Your hearing aid plays a crucial role in maintaining your connection with others. It also enhances your daily life and overall well-being. However, dealing with malfunctions can leave you without your hearing aid for an extended period if the repairs are significant. While it’s not possible to completely avoid the need for repairs, you can take steps to minimize the time without your device and reduce the frequency of visits to your audiologist. Proper care and maintenance can help extend the life of your hearing aid and keep your routine running smoothly. Here are four ways to avoid hearing aid repairs.

Commit to Regular Cleaning and Remove Earwax Buildup

You’ll want to get in the habit of cleaning your hearing aid devices regularly to avoid repairs. You can simply wipe them down with a damp soft cloth. It’s an effective way to remove sweat, dirt and earwax buildup. Too much earwax buildup can clog them and reduce the sound quality. You can also remove earwax and prevent wax from accumulating inside the hearing aid by regularly cleaning the filter and wax guards. While you are cleaning your hearing aids it’s a chance to also check for any noticeable damage.

Replace the Batteries Frequently

To help avoid hearing aid repairs, it’s a good idea to replace the batteries regularly. You can also extend battery life and prevent it from draining by turning off your hearing aids when you’re not wearing them. When the batteries start to lose power, it’s time to replace them. To prevent corrosion, it’s helpful to remove the batteries from the hearing aids when they’re not in use. While the exact timing can vary, hearing aid batteries typically need to be replaced every three to 22 days.

Properly Store Your Hearing Aids

Properly storing your hearing aids is an important part of maintenance if you want to avoid repairs. It’s best to keep them in their case and store them in a dry place. Avoid handling them too much or leaving them where children or pets might get to them. It’s also important to keep your hearing aids away from moisture. For example, make sure to remove them before swimming, showering or engaging in activities that cause heavy sweating.

Schedule Routine Checkups and Inspections with Your Audiologist

Scheduling regular checkups with your audiologist can help in preventing hearing aid repairs. These visits give you a chance to learn more about proper maintenance and how to care for your hearing aids. During the appointment, your audiologist can clean your hearing aids, make any necessary adjustments and perform repairs if needed. They can also check for worn-out parts, like ear tips or tubing, and replace them if necessary.

These maintenance tips will help you keep your hearing aids in top condition over the years. It will be worth the effort since keeping up with these important tasks can also help prevent any damage from occurring. If you are not sure on how to clean your hearing aids or want to learn about hearing aid repairs schedule an appointment with an audiologist.