New hearing aids can make your life easier. There are two reasons why you should replace your hearing aids regularly. First, your hearing changes over time. For example, your current hearing aids may be set too loud or too soft. Second, technology is constantly evolving and creating new hearing comfort.
Hearing Aid Style
There are different types of hearing instruments – today there are more than 1,000 different variants. They all differ in terms of performance, design, and size. But not every heating system is suitable for every hearing need. Your hearing experience should take into account your individual needs. Hearing aids help you adapt to different sound environments and listening situations with the best sound quality. The best hearing aids may vary from person to person depending on the type of device. The type of hearing loss you have, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences in color and hearing aid style all influence the hearing aids you end up buying.
Where You Store Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids do not like moisture or heat. Therefore, the bathroom and the windowsill are not good places to store them. Water vapor damages the electronics, as does sunlight and proximity to a radiator. A dry, cool place is much more suitable. A small wall or medicine cabinet in the bedroom and the drawer on the nightstand are ideal. A case additionally protects your hearing aid from house dust, insects, pollen, and similar dangers.
Frequent Cleaning
The delicate construction of these little marvels requires extensive care. How quickly are microphone inputs and sound channels clogged, so that the sensitive electronics fail their service? Daily cleaning of the hearing aid is therefore essential. The housing can simply be wiped with a soft, lint-free cloth. The mostly transparent plastic parts, i.e. the earmold and sound tube, are detached and bathed in a little lye or a solution containing a cleaning tablet. Exception: If the loudspeaker is located at the end of the sound tube (ex-earpiece system), there must be no contact with water. In this case, suitable disinfectants and special cleaning sticks are used. Brushing with a soft toothbrush also leads to success. All very gently, of course. A cotton bag hung up in an airy place is suitable for subsequent drying.
Frequent Maintenance
- Wipe off the cerumen (earwax) with a soft cloth after each wearing of the hearing aid or use a special brush for this purpose.
- Use only special cleaning agents or lye for cleaning, never household cleaners containing alcohol or solvents.
- Leave the cleaning to a specialist if you are unsure.
- For ITE hearing aids: Check the wax filter regularly. If the mesh is dirty, the filter must be replaced.
- Check the batteries regularly; replace weak batteries.
- Clean the contact surfaces with a cotton swab or similar each time you change the batteries.
- Before a trip, remember to buy spare batteries. Ideally, always have some with you.
- Remove the batteries if the device will not be used for a long time.
- Turn off your hearing aid each time you put it down.
- Only touch it with clean hands to avoid transferring bacteria.
- Protect the sensitive aid from shocks, do not drop it.
- Store the device in a suitable place (see above).
- Wear headgear or a headband in case of precipitation.
- Remove the hearing aid during personal hygiene. Water, creams, and hairdryer air can easily cause damage.
- Also remove the hearing aid when using powder, make-up, hairspray, etc.
New Programs and Features
A lot has changed in the field of hearing technology in recent years. Gone are the days of grandpa’s monstrous, flesh-colored devices that emitted a permanent, unpleasant whistling sound. Modern hearing aids are barely visible and are often so small that they disappear completely into the ear canal. BTE devices with sound angles and skeletal earmolds nestle easily against the ear and have a reduced design. With hearing aids that are inserted in the ear (idO), not even a tube or cable is visible. Those who wear their hearing aid with self-confidence similar to jewelry opt for a colored variant.
When to Update Your Hearing Aids
Are you shopping for new hearing aids? Think about your lifestyle and hearing needs during the next 3 to 5 years, and choose hearing aids with the programs that help you hear in these settings. Before I buy a product, I often inform myself about it and ask myself the questions: How often will I use the product? What exactly do I need it for? What is this product worth to me? From which company should it be? Where will I buy it?