Hearing Aid Care and Maintainance

To ensure optimal performance of your hearing aid, daily maintenance is of the utmost importance. Cleaning your hearing aid every day results in retaining the best hearing conditions for your hearing loss type, maintains proper hygiene, and helps to make your hearing aid last a longtime.

Cleaning Your CIC Hearing aid:

After removing your CIC hearing aids, carefully wipe them down with a dry soft cloth or tissue. Ear wax build up will need to be removed, using the tools provided by your manufacturer. Open the battery door and place the hearing aids in their case, allowing air to enter the device to reduce moisture that may have accumulated while the aids were in the ear canal. Doing this helps to prolong battery life.

Cleaning your BTE Hearing Aid:

There is an earmold, which is made of Lucite or silicone, that can be washed with mild soap and water. The earmold can be disconnected from the hearing and placed in a soapy bath for a few minutes. Make sure the earmold is dry and that the earmold tubing has no trapped water inside. If there is, just blow on the end of the tubing to clear the water before reattaching the earmold to the hearing aid. Have the tubing replaced every 3-6 months, as it loses its flexibility.

Do not use solvents or alcohol to clean, as they can breakdown the hearing aid material. There are special sprays you can purchase that are designed specifically for the cleaning and disinfecting of hearing aids.

Don't allow them to become wet, or exposed to extreme heat.

• Handle your hearing aid with care.


• Store your hearing aid in a safe place that's dry and cool.


• Change the batteries often so they don't suddenly run out of power.


• Switch off your hearing aid when you're not using it. If you don't use it for a long period of time, remove the battery.


• Battery contacts should be cleaned regularly. Use a cotton swab, taking care not to bend the contacts. Dirty battery contacts can cause improper device function.


• Remove earwax from your hearing aid to prevent temporary malfunction or permanent damage.


• Clean your hearing aid using the small brush or the soft cloth that came with it. Never insert tools into the sound outlet. Doing so could damage the receiver. If you can't clean the hearing aid completely, ask your hearing professional for help.


• Change filters often so they don't collect wax or dirt.


• Accumulated earwax may prevent sounds from traveling from the hearing aid into the middle ear. Contact your doctor regularly to have your ear canals cleaned. Never remove the earwax from the ear yourself. Doing so could damage your ear.


• Don't wear your hearing aid:


• in the shower


• swimming


• when using a hair dryer, hair spray or other types of spray

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT