Hearing aids may be tiny, but their impact is huge, so setting aside a little time each day to clean and maintain them is vital. Just a few minutes is all it takes to keep them working properly and ensure you can keep on being you.

Packed with technology, hearing aids work hard to enhance the sound of the world around us. Let’s take a look at the cleaning and maintenance steps we should be taking to give  the best possible hearing experience and keep our hearing health in tip top condition.

Take preventative steps

Let’s begin with perhaps the most practical and effective piece of advice for hearing aid cleaning and maintenance- which is to look after the skin in and around your ears and keep it as clean as possible. Much of the debris that builds up on your hearing aid device comes from your skin. By debris, we mean the wax, oils, hairs, flakes and perspiration your skin naturally produces throughout the day. 

As these secretions can build up quite quickly, especially during periods of warm weather, keeping your ears clean can help reduce build up and make cleaning your hearing aids less challenging. Build-ups of debris affect the performance of hearing devices and, if not cleaned properly, could even cause permanent damage to the delicate technology within, meaning you may have to replace it sooner. So, that’s why at Discretion Hearing we recommend preventive care, like an effective ear-cleaning routine as an important part of hearing aid maintenance. 

Hearing aid hygiene keeps infections at bay

To work properly, hearing aids need to fit well in the contours of your ear and, naturally, this means they have to be in contact with your skin. When wax and sweat begin to build up, it can make your ear itch which, of course, you’re going to want to scratch.

Unfortunately, dirt from under your fingernails can get into the mix and create a perfect storm of bacteria leading to soreness and infection. By keeping your hearing aid clean, and your fingers away from your ears, you’re creating a hygienic environment that will make infection less likely.

How to clean your hearing aids

The specific cleaning requirements of your hearing aid depends on the type of device you have. At your fitting appointment, a member of the Discretion Hearing team will show you how to clean your hearing device as well as run through some maintenance dos and don’ts. However, as a general guide, we’ve outlined below how to clean and maintain in-ear buds (ITC) and behind the ear (BTE) models.

What you will need before you start to clean your hearing aid:

• Plain, clean cloth to place your device and materials on during the cleaning process
• Soft hearing aid brush. This will remove debris from the surface of your hearing aid and also get into some of the small holes
• Wax loop or pick
• Microfibre cloth
• Replacement Wax Filters

Cleaning your in-ear bud (ITC) hearing aid

Let’s take a look at the steps needed to clean and care for your device.

• Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you start
• Place your clean cloth down on a hard surface which has been sanitised and allowed to dry. As well as being hygienic, having a surface to work on keeps all the components together and makes losing parts less likely
• Wipe over the exterior with a disinfectant wipe suited to this type of equipment
• Use the soft brush to gently clear away ear wax and other debris from the outside of your hearing aid. Pay particular attention to filter and microphone covers, remembering to brush lightly
• For any bits of wax which didn’t come away by brushing, use the pick to ease them away. Use this same tool to clean all the way through the vent. Don’t use it to pick debris from the filter as this could cause permanent damage
• Finish off by giving the exterior a light buff with a microfibre cloth to remove any last traces of wax, dust and grease

Additional maintenance checks

As part of your weekly clean, run a check of the battery and replace as necessary. This is also a good time to inspect for any signs of wear and tear. If your hearing aid isn’t working well even after a battery change, or is showing signs of damage, you should make an appointment so that we can take a closer look at your device and hearing health.

Cleaning your behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid (moulds)

Care for this type of device differs slightly. Let’s look at how to safely clean your behind the ear device.

• Wash and dry your hands
• Place your clean cloth – one you use only for this job – down on a clean, dry work surface
• For a once-weekly clean of the mould and tubing, first remove from the body of your hearing aid and soak in a bowl of clean, lukewarm, soapy water. Once clean, shake out any water droplets and leave to dry overnight
• Replace the wax filter following the instructions found with your hearing aids
• With the brush, gently remove any traces of wax and debris from the microphone
• Wipe down the exterior with a suitable disinfectant wipe and carefully buff dry with a microfibre cloth
• When you are sure everything is dry, reassemble and turn your device on to check it is working properly

Additional maintenance checks

Examine the tubing and replace if you find any brittleness, blockages or discolouration. If the mould isn’t fitting properly in your ear and is causing discomfort and irritation, get in touch. As part of our after-care service, we’ll put this right.

Hearing aid cleaning and maintenance dos and don’ts

• Do get into a routine of cleaning your hearing aid and storing it in the same place. You’re less likely to mislay it meaning you can get on with your day without the panic of last-minute searches
• Do store it inside the case supplied. It’ll keep it safe from curious young children and pets
• To help extend battery life, when replacing the battery, wait for five minutes after removing the protective film before inserting it into your device. 
• Don’t use cleaning solvents as they’re too harsh and could damage your device
• Don’t wear it while washing your face or store it in a bathroom. Condensation could form inside your hearing aid leading to damage
• Don’t apply hairspray when wearing your device. Remove it and replace once you’ve finished getting ready

How often should you clean your hearing aid?

Having a clean hearing aid means having a clear, unmuffled hearing experience so, to achieve this, we recommend a light daily clean with a more thorough clean done once a week. Doing this, ideally before you go to bed at night, will enable you to have a crystal clear start to the following day.

Get in touch

To discover more about the advancements made in hearing aid technology, including Bluetooth technology, and the best way of caring for your specific type of hearing device, get in touch with us today.