The placement of hearing aids in the ear canal means that they are constantly exposed to moisture as well as ear wax - conditions that are not ideal for any piece of technology. It’s therefore important to take care of your hearing aids and to regularly clean them so they stay in good condition and functioning at their best.
Cleaning Hearing Aids
The following are general recommendations on how to clean your In-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aids. Your hearing care professional can provide you with more detailed information on how to clean your specific model.
We also provide a line of cleaning and care products specifically designed to make cleaning and taking care of your hearing aids easier than ever.
How to properly clean your In-the-ear hearing aids
- Water and solvents can damage the sensitive electronic components. After removing them, wipe the hearing aids with a soft, dry cloth. (If your hearing aid comes into contact with water or solvents wipe off immediately with a soft dry cloth)
- Check your hearing aid and earpiece daily for earwax or moisture deposits and clean if necessary. Use a special brush for this purpose. Always clean the hearing aids from top to bottom to prevent earwax or dust particles from getting inside the hearing aids.
- If the volume of a hearing aid decreases, the earwax filter may be blocked. Either replace the earwax filter or consult your hearing care professional.
Important for In-the-ear hearing aids
Because the electronics of an In-the-Ear aid are built into the earpiece (in the shell), these aids are particularly prone to damage due to earwax, moisture, and dirt.
How to properly clean and care for your Behind-the-Ear hearing aids?
The removed earpiece should be cleaned daily (use either the cleaning cloths from the Phonak Cleaning and Care Line or a soft damp cloth).
While cleaning, carefully check the opening of the earpiece. It should not be blocked because the sound from the hearing aid will become distorted or will not be heard at all. Clean the earpiece thoroughly at least once a week. Ask your hearing care professional about the Phonak Cleaning and Care Line products.
Consult with your hearing care professional if:
- You experience discomfort or pain despite correct placement of the earpiece.
- Earwax can no longer be removed from the earpiece opening.
- The earpiece tube is yellow and brittle.
- You can no longer adjust to the desired volume because the hearing aid starts to whistle.
Important for Behind-the-Ear hearing aids
Always separate the earpiece from the hearing aid before cleaning it. The hearing aid should never come into contact with water! When you connect the earpiece to your hearing aid, it has to be absolutely dry. It is best to dry the tube with a puff of air using an air puffer (do not blow air through the tube from your mouth). You can get this inexpensive accessory from your hearing care professional. Alternatively, shake the drops of water out of the tube where possible and leave the tube to dry on a clean cloth overnight. Re-attach the tube and hearing aid in the morning.
Taking care of your hearing aid
How do I care for my hearing aid?
By carefully handling your hearing aids, you will maintain their functionality for many years and minimize possible problems during daily use. Hearing aids have a robust design - but need to be correctly taken care of. Below are a few valuable maintenance tips:
Protect your hearing aid from dirt
Always make sure that your fingers are clean and dry before touching your hearing aid. The microphone input is very small and can become blocked if handled incorrectly.
Avoid impacts
Avoid dropping the hearing aid on hard surfaces. This can happen while cleaning or changing the battery. Take care when inserting or removing your hearing aid.
Protect your hearing aid from the effects of high temperatures
You should never expose your hearing aid to heat. Protect it from direct sunlight (at home or in a parked car) and do not place it near heaters.
Protect your hearing aid from moisture
Remove the hearing aid from your ear before showering, bathing or swimming. Due to high moisture levels, you should not leave it in the bathroom. Occasionally clean your ears before inserting the hearing aids. This means cleaning the outer part of your ear, including the bowl shaped part before the entrance to the ear canal. Try not to insert cotton buds/Q- tips down inside your ear canal as this can push wax further inside. Moisture and condensation can damage the electronics in your hearing aid. We recommend that you remove the battery from the hearing aid at night and to leave the battery compartment open. You can use special drying systems that are available from your hearing care professional.
Keep away from children and pets
Place the hearing aid out of reach of children and pets. Hearing aids that are still switched on and lying around emit high pitched sounds that can irritate pets. This has resulted in some hearing aids getting eaten by pet dogs.
Avoid contact with hair spray or make-up
Fine particles from hair spray or make-up powder can clog up the microphone and jam the volume control switch. Remove your hearing aid before applying body care products and cosmetics.
Ear hygiene
Always pay attention to proper ear hygiene. For your hearing aids to provide the best performance, your ears must always be free of earwax and debris, e.g. dry skin or infections, the same also applies to the earpiece in Behind-the-Ear aids. You can get products from your hearing care professional to help keep the ear or earpieces clean. They can also examine your ear and hearing aids thoroughly for any blockages caused by ear wax, or debris and check that the hearing aids are functioning properly.
Store your hearing aids in a safe place
When you are not using your hearing aids, store them in a dry cloth. Always transport your hearing aids in their storage case. Remove the batteries if you are not going to use the hearing aids for a long period of time.
Only have repairs performed by specialists
Please note that your hearing aid repairs should only be performed by your hearing care professional. Using the incorrect tools or attempting to perform any unwarranted maintenance can be bad for hearing aids. If a screwdriver or oil comes into contact with the electronics or micromechanics, it may cause irreparable damage.