Wearing hearing aids can be life changing. If you or a loved one suffers from hearing loss and uses hearing aids, you know how critical they are in helping you hear. This not only means that you can watch the TV without turning up the volume—hearing aids can improve your relationships with friends and family, as well as boost your social life.
But what do you do when your hearing aid is damaged by dropping it or getting it wet? It can be easy to panic, but it’s important to remain calm and take a few simple steps that can help to prevent further damage. Here are some helpful tips and tools:
- If you drop your hearing aid:
- Whenever you wear a hat, headband, or another type of headgear, be aware that it may catch on your hearing aid and pull it out of your ear. Be careful when you remove your headgear (or anything else near your head, ears, or neck) to ensure that your hearing aid is not pulled out. Check immediately afterward that your hearing aid is still in place.
- If you realize that your hearing aid has fallen out and has been dropped, stop right where you are. Ask anyone with you to stop as well and to stand still until you have searched for your hearing aid (so no one will step on it if it is on the ground nearby). Start by patting down your clothing, starting at your neck and making your way downward; your hearing aid might have fallen and gotten caught on your clothing.
- If your hearing aid is not on your person or in the immediate area, think of when you last knew you had it and whether anything had brushed your ears since then. Carefully retrace your steps to see if you can find your hearing aid. If you find it and it has been damaged by the drop, contact your hearing aid professional.
- If your hearing aid gets wet:
- First, your hearing aids should never be worn when you are in water, whether that is the shower, bath, ocean, or swimming pool. Make it a habit to feel for your hearing aids with both hands before entering water. Put a note by the shower or clipped onto your swimming suit to remind yourself to remove your hearing aids. Keep a case handy to put your hearing aids in to keep them safe while you are in water.
- If you do get your hearing aids wet, immediately remove them from both ears and dry them with a towel. Open the battery drawer and remove the batteries. Place your hearing aids in their case or a hearing aid dryer with the battery door open. Never use a hairdryer, microwave, or oven to dry your hearing aids. Allow the devices to rest for about one hour or overnight.
- If your hearing aid gets wet by being dropped in a toilet, carefully consider whether it is safe to retrieve them. If you are in a public restroom or the toilet is un-flushed, you will likely want to consider them a loss. If you are at home and the toilet is clean, you may want to retrieve them and follow the steps above to dry them.
- If your hearing aids have gotten wet and no longer work after you dry them, allow them to rest, and insert new batteries, contact your hearing aid professional.
Following these simple steps can help to keep your hearing aids safe and in working order. If your hearing aids have been damaged, do not hesitate to contact your hearing aid professional for additional assistance. We are eager to help!
