Keeping your hearing aids clean helps them work well, sound clear, and stay comfortable to wear. Every day, things like earwax, moisture, and dust can build up over time and affect how your hearing aids perform.
The good news is that cleaning your hearing aids doesn't need to be complicated. With a simple daily routine and the right tools, you can help protect your hearing aids and keep them working reliably for longer.
Regular cleaning helps prevent earwax, moisture, and debris from affecting the sound quality of your hearing aids. It can also help keep your ears comfortable and reduce the chance of irritation.
Looking after your hearing aids properly can help extend their lifespan and ensure you continue getting the best possible experience from them.
Before cleaning your hearing aids, take a moment to check what type of hearing aids you have and make sure you have the right cleaning tools.
A few simple steps can help you clean them safely and keep them working well.
Using the right cleaning tools makes it easier to remove earwax and moisture safely, helping your hearing aids stay comfortable and work properly.
Always use products recommended by your hearing specialist or hearing aid manufacturer to avoid damaging your hearing aids.
• It’s a good idea to check your hearing aid every day for visible marks and wipe them off carefully using a soft, dry or a specialised wipe
• Don’t use alcohol or other strong cleaning agents or solvents on your hearing aids, as you might damage them – you can buy special hearing aid cleaner from our online shop
• Don’t use pointed objects like scissors or needles to clean your hearing aids – specially designed cleaning brushes are best
• Make sure your hands are clean and dry when you clean your hearing aids
Hearing aids use either standard or rechargeable batteries. It’s important to only use specially designed hearing aid batteries in your hearing aids.
How long the battery lasts depends on a few different things like the hearing aid itself, how long you wear it, and the type of battery the hearing aid uses. Most batteries need changing at least every 5 - 10 days on average. It’s useful to stock up on batteries in bulk so that you always have some spare, just in case – and make sure you bring them with you when you go on holiday! Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place. Did you know that we sell batteries, both single packs and in bulk, at a great price? You can buy them from our online shop.
Some hearing aids are rechargeable, and so they use rechargeable, rather than disposable, batteries. Rechargeable hearing aids come with their own charger, and your Hearing Aid Audiologist will be able to tell you how long you need to charge them for, and how long you can expect a charge to last.
You can read more about hearing aid batteries and rechargeable hearing aids here
Our charity partners, Action of Hearing Loss have lots of helpful resources on their website including top tips on how you can stay connected and communicating well, here’s some of what they have shared:
You're not alone if you sometimes find communication frustrating or stressful because of your hearing loss. But there are a number of simple things you can do to make it easier.
Tell the person you're speaking to that you lipread before you start a conversation, then follow our simple tips:
• Whilst it’s important to observe the 2 metre social distancing guidance, don’t stand too far away. Make sure you can see the speaker's face and lips – their gestures and facial expressions will help you to understand what they're saying.
• If your hearing isn't the same in both ears, make sure you are in the best position to maximise your ‘good side’. Don’t be shy about asking people to change places with you.
• Ask people to get your attention before they start talking to you.
• Try to keep calm. If you become anxious or flustered, it will be harder for you to follow what's being said.
• If you don't catch what someone says the first time, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat it or say it in a different way.
• If necessary, ask people to slow down and speak more clearly.
• Don't be too hard on yourself. No one hears correctly all the time.
Undoubtedly, at the moment, we’re all making changes to our lives but there are some other simple steps you can take to help make sure you’re hearing as well as you can, here is some advice provided by our charity partner, Action on Hearing Loss:
Most TV channels have subtitles. Where they are available, you can usually get them by pressing the subtitles button on your remote control, or by pressing the menu button and following the options for language and subtitles.
However, the availability of subtitles can vary when you watch on-demand TV.
Most of the UK’s main broadcasters have an on-demand TV service:
• BBC iPlayer – bbc.co.uk/iplayer
• ITV Hub – itv.com
• All 4 – channel4.com
• My5 – channel5.com
On-demand TV lets you watch what you like, when you like, over the internet. You can catch up with programmes and films you’ve missed, watch entire seasons of your favourite shows, and watch programmes at the time they are broadcast through a live TV stream over the internet.
You can access these on-demand services in different ways:
• Through the TV channel’s website
• By downloading free apps from Google Play or the App Store onto your smartphone or tablet device
• Through platforms such as YouView and Now TV.
BBC iPlayer has subtitles available on almost all of its programmes, no matter how you access the service.
The other on-demand services have subtitles available on around 70% to 85% of programmes when you watch through a service's website or app. But subtitles may not be available when you watch these on-demand services through other platforms.
Subtitles are now available on most BBC iPlayer live streams but not, currently, on other channels' live streams.
For a monthly fee (subscription), you can watch a wide range of films and TV programmes online through on-demand services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV.
Before signing up for any of these services, check whether they have subtitles – not all of them do. Many Netflix programmes are subtitled, as are more than half of the programmes on Amazon services.
If you find it hard to follow a TV programme because of background noise or music within the programme, or if the subtitles are poor quality, Action on Hearing Loss recommend you let the channel know, giving the date and time that the programme was broadcast. They have a guide on how to write a complaint letter and where to send it, visit actiononhearingloss.org.uk
If you have to turn up the volume on your TV so loud that it disturbs your family, or you find you're sitting closer and closer to the TV, there are assistive listening devices that allow you to turn down the volume for others, while making it louder and clearer for yourself.
The products include:
• Wireless headphones – these let you listen at a volume that's suitable for you.
• TV listeners – these either come with a neckloop for hearing aid users, or stethoset earbuds for people who don’t use hearing aids.
• Home hearing loop systems – a loop system can help you hear the TV more clearly through your hearing aids when they’re on the loop (or 'T') setting.
• TV streamers – these small devices send sound from the TV to your hearing aids and allow you to further adjust the volume and pitch of the sound to your preference. You may need to use an intermediary device for the wireless connection.
• Remote microphones – you can place a small microphone close to your TV’s loudspeaker and it will pick up the sound and send it straight to your hearing aids.
More than ever, we’re all going to be relying on phone calls to keep in touch with loved ones. If you’re struggling to hear what’s being said, it’s a good idea to make sure there’s no background noise when you’re on the call and also time the call for when you’re not too tired. It’s also a good idea to use video calls like Skype or FaceTime so you can use visual cues to help follow the conversation. Alternatively, there are services which will convert what’s being said into a text message, information can be found at relayuk.bt.com.
