Care and Maintenance

Listening Tips

• Give yourself time to become accustomed to your new hearing instruments.  During this period, you may prefer to wear your hearing instruments for only a portion of the day, then gradually increase your usage throughout your normal routing each day.

• You may find that a quiet environment is more comfortable in the beginning of the adjustment period.  Gradually introduce new listening environments as your ears become accustomed to hearing instrument amplification.

• If you are a new hearing instrument user, be aware that there are sounds, both pleasant and unpleasant, that you may not have heard in a long time.

• Ask the people with whom you are conversing to attract your attention before speaking to you.  If you don’t understand what someone has said, ask the speaker to slow down or say it in another way, but not to shout.

• In noisy or difficult environments, you may find it easier to understand speech by facing the speaker.  Focus on reading lips and observing facial expressions and body language.  Be aware that in some situations, it may be too noisy to understand what is being said.

• Encourage one person to speak at a time when you are engaging in group conversations.

• Listen to radio and television programs as you normally would.

• Experiment finding the best place to sit for optimum hearing in public places like the theater, school auditoriums, religious services, etc.  If possible, choose a seat that is far away from any source of distracting noise, such as a fan or an open window, and where you have a good view of the person speaking.

Battery Tips

• CAUTION!  Batteries can be harmful if swallowed.  Be sure to keep batteries out of the reach of small children or persons of diminished mental capacity.  Batteries can be mistaken for medication due to their small size.

• If a battery is accidentally swallowed, seek medical attention immediately, or call the National Battery Hotline collect at 202-625-3333.

• Always use the battery size recommended on your warranty card or in the specific manual for your model.

• Remove the battery from your instruments when not in use.  This prevents possible damage from expansion or leakage of the battery, if the instruments are not fully turned off.

• Always carry spare batteries in the event that your current battery goes dead.  Place each spare battery in an individual, non-metallic container to prevent contact with other batteries or metal objects, such as keys or coins.

• If dexterity or vision problems prevent you from removing the battery when you remove the hearing aids, make sure that the battery door is completely open so as to not drain the battery.  

• Follow your local recycling rules for battery disposal.

Maintenance and Care

Hearing instruments should be cleaned daily.  You can wipe them with a tissue or a soft cloth.

Do not use water, alcohol, benzene, or any other liquid or household cleaning agent to clean your instruments, as it may damage them.

Always store your hearing instruments (and earmolds, LifeTube, or LifeTip if using certain BTE models) inside the case.  A soft carrying pouch is also included for your convenience when traveling.

When storing hearing instruments for an extended period of time, always remove the batteries to prevent damage from corrosion.

Store the instruments in a dry area, preferably at room temperature.  If you perspire heavily or live in an area of high humidity, you may find it beneficial to use a DRI-AID kit when the instruments are not in use.  This product can be purchased from your Hearing Care Professional.

Wax Cleaning Brush
A wax cleaning brush may be packaged with your hearing instruments.  To use this tool, hold the hearing instrument so that the canal portion (the open end which is inserted into the ear) faces downward, and any wax particles fall away from the opening.  Gently sweep the brush across the canal opening where most of the wax collects.  Be careful not to push any wax further into the tubing at the end of the hearing instrument.  Wash the brush and dry it thoroughly before each use.

Wax Guards
Some hearing instruments feature external or internal wax guards which help protect the instrument from damage due to ear wax.  Ask your Hearing Care Professional if your instruments are equipped with wax guards.  They will also instruct you on the proper cleaning procedure.