Mon - Friday

8:00am - 5:00pm

Find Your

Location

Request an

Appointment

Care and Maintenance

Care and Maintenance

In order to maintain your hearing devices in good condition, it is important to follow some device care guidelines. Daily care and attention will prolong the life of a hearing instrument.

  • Keep the hearing aid shell as clean as possible, but do not immerse it in any liquid.
  • Wipe it daily with a soft, lint free cloth. Clean the receiver and vent openings with the proper cleaning tool. This is best done in the morning before inserting the hearing aid as any wax left in the aid will be dry and flake away easily. A wax loop may be used to remove wax from the receiver tube, but be sure not to push wax deeper into the hearing aid. Do not use pins, toothpicks, or other sharp objects.
  • Turn the hearing aid off when not in use overnight. Open the battery door to allow any accumulated moisture to dry.
  • Store in a safe place – preferably in the protective case provided by the dispenser. Always keep the battery compartment clean and dry. Do not store the hearing instruments with the battery inserted for an extended length of time. Remove the battery and store the hearing instrument in a dry place.
  • Never use hair spray while hearing aids are being worn. Also, protect the hearing aid from perspiration, oils, etc.  Do not expose a hearing instrument to excessive moisture, humidity, or steam.
  • Do not wear a hearing instrument while bathing, showering, or swimming. Keep hearing instruments away from heat sources such as stoves, heat registers, hair dryers, or open flame. Keep them away from sunlight and do not use a blow dryer to dry them out.
  • Handle hearing aids over a soft surface such as a pillow, towel, etc. (avoid dropping them on hard surfaces).
  • Remove the hearing aid for MRI, CT scan, or other electromagnetic procedures.
  • On BTE’s, avoid removing an earmold by the tubing. This will eventually stretch or loosen the tubing and result in feedback.

Check Your Hearing Aid

Visually check the aid in the ear.

Check that the hearing aid/earmold is properly inserted and well fitting. See that the volume control is properly set and that the on/off switch is in the “M”/on position.  (To double check, ask if they’re balanced, cover your mouth and ask them a question to test, etc.)

Attach the hearing aid to a listening the stethoscope.

(If Available) Seal the plastic tip of the stethoscope to the end of the earmold or end of the hearing aid. Turn the volume control wheel up and down slowly while talking, listening for scratchiness, dead spots, or distorted sound.

Visually inspect the aid.

Check the plastic tubing for possible stiffness, pinholes, or cracks. Also, make sure that the tubing is clear of moisture and ear wax. Check the aid to see if there are any cracks in the casing, or if the volume wheel, microphone, or receiver area are dirty.

 

Set the controls.

For behind-the-ear hearing aids, set the switch on the back to “M” for microphone and set the volume on the lowest setting. For in-the-ear hearing aids, there is no “M” switch – just adjust the volume wheel.

Assure battery is inserted in the aid.

Be sure it is inserted correctly and there is no corrosion in the battery compartment. Insert a new battery if the current battery is weak or dead.

Call Us Today For Device Assistance!

We have served your friends and neighbors in North Dakota since 1983. Professional Hearing Services looks forward to treating you with the best care and quality. Visit us soon.