You’ve just got your first pair of hearing aids, and are loving a world full of sounds. It’s great to hear the birds chirping again, and be able to hear your grandkids laughing in the next room. You clean them every night, store them in a safe, dry place, and keep extra batteries on hand. That’s a great start! But life can be a bit unpredictable, so here are some tips on how to avoid and fix any disaster that may come your way.
Your Hearing Aid Fell into the Sink or the Toilet
We’ve all been there. If you take our or put in your hearing aids in the bathroom, there’s a good chance they’ll end up in the water one of these days.
Avoid It: The best way to avoid losing your hearing aid down the drain is to find a safer place to insert and remove them. Pick a place where you can sit comfortably to remove your hearing devices, wiping them with a dry cloth before storing them in their case for the night. In fact, it is better if you store your hearing aids in your bedroom, as the bathroom tends to experience a lot of moisture from hot showers. If you must use the bathroom, make sure the sink is plugged, and the toilet seat is down!
Fix It: If you’ve dropped your hearing aid in the toilet, don’t get squeamish. Grab it as quickly as possible! The protective coating on the hearing aid may have prevented serious damage. If the hearing aid has gone down the sink, don’t run any water. If you can loosen the pipe, you may find it in the p-trap under the sink. Dry the device thoroughly, disinfect it with an alcohol wipe, and place it in a container with rice to dry it out. Bring it in for repairs at Fidelity Hearing Centers as soon as possible.
Your Hearing Aid Gets Wet
When you’re in a rush to shower and change before dinner, it’s easy to forget to take your hearing aids out before jumping in and turning on the tap. And with the summer season here at last, you’ve got to be careful about jumping in the pool, too.
Avoid It: You’ll probably remember to take your hearing aids out during your normal work-week routine, but you might forget on weekends, holidays, or whenever your schedule isn’t quite normal. Get into the habit of feeling for both your hearing aids before getting into the shower or the pool so you won’t forget to take them out. You can also write a note by the shower or pin one to your swimsuit so a day at the beach doesn’t turn into a tragedy.
Fix It: Wet hearing aids is a common problem. Even getting caught in the rain can leave your ears dripping. Thankfully, the nanocoating on your devices are designed to be water resistant and keep your hearing aids safe. If they do get wet, take them out as soon as possible and dry them with a soft towel. Open the battery doors, take out the batteries, and leave them overnight to allow the devices to dry thoroughly. Never use a microwave or hair dryer! This will melt the hearing aids and cause more severe damage to the electrical components. Test your devices in the morning with new batteries. If there are any problems, we’re here to help, and will have you hearing again in no time.
You Forgot Your Hearing Aids at Home
Did you run out of the house without your hearing aids? This happens surprisingly often! You can’t communicate effectively without your devices, but somehow you never seem to have them when you need them the most.
Avoid It: To avoid disaster at the office, put your hearing aids in as part of your morning routine. If you don’t usually wear your hearing aids at home, consider storing them in your work bag so even if you forget to slip them in in the morning, you’ll have them when you get to work. You can also stick a note to the front door so you’ll never leave the house without them.
Fix It: If you’ve left your hearing aids at home, make time to go back and get them. You need to be wearing them to have a productive work day. If it’s too far to go home, tell your co-workers you aren’t wearing your hearing aids, so they can help you navigate the day.
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If you have these or any other problems with your hearing devices, visit us at Fidelity Hearing Center. We’ll help you solve the problem, make repairs, and get you back to hearing as soon as possible.
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