So you have made the first step in improving your hearing by speaking with an audiologist and finding hearing aids that work for you. Now, the next step is learning how to properly care for those hearing aids so that they will last longer and work better as you continue this wonderful journey. Life without hearing aids for many people can be dark, depressing and lonely. Hearing aids can improve speech, communication, build relationships, and keep your safer and happier overall. Of the millions of Americans who suffer from hearing loss today, only 20 percent of people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them.
How hearing aids work: A hearing aid magnifies sound vibrations entering the ear. Surviving hair cells detect the larger vibrations and convert them into neural signals that are passed along to the brain. The greater the damage to a person’s hair cells, the more severe the hearing loss, and the greater the hearing aid amplification needed to make up the difference. Today, hearing aids differ in size and the degree to which they amplify sound. There are many styles of hearing aids. It is important to consult with your audiologist to ensure that your selection matches both your lifestyle and your degree of hearing loss. Not all hearing aids are appropriate for every level of loss.
Not only do hearing aids vary, but so do the desiccant kits made to care for them. It is crucial that you consult with one of our audiologists to help you select the right tools to properly care for your hearing aids. There are several hearing aid drying kits that are available and many use different drying agents or desiccants to remove moisture buildup in a hearing aid. The electronics inside a hearing aid, as with any electronic, do not perform well when damp or wet. Moisture can enter a hearing aid either by perspiration, wet weather or from dampness in the ear canal. Furthermore, moisture can destroy the microphone and the receiver of the hearing aid, clog the sound opening or ear mold tubing, and cause corrosion in the aid. Moisture in the hearing aid can cause a static sound or can cause the hearing aid to operate intermittently or not at all. When the desiccant cannot absorb any additional moisture, you have to replace them or find a way to remove the moisture, a.k.a “recharge” them. Moisture is the enemy of all hearing aids. However, some desiccants can be recharged and others cannot. This is why you should consult with your audiologist to find out the type of desiccant your kit uses. Proper care will protect the hearing aid battery as well as extend the life of your device.
