{"id":532,"date":"2020-10-05T00:52:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-04T15:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/getting-the-longest-life-out-of-your-hearing-aid\/"},"modified":"2020-11-20T12:56:05","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T03:56:05","slug":"getting-the-longest-life-out-of-your-hearing-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/getting-the-longest-life-out-of-your-hearing-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting The Longest Life Out of Your Hearing Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting hearing aids when you\u2019re experiencing hearing loss\u00a0can feel like a daunting journey. It\u2019s no surprise that only <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing\" title=\"Quick Statistics About Hearing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">approximately 16-30% of the almost 40 million Americans who could benefit from using hearing aids actually use them<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you have hearing aids, you know how expensive they are. Once you\u2019ve received your hearing aids from your audiologist or other licensed hearing health professional, you want to take care of them and maintain them so that they will last. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/report\/30926-Long-do-hearing-aids\" title=\"How Long Do Hearing Aids Last?\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">average life expectancy of a pair of hearing aids is three to seven years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You know that you\u2019re supposed to take them out every night and regularly keep them clean.\u00a0But even with regular care things can go wrong; here are some additional ways\u00a0to get the most out of you hearing aids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Common_Hearing_Aid_Issues_and_How_To_Fix_Them\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> Common Hearing Aid Issues and How To Fix Them\n<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Tubing_Problems\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.1<\/span> Tubing Problems<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Poorly-Fitting_Hearing_Aid\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.2<\/span> Poorly-Fitting Hearing Aid<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Sound_Issues\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.3<\/span> Sound Issues<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Dropped_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.4<\/span> Dropped Hearing Aids<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Wet_Hearing_Aids\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">1.5<\/span> Wet Hearing Aids<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Factors_Affecting_Longevity_of_Your_Hearing_Aid\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Factors Affecting Longevity of Your Hearing Aid\n<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Hearing_Aid_Materials\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.1<\/span> Hearing Aid Materials<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Your_Cleaning_Routine\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.2<\/span> Your Cleaning Routine<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_Environment\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.3<\/span> The Environment<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Hearing_Aid_Style\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.4<\/span> Hearing Aid Style<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Your_Body\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.5<\/span> Your Body<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Maintenance\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_2\">2.6<\/span> Maintenance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Common_Hearing_Aid_Issues_and_How_To_Fix_Them\"><b>Common Hearing Aid Issues and How To Fix Them<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Tubing_Problems\">Tubing Problems<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids have a flexible tube that connects the portion worn behind the ear to the portion that sits within the ear canal. The tubing can become damaged or deteriorate over time, developing cracks.<\/p>\n<p>Damaged tubing may cause inferior sound transmission and interfere with your ability to hear with your hearing aid. Tubing is easy to replace, and can usually be done by the hearing aid user.<\/p>\n<p>Consult with your audiologist on how to change the tubing on your hearing aid and the right replacement tubing for your specific model.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Poorly-Fitting_Hearing_Aid\">Poorly-Fitting Hearing Aid<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Hearing aids are molded to fit your ear, but over time your ear actually changes shape. So while your hearing aid may have fit perfectly when you first received it,\u00a0maybe now it just doesn&#8217;t.\u00a0If it doesn\u2019t, sound may escape around the hearing aid and cause feedback issues.<\/p>\n<p>Your audiologist may be able to adjust them, or you may need to have a new impression taken of your ear for a new ear mold.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Sound_Issues\">Sound Issues<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing strange sounds, poor sound quality, or no sound at all from your hearing aid, there are many possible reasons such as poor fit, dirty microphone or speakers, or a dead battery. Adjust the fit, clean the hearing aid, and replace your batteries to see if the problem is resolved.<\/p>\n<p>If none of those simple fixes resolve the issue, then you should bring your hearing aid to your audiologist who should be able to get to the bottom of your problem.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Dropped_Hearing_Aids\">Dropped Hearing Aids<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s possible to accidentally drop your hearing aids while wearing them, especially if you\u2019re wearing a hat or headband that covers your ears. A hearing aid may get caught on something and be pulled out of your ear. This is particularly a problem for larger styles, such as behind-the-ear hearing aids.<\/p>\n<p>Always check your ears to make sure your hearing aids are still in place after you remove an article of clothing such as a shirt, jacket, scarf, or hat. If one of your hearing aids is missing, immediately stop and work your way down your body, looking and feeling to see if your hearing aid is caught on a piece of clothing. If not, then retrace your steps to see if you can find it.<\/p>\n<p>To prevent things like this from happening, you can invest in hearing aid clips that are designed to keep your hearing aids secured.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Wet_Hearing_Aids\">Wet Hearing Aids<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Hearing aid users often forget that they are wearing their hearings aids and may accidentally wear them into the shower or pool. If this happens to you, remove your hearing aids as soon as you possibly can and gently dry them with a towel. Remove the batteries and leave the battery doors open as long as possible, at least overnight. If they don\u2019t work after that, contact your audiologist immediately.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Factors_Affecting_Longevity_of_Your_Hearing_Aid\"><b>Factors Affecting Longevity of Your Hearing Aid<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want your hearing aid to last as long as possible before having to spend money on a replacement set. However, there are multiple factors that can have a big impact on how long your hearing aid will last:<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Hearing_Aid_Materials\">Hearing Aid Materials<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Hearing aids are typically constructed with a combination of plastics, metals, and silicon; these materials will degrade over time at different rates depending on the quality of the raw materials used to manufacture your hearing aid.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Your_Cleaning_Routine\">Your Cleaning Routine<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re regularly washing your face to remove dust, oil, sweat, and other things, then you can bet your hearing aid needs to be cleaned of those things as well. Make sure you\u2019re cleaning your hearing aids daily. Earwax buildup is another factor that can decrease the life expectancy of your hearing aid, so check those ears! <br \/>If you only have your hearing aids cleaned professionally once every year or two, then you might be drastically reducing the life of the device.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"The_Environment\">The Environment<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you work in dusty, dirty, or damp environments regularly with your hearing aids, then they will be subjected to more stress over time and most likely won\u2019t last as long. If these types of environments can\u2019t be avoided, then see your audiologist to look into different ways you can protect your hearing aid or schedule much more frequent cleanings.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Hearing_Aid_Style\">Hearing Aid Style<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Because of their position out of and away from your ear canal, behind-the-ear hearing aids tend to last longer than styles that are largely sitting within your ear canal. This is because they aren\u2019t subjected to as much dampness or earwax buildup.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Your_Body\">Your Body<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Everyone\u2019s body chemistry is different, and if you sweat often, produce abundant earwax, or have oily skin, then your body may be harder on a hearing aid than someone else\u2019s. If this is the case, you might want to discuss this with your audiologist to find a hearing aid designed to be a little tougher.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Maintenance\">Maintenance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Your hearing aid has a long list of easily replaceable parts such as the battery door, wax guards and filters, tubing, earpiece tips, and speaker and microphone covers. Make sure you replace these when needed to get the most life out of your hearing aid.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><b>The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/statistics\/quick-statistics-hearing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdhearingaid.com\/en\/blog\/troubleshooting-common-hearing-aid-problems\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.mdhearingaid.com\/en\/blog\/troubleshooting-common-hearing-aid-problems<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/report\/30926-Long-do-hearing-aids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/report\/30926-Long-do-hearing-aids<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hearinghealthmatters.org\/hearinprivatepractice\/2013\/successful-hearing-aid-use-part-10-ten-dos-and-donts-of-wearing-hearing-aids\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/hearinghealthmatters.org\/hearinprivatepractice\/2013\/successful-hearing-aid-use-part-10-ten-dos-and-donts-of-wearing-hearing-aids\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/helpingmehear.com\/hearing-aids-news\/why-your-hearing-aid-might-break\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/helpingmehear.com\/hearing-aids-news\/why-your-hearing-aid-might-break\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/report\/52583-Hearing-aid-disasters-how-to-avoid-them-and-what-to-do-if-they-happen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.healthyhearing.com\/report\/52583-Hearing-aid-disasters-how-to-avoid-them-and-what-to-do-if-they-happen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pacoregon.com\/blog\/3-common-causes-of-hearing-aid-repairs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/pacoregon.com\/blog\/3-common-causes-of-hearing-aid-repairs<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know the life span of your hearing aid varies depending on many factors from your lifestyle to its care and maintenance.\u00a0Here&#8217;s a few ways to make yours last longer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/getting-the-longest-life-out-of-your-hearing-aid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Getting The Longest Life Out of Your Hearing Aid - Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Did you know the life span of your hearing aid varies depending on many factors from your lifestyle to its care and maintenance.\u00a0Here&#039;s a few ways to make yours last longer.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/hearing-device\/getting-the-longest-life-out-of-your-hearing-aid\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Olive Union\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-04T15:52:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-11-20T03:56:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pexels-mali-maeder-1483024-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"853\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/\",\"name\":\"Olive Union\",\"description\":\"Introducing the Olive Smart Ear: A Cool, Affordable Wearable That Removes the Stigma from Impaired Hearing. 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