Maintaining Hearing Health: The Essential Guide to Hearing Aid Maintenance

July 12, 2024

Ever wonder how to keep your hearing aids working their best for longer? This guide will show you the essential tips for hearing aid care and maintenance to preserve the functionality and longevity of your hearing devices. Proper care is crucial in ensuring that your hearing aids continue to deliver optimal performance, enhancing your overall hearing experience. Please note that the information in this blog is intended for general knowledge only. It should not substitute for professional advice from a qualified hearing healthcare professional.

Why is Regular Maintenance and Cleaning of Hearing Aids Important?

Hearing aids are sophisticated electronic devices that require regular care to function properly throughout their lifespan. Over time, earwax, debris, and moisture buildup can accumulate, potentially leading to malfunctions or decreased sound quality.

As such, regular maintenance is the cornerstone of preserving the functionality and performance of your hearing aids. By adhering to a consistent care routine, you minimise the risk of malfunctions and the need for costly repairs. Furthermore, regular maintenance enhances your satisfaction and overall quality of life, ensuring you can fully enjoy the benefits of improved hearing.

A consistent cleaning routine helps remove these contaminants and prevents them from impacting your listening experience. If you are wondering, “How often should I clean and maintain my hearing aids?” there are two main aspects to hearing aid maintenance:

Daily Cleaning: A quick cleaning routine performed each day helps remove earwax and debris that can accumulate during use.
Weekly Maintenance Procedures: Besides daily cleaning, a more thorough cleaning is recommended once a week to remove any deeper buildup and ensure optimal performance of your hearing aids.

3 Steps for Your Daily Cleaning Routine

Starting your day with a quick cleaning routine can be a valuable practice for maintaining your hearing aids. This routine helps ensure they function properly throughout the day. Here’s how to perform a daily clean:

Gently Debris Removal: Use a soft brush specifically designed for hearing aids to carefully remove any wax or buildup from the microphone and receiver openings, battery compartment (if applicable), and tubing (if your hearing aids have them).
Targeted Cleaning: Consider using a hearing aid cleaning solution or wipes recommended by your hearing healthcare professional for more thorough cleaning. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safe and effective cleaning.
Visual Inspection: Take a moment to inspect your hearing aids for any signs of moisture damage or physical imperfections. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent further problems.

Remember: Consistent daily cleaning is a simple habit that can potentially impact the longevity and performance of your hearing aids.

Weekly Maintenance Procedures

Regular weekly maintenance is essential for keeping your hearing aids in top condition. Manufacturer’s instructions typically provide detailed cleaning guidelines. Following these recommendations and employing specialised cleaning solutions recommended by your hearing healthcare professional will effectively cleanse your devices.

Aside from that, regularly examining wax guards and filters is also important. You may exchange them when necessary to prevent blockages and maintain clear sound transmission. Additionally, familiarise yourself with troubleshooting techniques for common issues such as weak hearing aid battery life. This can help ensure the uninterrupted functionality of your hearing aids.

Monthly Check-Ups and Fine-Tuning

Scheduling monthly check-ups with your audiologist specialist is paramount for the ongoing health and performance of your hearing aids.

These professional assessments can detect any underlying issues early on and ensure timely intervention. Gain insights into effective battery maintenance strategies to avoid interruptions in hearing aid usage. Engage in discussions with your audiologist regarding hearing aid fine-tuning for optimal performance tailored to your individual needs.

Establish a Hearing Aid Maintenance and Fine-Tuning Routine

a man receiving hearing aid fine-tuning service

Overall, prioritising the care and maintenance of your hearing aids is essential for maximising their lifespan and performance. Following the tips outlined in this guide may help you get your hearing aids to continue delivering optimal results for years to come, but do remember to consult with a qualified audiologist. They can provide personalised advice on the best hearing aid care practices tailored to your specific needs, as well as what kinds of hearing aid you may use.

Listening Lab is dedicated to supporting your journey towards better hearing. We offer hearing aid care and maintenance services and a wide range of hearing aid models from trusted brands, such as Widex, Bernafon, Phonak, and Signia. Schedule an appointment with us today to experience the difference in your hearing and the personalised care we provide.

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Catherine Tang Yap

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Mr Ching

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Mr & Mrs Sriram

My mum has hearing loss for many years. Consultant of Listening Lab helped her fitted with Resound hearing aid. His patience and professionalism was greatly appreciated as the hearing aid enable her to hear and communicate with the people around her especially her grand children. We are happy with the services rendered by consultant. Keep up the good work!!

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Brian is the definitive household name in English Radio since the early years of Singapore's founding, starting with Rediffusion followed by Radio One and now with Gold 90.5FM as well as Vintage Radio Singapore. His honeyed voice and selection of music filling our ears as we lived the bustle of our daily lives.

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Our Executive Director Kelvin Lee is proudly beaming ear-to-ear in this photo with Brian. But you wont be able to see it through the masks!

Brian Richmond

I started experiencing loss of hearing sometimes in 2010 (41 years old) owing to some medical issue. I was having difficulties hearing conservation especially in meeting. Thus, giving me the fear in attending meeting.

Initially I started with Phonak hearing aid. It helps amplified the sound and I could hear better then. Somehow, my hearing loss deteriorated further that in late 2012 (43 years old), there was profound loss of hearing on my right ear. Even digital hearing aid could not help. On my left ear there is still about 50% to 60% hearing with hearing aid. I was lost at this point of time. I was considering learning sign language. I went to see my ENT specialist and my audiologist Mr. Bala advised me to go for an CI as an alternative to my hearing loss.

I also thank God for Engineer and Scientist, giving them the knowledge to create such a complex and sophisticate device to help those with hearing loss like me. It will be all perfect if the cost is affordable too.

Jonathan Po

I took my mum to Listening Lab at Simei to get her hearing aid fixed, during our first visit, she patiently explained the whole procedure to my mum and also explain to my mum why she really in need to fix the hearing aid. She is very knowledgeable, and friendly, and we are encouraged to ask questions. she is also very patient with old people which is the most importance. Also her after service is superb so I highly recommend.

Mdm Goh

My mum, Madam Kek (73 year old) had the Cochlear implant (CI) done on her left side in 10th September 2019. Thereafter, thanks to the subsequent auditory verbal therapy, evaluation from SGH ENT team, as well as, the support from AB's and Listening Lab staffs; Madam Kek was able to hear, comprehend sound and music from her Cochlear implant, Naida CI Q90, and hearing aid (HA), Naida Link UP, for her right side before end year. We are happy that both the CI and HA have improved mum qualify of life. Now Madam Kek is looking forward to work again to pass her time as she can hear and better communicate with others.

Madam Kek

Titus was implanted when he was 18 months old. He is a happy, talkative 6.5 years old now. AB has been with him for 5 wonderful hearing years and we are looking forward to a bright future that lies ahead for him. AB’s Naída CI sound processors are reliable and the technology is constantly evolving and upgrading. When Titus was introduced to Naida Link CROS, his life was enriched. The wireless network established between his Naida CI sound processor and a Naida Link CROS transmitter allows him to hear from both ears. This changes Titus’s life and the way we interact with him. We are also very pleased with the prompt response and service provided to us. The staff in AB genuinely cares! We want to thank AB for making Titus’s hearing journey an enjoyable and a relatively stress free one!

Titus Pang

I have been living with progressive hearing loss for more than three decades. Socially, I find myself fearful of communicating with people and at home, watching 'soundless' television programs is a norm.

An unforgettable experience. Trying on a pair of Resound GN hearing aid, I was energized and revitalized and overwhelmed with emotional tears of joy. The Resound GN is truly remarkable and uniquely equipped with three-friendly-user environmental modes that provide hearing comfort wherever we are.

In particular, I like to extend my utmost gratitude to Hearing Consultant. With her profound compassion and wisdom in guiding me, I am confident that I can forge a formidable partnership with the Listening Lab; So that I can rebuild a new chapter of a happy and value-creative life and simultaneously, leaving behind the painful memories of the past three decades.

Mr Tan