleaning technique to make sure ear wax and build up is removed from your hearing aids daily.
  • Handle your aids with care. Hearing aids are fragile and dropping them on hard surfaces can damage the shell or dislodge parts.
  • Be mindful of when you wear your hearing aids.  While consistent hearing aid use is encouraged, it is also important to consider what environments you are in when you wear your hearing aids. For example, wearing your hearing aids while exercising is likely to introduce moisture into the components of your hearing aids (through increased body heat and perspiration) and will increase the likelihood of hearing aid problems.
  • If moisture continues to be a problem with hearing aids, use of a drying system like a Dry & Store could be considered.

New hearing aids come with a warranty, typically ranging from one to three years, that covers basic hearing aid repairs.  It is not uncommon to see increased hearing aid repairs with older hearing aids. While it is rare a hearing aid can’t be repaired, the age of the hearing aid is something to be considered when deciding whether to repair or replace a hearing aid.  Most hearing aids last approximately five to seven years.

If you have questions regarding proper care or cleaning procedures for your hearing aids, consult your audiologist for more helpful hints!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness

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