5 Essential Tools For Cleaning Your Hearing Aid

Most hearing aids consist of three components, which are a speaker, amplifier and microphone. Since these devices are both costly and fragile, hearing aid cleaning can be accomplished with the following five tools will ensure it lasts a long time.

Hearing Aid Sanitizers and Dehumidifiers

Moisture can accumulate in multiple regions of a hearing aid, particularly if you reside in a region that is humid. This liquid can block tubing which prevents the sound from getting through, while potentially damaging costly electronics. Devices that can prevent this include:

• Dry Box with UV Cleaner: Electronic dehumidifiers apply heat and UV light for the destruction of viruses, bacteria and other unwanted microorganisms. They also differ from standard dryers since they will sanitize and clean the hearing aid.
• Dehumidifier Jar: These consist of drying cups that are battery-powered or non-electric that use desiccant substances that will absorb condensation, sweat and other moisture types. The desiccant may appear in numerous forms, which range from beads to discs or linings.

Wax Brush and Loop

The majority of hearing aids come with a device called a wax brush and wire. These devices are also designed to get rid of earwax as it accumulates. Should the earmold, tip or tubing become clogged, this will disrupt the sound quality, and some manufacturers have developed cleaning tools that use a shortened wax loop or extended wax wire. The brush can be used for gently cleaning the microphone.

Wax Traps

Also referred to as wax filters or wax guards, these components fit inside the receiver. Their purpose is to stop debris, moisture and wax from entering the hearing aid and causing a malfunction. However, wax traps feature tiny holes that will become clogged up which weakens sound, which is a sign that they must be changed.

The level of wax made by your ear will determine how often wax traps must be changed. For some users, this will be every two weeks, while for others it might be a few months. Some models also require specific tools to insert and remove. Purchasing an earwax remover device will keep the wax out of your ear and reduce the frequency of wax trap replacement.

Air Blower

If you sweat frequently or you notice the area around the hearing aid frequently becomes wet, moisture could obstruct the opening within the tubing and tips. Water will also tend to accumulate when an earmold doesn’t utilize vent holes. Should this occur, one device that you’ll want to consider purchasing is the air blower. Tubed air blowers function by forcing debris and condensation outside the hearing aid. 

Cleaning Wipe and Spray

There are wipes and sprays available which can be used to deodorize and cleanse hearing aid components. A lot of such cleaners utilize disinfectants which will efficiently destroy fungi, viruses and bacteria that appear in the earpieces. You’ll definitely want to avoid using alcohol or water to clean the hearing devices since they might damage their sensitive electrical components. Rather, apply a microfiber cloth to wipe the contaminants away.