Despite nanotech and IP ratings, hearing aids are not waterproof. Excess moisture in the device is the leading cause of hearing aid malfunction and failure. You must schedule routine cleanings to keep your hearing aids dry. Professional hearing aid cleaning is especially important if you live in a humid environment or live an active lifestyle.
Excess Moisture Will Kill Your Hearing Aids
Moisture from sweat and high humidity can cause various issues with your hearing aids. Any excess water that builds up in your device will clog ports and openings. When moisture and humidity build-up within your device, it also builds up within the tubing of the hearing aids. Moisture in the tubing of your hearing aids will significantly compromise the frequency response of your device.
Moisture within the hearing aids will also corrode any internal metal components and short circuit the microphone and receivers. You need to pay attention to several warning signs if you have any issues with your device. The first telltale sign of a problem is if you hear static or crackling noises frequently.
Sound will often be distorted, and your hearing aids may cut in and out during loud noises. The sound will fade in and out entirely if damage to the device is severe enough. You will have issues with your device working intermittently. This means your hearing aids will be functioning incorrectly sometimes, and at other times it will not power on at all.
Your Hearing Aids Need To Be Professionally Dried
In order to keep the moisture in your hearing aids to a minimum, you have to bring them to your local professional to be cleaned and dried. Ninety-eight percent of hearing aids have moisture in them right now. Sixty-seven percent of hearing aids are returned after the warranty. A significant amount of out-of-warranty repairs, sixty percent, are moisture-related.
When you bring your hearing aids in for service, the professional technician will put them into a specialized machine. The machine will create a vacuum and dry the interior of your hearing aids. It will even measure the humidity inside your device, ensuring that your hearing aids are dried thoroughly during each service session.
Most hearing aids can be serviced in 15 minutes. The process removes 98% of the moisture in your device. This creates a tremendous improvement in the function of your hearing aids. Half of all dead hearing aids can be revived with this simple procedure. A drying treatment will improve eighty percent of weak hearing aids.
How The Drying Treatment Works
A vacuum is pulled inside the machine to lower the evaporation point of the water in the hearing aids to room temperature. Controlled heat is applied to expedite the evaporation process without compromising the device. The process is repeated until the machine detects the chamber and everything inside of it has completely dried. The amount of moisture removed during this cycle is measured by the internal humidity sensor, which is also reported.
Not only can this machine effectively remove water from your hearing aids, but it can also save many dead or malfunctioning hearing aids. If the hearing aid is not too badly damaged, a fast and affordable drying treatment can bring it back to life.
Hearing Aid Cleaning At Home
You should check the earmold openings of your hearing aids often for wax and debris. Ear wax will muffle sound, making it more difficult to hear. If wax buildup is severe enough, it will potentially damage the inner components.
Be sure to remove your hearing aids at night to prevent discomfort. Sleeping in your hearing aids carries the risk of rolling over on them or dropping them on the floor. Store your hearing aids in a clean, dry area, preferably on a clean washcloth or towel. Open the battery compartment at night when you remove your hearing aids. Doing this will help to air out the device and keep moisture away.
Your hearing aids will likely outlive the original batteries they came with at the initial purchase. Regularly testing your battery is a very important habit to develop. A weak battery will cause performance issues. Luckily, hearing aid batteries are easily replaceable.
Clean Your Hearing Aids After Accidents
Accidents happen. Many people forget to take their hearing aids out before jumping in a pool or stepping into the shower. Sometimes the hearing aid can fall out of the ear and into a sink or toilet. Hearing aids have even fallen into puddles or natural bodies of water when people are active outdoors.
If you experience a water accident, you should bring your device in for hearing aid cleaning in Marietta immediately. Sometimes a drying treatment is all that is needed to salvage your device. You should always try this fast and affordable option before you pay for costly repairs or replacements.
Visit Us For Your Hearing Aid Cleaning
We are conveniently located in Marietta, on Sandy Plains Road. Our office is in the Sandy Plains Junction strip mall, between Sprayberry High School and the US Post Office building. We are open Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm. On Fridays, we are open from 9 am to 1 pm. We are closed on the weekend.
