How to Take Care of Hearing Aid(s) (Part I: Using a Hearing Aid Dryer)

Having hearing aid(s) can be a hassle. They are expensive, and it is easy to forget to take care of them. But in order for them to last as long as possible, which you need them to, take care of them you must.

Note: These Care instructions are written for behind the ear models similar to the ones shown. Newer models with rechargeable batteries may have to be handled differently. If you have any questions, you should consult your hearing aid specialist or the manufacturer of your hearing aid(s).

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• For this part and the others:
• Hearing Aid Dryer (you can obtain one from your hearing aid specialist)
• Clean Cloth or Paper Towel
• Toothpick
• Q-tips (Optional)
• Rubbing Alcohol (Optional)

1. Why Should you Dry your Hearing Aid(s):
   - Moisture adversely affects electronics.
   - It can cause them to wear out prematurely.
   - Moisture interferes with the functioning of electronics.
   - Drying removes moisture, improves the performance of the hearing aid(s), and extends the product's lifespan.

2. In General How often to Dry:
   <> Some drying kits recommend that you use them every night. But depending on the weather, the climate, and how long you wear them during the day, you can dry them less.
   <> The minimum, no matter what the variables are, you should dry your hearing aid(s) 1 to 2 times a month.
   <> The weather is a big variable with the frequency of hearing aid drying:
   - During cool-dry weather, you can get away with only drying them once a month.
   - During warm-humid weather, you may need to dry them every other day.
   <> Remember that weather is not the only to affect the amount of moisture build-up in the hearing aid(s). If you wear them for long periods every day, you may need to dry them every week, even in the winter.

3. How to Know when to Dry:
   <> You should dry your hearing aid(s) if:
   - It has been a very humid day.
   - You have sweated a lot that day while wearing them.
   - On a very cold day, every time you go out your hearing aid(s) stop working properly, but once you come inside they start to function normally after a few minutes. (The reason for this is that some moisture is in the hearing aid(s). The moisture is freezing and interfering with the functioning of the hearing aid(s).)
   - You can see moisture in the tube(s) of you hearing aid(s).

4. 
    
   A Hearing Aid Dryer

   How to Use your Dryer:
   a) Although your dryer may look different from the one shown, most moisture absorbing dryers work the same. They use a compound that draws moisture out of the air.
   b) First, REMOVE THE BATTERIES from the hearing aid(s). (Drying with the batteries still in will ruin the batteries and possibly the hearing aid(s).)
   c) Now Place the hearing aid(s) in to the drying kit (leave the battery door open to help drying process).
   d) Close the kit according to its instructions/design.
   e) Leave hearing aid(s) in the kit for at least overnight.
   f) In the morning, remove hearing aid(s), reinsert the batteries, check volume and you are ready to wear them.

5. Things to Note about Drying Kits:
   - Most kits have some indicator, usually color changing beads, to alert you to when the kit has absorbed all the moisture it can, and needs to be reactivated. Follow the instructions for your kit to identify the indicator ant to reactivate the kit.

Tips & Warnings

• Long day, during humid weather, equals time to dry.
• Especially if you live in a humid environment, make sure to close completely the drying kit to keep it from absorbing the moisture out of the normal air.
• Keep kit out of children's reach. Most kits have this warning, along with instructions for what to do if ingestion of the compound does occur. Please read and understand these instructions before it happens, so you will know what to do if it does.

[sweetspirit]

on 8/12/2009 Very informative. Thanks for sharing. 5*****

[chrisanimelo444]

on 8/7/2009 Very good tips. Well written! Thanks. :)