Cleaning Your Hearing Aids: A Daily Care Guide

Maintaining the cleanliness of your hearing aids is essential for ensuring their longevity, optimal performance, and your overall auditory health. As highly sophisticated medical devices, hearing aids are constantly exposed to a challenging environment within the ear canal, including earwax, moisture, and natural skin oils. At Buckinghamshire Hearing, a private audiology clinic in High Wycombe, we emphasise to all our patients that a consistent cleaning routine is just as important as the initial fitting. This comprehensive guide provides detailed, clinical advice on how to properly care for your devices, protecting your investment and ensuring you continue to receive the best possible sound quality.

Establishing a daily cleaning habit is the most effective way to prevent the build-up of debris that can block sound transmission or damage the delicate electronic components of your hearing aids. We recommend incorporating this routine into your evening schedule, allowing the devices to air out and dry overnight when you are not wearing them. This simple practice can significantly reduce the need for professional repairs and extend the lifespan of your hearing aids.

When you remove your hearing aids at the end of the day, take a moment to inspect them visually. Look for any visible signs of earwax or moisture on the casing, the dome, or the earmould. Using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, gently wipe down the entire surface of the device. This initial step removes the superficial layer of oils and debris accumulated throughout the day.

A common misconception we encounter at our High Wycombe clinic is that hearing aids require vigorous cleaning with strong solutions. In reality, gentle, consistent maintenance using the correct tools is far more effective and significantly safer for the delicate micro-electronics housed within the devices.

To effectively clean your hearing aids without causing damage, it is crucial to use the specialised tools provided by your audiologist. These tools are designed specifically for the intricate components of hearing devices.

• Soft-bristled cleaning brush: Used to gently sweep away loose wax and debris from the microphone ports and the receiver.
• Wax pick or wire loop: Essential for carefully extracting stubborn earwax that has become lodged in the sound outlet or vent.
• Vent cleaner: A long, flexible tool designed to clear the ventilation channel in custom earmoulds or in-the-ear devices.
• Drying pot or electronic dehumidifier: Crucial for removing internal moisture that accumulates from perspiration and humidity.

It is equally important to know what NOT to use. Never use water, alcohol wipes, household cleaning solvents, or any liquid solutions directly on your hearing aids, unless specifically instructed by your audiologist. These substances can seep into the casing and cause irreversible damage to the circuitry. If you are unsure about the appropriate tools, we cover this extensively during your trial and aftercare appointments.

The specific cleaning technique varies depending on the style of hearing aid you wear. Understanding the nuances of your particular device is key to effective maintenance. If you are considering upgrading or changing your devices, you can review the different options on our types and styles page.

Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) and Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Devices

For RIC and BTE styles, the main body of the hearing aid sits behind the ear. Wipe the casing with a dry cloth. For RIC devices, pay special attention to the dome (the soft silicone tip that sits in the ear canal) and the wax guard underneath it. Brush the dome gently to remove surface wax. If the wax guard is blocked, it must be replaced to restore sound quality. For BTE devices with custom earmoulds, the mould itself can sometimes be detached and washed in warm, soapy water, but it must be completely dry before being reattached to the electronic tubing.

In-the-Ear (ITE) and Completely-in-Canal (CIC) Devices

Custom devices like ITE and CIC models house all electronic components within a single shell that sits entirely within the ear. These require meticulous care as the microphone and receiver are in direct contact with the ear canal environment. Use the cleaning brush daily, holding the device with the sound outlet facing downwards so that any dislodged debris falls away from the device rather than into it. Carefully use the wax loop to clear the sound outlet and the vent, ensuring you do not push the wax further inside.

Moisture is one of the leading causes of hearing aid malfunction. Even if you do not perspire heavily, the natural humidity within the ear canal and changes in environmental temperature can lead to condensation inside the device. This moisture can corrode the battery contacts and damage the microchip.

To combat this, we strongly advise using a drying system every night. A basic drying pot uses desiccant capsules to absorb moisture, while electronic drying boxes use gentle heat and sometimes UV light to dry and sanitise the devices. Consistent use of a drying system is a cornerstone of the Auditory Rehabilitation Process, ensuring your devices remain reliable. If your devices use disposable power sources, remember to open the battery door at night to allow air circulation and preserve the life of your batteries.

In addition to your daily routine, a more thorough inspection should be conducted weekly. This is the time to check the integrity of the consumable parts of your hearing aids.

If you notice that your hearing aids sound weak, distorted, or are completely silent, a blocked wax guard is the most common culprit. Learning how to change these filters is a vital skill. For detailed instructions on managing these specific components, please refer to our guide on wax guards and domes.

Despite your best efforts at home, there are times when professional intervention is required. At Buckinghamshire Hearing, we possess specialised equipment, such as clinical-grade vacuums and ultrasonic cleaners, to safely remove stubborn debris that cannot be addressed with standard home tools.

You should schedule a professional clean and check if you experience any of the following:

• The hearing aid sounds consistently weak or dead, even after changing the wax guard and battery.
• You notice visible debris deep within the microphone ports or receiver that you cannot safely remove.
• The battery door feels stiff or fails to close properly, which may indicate internal corrosion.
• You experience a sudden decrease in sound quality or intermittent cutting out of the audio signal.

It is also important to distinguish between dirt and physical damage. If the casing is cracked, the battery contacts are bent, or the tubing is split, cleaning will not resolve the issue. These are signs of damage that require clinical repair. Regular professional servicing is a key component of our comprehensive care package, ensuring your devices perform optimally for years to come.