Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aid - Part 1
by Mark Ross, Ph.D.
Protection and Storage
Hearing Aid Batteries
Earmolds and Tubing (for behind the ear
aids)
In-The-Ear Hearing Aids (of all types)
Hearing Aid Problems
Insuring Your Hearing Aid
One Final Thought
Hearing aids are delicate (and very expensive!) instruments. Within
their tiny, fragile cases, they pack an enormous amount of highly
sensitive, sophisticated electronic circuitry. Unlike eyeglasses,
hearing aids need regular upkeep and a lot of tender loving care to
ensure continued optimal performance. With reasonable care, the life
expectancy of a hearing aid is about three to five years; with care and
attention to maintenance, that lifetime may be extended.
There are some things hearing aids do not like: shock, temperature
extremes, and moisture.
Shock: Trauma to the hearing aid caused by being dropped or roughly
handled, or parked temporarily on undesirable spots of high or low
temperatures such as radiators or air conditioners. Dogs love to chew on
hearing aids. Babies also find them attractive, sometimes edible. Any of
these can be devastating to the proper functioning of a hearing aid (not
to mention the baby!)
Some preventative measures: Provide proper storage for your hearing
aid whenever it is not in your ear. Set aside a good place, protected
from danger of being knocked off a table or picked up, or subjected to
the teeth treatment of a pet or child. A box in a drawer by your bed is
a good place and is handy when you rise or retire.
Temperature extremes: Damage incurred from high heat or cold, which
may adversely affect a hearing aid's performance. Much of this damage is
caused by the changes in temperature, which causes a condensation of
moisture within the aid, rather than the temperature itself. This change
can occur many times a day, as someone goes from hot to air- conditioned
comfort and back again. High humidity and perspiration exacerbates this
problem.
Some preventative measures: Never leave a hearing aid on a radiator
or an air conditioner, near a stove, in a sunny window, in the glove
compartment of a car on a hot day, or in any other extremely hot or cold
place. Do not try to dry the hearing aid in an oven or clothes dryer, or
wear it while using a hair dryer or tanning under a sun lamp.
Moisture: Anything wet, high humidity, perspiration, condensation,
accidental immersion in bath or pool can cause damage to a hearing aid
and prevent it from functioning properly. Keep your hearing aid dry. An
exception may be made for the few hearing aid models recently marketed
as being specifically designed as water resistant. If you are interested
in this type, ask your hearing aid dispenser.
Some preventative measures: If you live in an area subject to high
humidity or regularly engage in perspiration-inducing activities,
consider buying some sort of DRI-AID kit. This is a small, inexpensive
kit consisting of silica (desiccating) crystals in a jar. At night,
after removing the battery, place the hearing aid down in the jar.
During the night, the moisture in the hearing aid will be absorbed by
crystals. The silica crystals can be recycled by oven heating when they
become moist (indicated by change in color), so the kit has a long life.
A recently introduced product, Dry&Store, is an electrical
appliance that uses heat, moving air, as well as a desiccating substance
to remove moisture from a hearing aid (as well as from any cerumen that
may have infiltrated the sound bore). The unit will accommodate two
hearing aids (any type). Once turned on, it is programmed for an eight
hour cycle, the first eight minutes of which a germicidal lamp helps
kill off bacteria, molds or fungi that may be growing on the surface of
the hearing aid shell or earmold. With this unit, it is best to remove
the battery (but keeping the battery compartment open) since the removal
of moisture from the battery may slightly its life span. A number of
anecdotal reports suggest that that the regular use of this device can
help ensure the hearing aid's optimal performance over the long run.
Batteries are the lifelines for your hearing aid, so learn how to use
them most effectively. Take note of the positive and negative (+ and - )
on both the battery and in the battery compartment in the hearing aid,
and be sure to insert the batteries properly. If possible, buy batteries
a month ahead to ensure that you will always have a supply on hand and
that you never run out at a crucial moment. In the past, it was
suggested that a refrigerator as a good location to store extra
batteries. Current recommendations are against refrigeration, as
moisture and condensation can affect battery life.
Always carry a spare battery or two so you have a workable supply on
hand. Your hearing aid dispenser can provide you with a small plastic
case that you can use to store several batteries. This case can be
attached to a key chain, or placed in a pocket or purse. Be sure to
replace any that you may use during the day.
Remove the batteries from your hearing aid at night, or at least open
the battery compartment. This will allow air to circulate and help dry
out the aid. It will also lengthen the battery life by preventing
drainage of power if you accidentally leave the aid on all night, and
will eliminate the possibility of leakage from a defective battery
damaging the aid.
Invest in a battery tester, to check the power of your batteries.
These are inexpensive and will save you money in the long run by
ensuring that you do not discard a battery too soon. However, even a
slight drop in power may require that the battery be replaced, since
hearing aid performance can be adversely affected. How much voltage drop
will be discernible depends upon your hearing loss and the unique
electrical interactions between the battery and the aid.
Become aware of the average life cycle of your battery. If you notice
a sudden decrease in battery life, ask your hearing aid dispenser to
check the aid. Excessive drain on batteries usually means a malfunction
in the hearing aid.
Keep the battery contacts in the hearing aid clean; poor contacts may
mean loss of power or a "frying" noise. Scrape contacts gently
with a sharpened pencil eraser or cotton swab dipped in isopropyl
alcohol. In humid weather or after heavy perspiration, dry off the
contact with a cotton swab. If the contact becomes corroded, ask your
hearing aid dispenser to clean them.
Warning: Tiny button batteries have sometimes been swallowed by a
person mistaking them for pills or by a small child attracted to a shiny
surface. This can be lethal. Store your batteries properly to prevent
such unauthorized use. If you suspect that a battery has been swallowed,
immediately call a physician.
Here's Part Two
