Caring for Your Hearing Aid

Even the cheapest hearing aid on the market could be considered expensive by anyone who isn't swimming in a pool filled with gold coins. Therefore, it only makes sense to take care of your investment. You don't want to have to replace your device before its natural lifespan is up. One disadvantage of moving into the digital age (some might say the only disadvantage) is that today's devices and electronics are a bit less durable than the analog dinosaurs of decades past. That means you have to be extra cautious when it comes to their care. Here are some helpful tips that will extend the life of your listening device.

Let It Dry

Few people sleep in their hearing aid and, if you do, you might consider changing that habit. You'll probably get a better evening of rest by taking it out, anyway. Plus, the device itself needs to air out a bit. Moisture is no friend to a working device. Take it out, go through your cleaning ritual, and let it sit open for the duration of the night. When you come back to it in the morning, it will be clean and dry, which is just what you need for a day of taking on the world again.

Dehumidifier

Once again, we're tackling the problem of moisture. If leaving your device out on the counter all night isn't enough to get rid of the moisture buildup, you might consider buying a special dehumidifier just for that purpose. This is especially useful for those who live in tropical climates where moisture and humidity is always an issue. Those who make their residence in Florida certainly know what that's all about.

Watch the Temperature

Electronics like a moderated temperature to function correctly and a hearing aid is no different in that regard. Therefore, you should be careful about leaving your device in a situation where it will be exposed to extreme temperatures. In other words, don't leave it in a hot car to bake for an hour or in a freezer (for whatever reason you might think that was a good idea).

Watch the Hair Styling Products

Hair spray and mousse are very hard to keep out of the sensitive microphones of the hearing aid...unless you take it out before styling your hair. Which is exactly what you should be doing. If you use any product in your hair, simply set your device off to the side until you are finished with the process. Gel and hair spray may make you look exactly how you want to look, but it won't do much for your ability to hear.