Hearing Aid Maintenance Tips
Before you put a fresh battery into your hearing aid, pull the tab off and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. This will activate the battery and give you the longest battery life possible. Once you do this, you are ready to go!
Be sure to brush off your aids daily, paying close attention to microphone ports and sound bores to prevent debris build-up. A small amount of debris in a hearing aid can cause a big problem. A simple tooth brush works great.
When it comes to follow up care, we like to see our patients on a regular basis and make a point of scheduling follow-up appointments before they leave the office. If patients have concerns in between appointments, we are always happy to see them sooner. We recommend following up at least annually, more often if necessary.
If your hearing aid quits working, check to see if you have a fresh battery and make sure the aid is clean. If you have done this and the aid is still not functioning, call our office or bring it in during normal business hours for us to assess. We will determine if we can repair the aid in the office or if it is necessary to send out for repair and will be able to give you a price quote. Don't wait until your next appointment, call today if there is a problem. We repair all makes and models of hearing aids.
Hearing Safety
How can I tell if I am in an environment that is damaging to my hearing?
It doesn't take much for noise to reach levels that can damage hearing. Any noise above 80 decibels can cause permanent damage. Since it’s difficult to actually measure levels without a decibel meter, here are some signs that the noise is too loud.
- You must raise your voice to be heard.
- You can't hear someone 3 feet away from you.
- Speech around you sounds muffled or dull after you leave the noisy area.
- You have pain or ringing in your ears (this is called "tinnitus") after exposure to noise
Tips for Safe Listening
It can be difficult to keep your hearing safe when you don't know how to protect it! Here are some quick and easy tips that will protect your ears from noise-induced damage!
- Lower the volume.
- Move away from the noise.
- Wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs.