Give your hearing aids a spring clean

Cleaning out the cupboards, window washing, dusting, gardening, washing the car are all activities that seem to keep us busy each spring.

The spring season is an important time of the year that triggers renewed energy urging us to clean up clutter and unwanted items that have accumulated during the winter months, and start a fresh.

You may not realise but your hearing aids could use the same attention. Proper hearing aid care helps maintain optimum hearing, extends the life of your hearing aids and ensures healthy ear hygiene.

Debris, oil, moisture and earwax can build up on your hearing instruments, clogging the parts that release sound to your ears. This can affect the hearing aid’s performance which is why it is really important to clean them daily and if it has been more than six months since you have had a professional hearing aid service, I would recommend you book to see your hearing professional for a good spring clean!

If you would like some assistance regarding cleaning them yourself, I have noted some useful tips below:

ITE (in the ear) model and RIC (receiver in the ear) model

You’ll want to concentrate on cleaning the sound outlet area and the microphones, with the use of a soft-bristle brush and any other specific tools you have. Hold the hearing aid firmly and gently sweep the bristles over the outlet area. Angle the brush downwards so any particles will fall on the ground instead of inside the holes. Change the wax guard if your aid is fitted with one. Then, finish by wiping the device with a clean, dry tissue.

BTE (behind the ear) model

Cleaning this type of device is similar, but there is the additional earmould to also clean. This needs to be removed from the hearing aid and washed in soapy water. Rinse thoroughly using luke warm water and then using your puffer blow air through the tube to dry. Refit the earmould to the hearing aid.

Avoid contact with harsh products

You should avoid using any hair products while a hearing aid is in situ, as this can create a sticky surface and increase accumulation of dust and debris buildup. These products can also cause damage to the plastic, volume control or program control of the hearing aid. Before using any body products, including face washes and creams, it’s best to remove your hearing aid and place it in a safe, dry location. Hearing aids also need to stay out of contact with direct heat, so always take it out before drying your hair with a hair drier.

Sound advice: turn down your music!

Last week saw the return of International Ear Care Day organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of hearing loss and to promote prevention of hearing loss.

A very big concern of mine is that more than one billion teenagers and young people around the world are at serious risk of developing hearing loss due to unsafe listening behaviours. According to data release by WHO, nearly half of 12-35 year olds in middle-income and high-income countries listen to dangerous levels of sound on devices like smartphones and MP3 players. Additionally, almost 40% of these young people are exposed to hazardous noise levels at entertainment venues like nightclubs, concerts and sporting stadiums.

As they go about their daily lives doing what they enjoy, more and more people (not only youngsters) are placing themselves at risk of hearing loss. My advice to everyone is to look after your hearing because once you lose it, it won’t come back. Hearing loss can have a devastating effect on your life. It can damage your physical and mental health, and have an adverse effect on relationships, education and employment.

The WHO defines an acceptable level of noise for prolonged exposure as 85 decibels – roughly the volume of heavy city traffic. As volume increases, safe exposure duration falls steeply. For example, it is not safe to spend more than 15 minutes around noise levels of 100 decibels, which is typical for sporting events, clubs and bars.

Everyone should protect their ears against hearing loss by wearing earplugs at noisy events. They should also keep the volume down on their personal audio devices, and try to limit use of these devices to fewer than 60 minutes per day.

If you feel your hearing is already being affected, I would highly recommend that you book a hearing test with a qualified audiologist.  How much time do your children spend listening to music, headphones seemingly permanently clamped to their heads?