Has your hearing aid suddenly stopped working? Usually, a hearing aid that suddenly "goes dead" is easy to repair. In most cases, these simple repairs can be performed by the hearing aid wearer without the help of an audiologist or assistant. Hearing aids usually stop working for one of two reasons. One cause for malfunction is moisture. Moisture is the number one enemy of hearing aids. As hearing aids are exposed to sweat during yard work or outdoor activities, moisture can build up inside the casing and cause the aids to stop working. To avoid moisture build-up, place the hearing aids in a dehumidifier on a nightly basis. If your hearing aid suddenly stops working, the aids should be placed in a dehumidifer overnight to ensure that all moisture is eliminated.
There are many types of dehumidifiers. A Dry Spot dehumidifier is perhaps the most cost-effective solution. The Dry Spot dehumidifier is a plastic container that includes a removable dessicant. At Appalachian Audiology, a Dry Spot dehumidifer is automatically included in the purchase price of hearing aids. The dessicant should be golden in color. As the beads absorb moisture, they will turn green. Once the beads begin turning green, place the dessicant in the microwave for thirty second intervals until the golden color is restored. This will evaporate the moisture the beads have collected overtime. There are also electric dehumidifiers. The Dry and Store Zephyr can electronically absorb moisture while the Dry and Store Global II can both absorb moisture and perform a sanitization function.
If the hearing aids continue to malfunction after being placed in a dehumidifier overnight, there is one more maintenance procedure that should be performed. More on this later...
For more information on hearing aid maintenance, click here.
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