Once you find hearing aids that are just right for you, you may not want to take them off. With such regular wear, hearing aids get exposed to debris like dust, particles, sweat and earwax. Use the tips in this guide to keep your hearing aids feeling comfortable and functioning properly for a long time.
If you currently wear hearing aids or are considering whether they may be right for you, it’s important to understand how to clean hearing aids of wax. While certain chargers can also help clean and dry certain hearing aids, self-cleaning hearing aids don’t exist yet. However, learning how to remove earwax when you wear hearing aids is simple, quick, easy and an important way to keep your hearing devices working well for as long as possible.
Before we cover the details, here are few tips to help you get started:
Hearing aids come in different shapes and sizes. For many models, the outer part of the hearing aid (the shell) conceals and protects the technology inside, while the portion of the hearing aid that sits in the ear sends sound directly through the ear canal. This part is called the receiver, and it’s covered by a small protective dome.
Because of the receiver’s exposure to the ear canal, earwax buildup and hearing aids often go hand in hand. In fact, wax on the receiver is the most common cause of hearing aid failure. Checking the following parts of your hearing aids for wax each day can help prevent problems.
Most hearing aids come with filters and wax guards. These guards play an essential role in protecting the technology inside. Typically, wax filters should be replaced about once a month or, in some cases, even more often.
To check these filters, remove the protective dome covering the hearing aid receiver. If it appears that the wax guard is plugged, that means it’s time to replace it. Learn how to do it here.
Sound bores are part of the hearing aid receiver on the hearing aid tip or earmold. Once the hearing aid picks up and processes sounds in your environment, the sound is transferred into your ear through the sounds bores in the hearing aid tip.
When sound bores are clear and free of wax, sound quality is crisp and clean, helping you interpret speech, music and other everyday sounds with precision. When wax is in the way, sound might come through softer or more muffled. Check hearing aid tips daily for visible signs of wax on the dome as well as underneath it.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids have clear plastic tubes that connect the parts that sit behind the ear to those sitting in the ear canal. As wax gets into the sound bores and hearing aid tips, it can also affect the hearing aid tube.
When this part of the hearing aid becomes clogged, sound transmission is compromised. Watch for discoloration and other signs of debris in the tube, and find tube cleaning tips farther below in this blog.
To keep your cleaning tools organized and in one place, a kit can be helpful. Kits may be included with your hearing aids, but can also be purchased from your hearing care professional. You can also buy individual pieces and build your own kit. Create your own hearing aid cleaning kit with these helpful tools:
● A small brush to gently clean wax from the hearing aid dome
● A wire loop or wax pick to extract wax from the hearing aid dome or sound bores
● A vent cleaner to push wax through longer vents that wax picks or loops can’t reach
● A soft, dry cloth to wipe away moisture, dirt or debris on the hearing aid shell
As you set your hearing aid cleaning routine, exploring different wax removal tools like a brush, vent cleaner or wire loop will help you determine what works best for you and your hearing aid model.
Keep your favorite hearing aid wax removal tool next to your hearing aids at night for easy access and regular use.
BTE hearing aid tubes need to be cleaned from time to time. If you have this type of device, it’s important to understand how to clean wax out of hearing aid tubes.
Check these tubes for debris and wax each day and use a dry, soft cloth to wipe down the exterior as needed. If you notice any visible blockages, detach the tubing from the hearing aid and pass a cleaning thread through the tube before reattaching.
A hearing care professional can also show you how to remove wax from hearing aid tubes during an appointment.
Cleaning your hearing aids every night before bed or in the morning before you put them on is one of the best ways to preserve them. Without this important step, hardened wax can build up over time and become difficult to remove.
Wax guards are tiny but mighty, protecting your hearing aid technology and allowing for clear sound quality. To do their job, they need to be replaced every four weeks. If you’re prone to producing a lot of earwax, replacing them even more often is a good idea. Hearing aid wax guard replacement takes just a few seconds. Find steps for how to do so here.
As powerful as hearing aids are, they’re also very delicate. Sharp objects and excessive force can cause damage, so stick with the standard cleaning tools and use them with care. Work at a smooth surface, such as a table or desk with bright lighting to make your cleaning process easier.
If any specialized adjustments are needed, always talk to your hearing care professional rather than trying to figure it out on your own.
In addition to a regular at-home cleaning routine, professional cleanings will help keep your devices functioning at their best for as long as possible. A hearing care professional will be able to do a deep cleaning, check all hearing aid parts and address debris buildup to maintain your devices.
Because earwax and hearing aids are both located in the ears, hearing aids will inevitably encounter wax. Having earwax is perfectly normal and part of being human. Plus, it helps your body stay healthy by protecting the ear canal from dust and debris. Regularly cleaning your devices and ears will keep earwax under control and prevent buildup.
A lot of newer hearing aid wearers wonder “Do hearing aids cause earwax to build up more?” The answer is yes.
Because all hearing aids have parts that sit inside your ear, the natural outward movement of earwax gets impeded or blocked. That inevitable buildup is the reason why it’s so important to stay on top of cleaning earwax from your hearing aids.
One of the best ways to manage your earwax buildup in your hearing aids is to clean your ears often. Using a cotton swab will only impact the ear wax, which can cause damage, use a damp washcloth to wipe the outer part of your ear.
