Your hearing aid: make it last with these tips

You should care for your hearing aid as you would any expensive piece of modern technology. Unlike glasses, which naturally tend to occasionally break and need to be replaced, these little devices are meant to last. Not only because they are built for the long haul, but also because they are too expensive to replace annually. Sure, accidents happen, but there are plenty of things you can do to get the most out of your device. If you want it to work as well in five years as it does today, here are some tips you can put to work.

Avoid extreme temperatures
You wouldn’t store your iPod in a hot, closed car in the dead of summer, and you wouldn’t put your laptop in the freezer. Treat your hearing aid with the same respect as these devices. While it would be an exaggeration to call this device a computer, it is still a small, high-precision piece of machinery and needs to be protected from extreme temperatures. That doesn’t mean you should worry about taking a walk on a sunny day, but don’t store your device in the snow on the way or anything like that! On a more practical note, just make sure to keep the device in as moderate temperatures as possible.

Hair products
Gel, hairspray, and mousse can make your hair look the way you want, but these substances can quickly dirty a hearing aid. “Oh, I just spray a little hairspray on the front of my hair in the morning, no big deal,” you might be thinking. Sure, once or twice may not be a big deal. But if you’re doing that every morning, you can be sure you’re getting a lot of that sticky hairspray on your assistive listening device. Over time, that will clog up your microphone and make it that much harder to get everything you should from your device. Just take it out before you comb your hair and you won’t have any problem.

without swimming
Some of the best waterproof watches can handle all the swimming or even deep-sea diving you can throw at them. However, the average waterproof watch cannot be trusted to handle that kind of direct exposure to water. The same applies to your hearing aid. Even if you spent the extra money on a waterproof variety (a good idea, considering the effects of humidity), you shouldn’t test it by taking it to the pool. Take it off before going swimming, taking a sauna or getting in the shower. The longer you can keep the instrument dry, the longer you will keep it working well.