EAR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW: 4 COMMON HEARING AID CATASTROPHES AND WHAT TO DO IF THEY HAPPEN

You’ve finally had your hearing tested and bought your hearing aid! After months of being told by both family and friends that you really need to go, you made an appointment with an Audiologist. You’ve come to terms with changes to your hearing and are finally getting used to wearing your hearing aids. They’ve become your new pride and joy – you take them out every night (unless you have a Lyric from us, which stays in) and put them in a safe place, you clean them regularly – you’ve even got a spare set of batteries on hand (unless you have our rechargeable ones)! Your quality of life has improved already and it’s like you can’t remember life without them.

Until…

Accidents happen. Hearing aids are an investment and they are also complex digital devices. Sometimes, even with the best of care, things can go wrong. Here are some of the most common incidents that can occur with your aid and more importantly, what to do about it if they happen to you.

1. I dropped my hearing aid:

It’s easy to drop your hearing aids when you’re putting them in, taking them out or when putting on or taking off a hat for example. Whenever you do anything that involves your head, neck, or ear area, make sure you check that your hearing aids are still in place. A good rule of thumb is to get into the habit of putting them in over a soft, brightly coloured surface like a rug or towel.

If you do drop your hearing aid, immediately stop what you’re doing – it can help to ask everyone with you to do the same. Usually, by quickly stopping and giving yourself a gentle pat down and carefully retracing your steps – you’ll find your device and no damage will have been done.

2. I got my hearing aid wet:

Most modern hearing aids have some degree of water resistance, which can be indicated by their IP rating. However, none are totally waterproof.  Be sure to take out your hearing aids before showering or going swimming. Keep them away from sinks and toilets where you can. When it’s raining be sure to wear a waterproof hood or use an umbrella.

However, modern hearing aids can be so comfortable that you forget you’re even wearing them! Accidents do happen – so if you end up getting your hearing aid wet:

• As soon as you realise they may be wet, remove them from your ears
• Dry them as best you can with a towel
• Open the battery doors and remove the batteries
• Put them in their case or a hearing aid dry box (never use a hairdryer!) with the battery doors open and let them rest for about an hour or so or overnight.

If these steps don’t help and your aids are still not working, get in touch with our team at Pindrop Hearing and we will be able to help.  Don’t worry!

3. My dog/baby ingested my hearing aid:

This happens more often than you’d think! Pets are curious, and babies/small children will put anything they can in their mouths, so if this happens to you – act fast:

• Quickly and safely retrieve the hearing aid from their mouth
• Check for any broken pieces / the battery (ingesting batteries can be fatal, so if your battery does get ingested, seek medical attention as quickly as possible)
• If everyone is safe and no parts have been lost/ingested, clean your aid with an alcohol wipe and test to see if it is working. If it isn’t, get in touch with your hearing care professional.

4. I left my hearing aid at home!

Arguably the most common hearing aid catastrophe – especially for newbies to the hearing aid world. It’s difficult to establish new habits and ensure you have your hearing aid at all times – but it is vital you try and get into the routine as your hearing aid is vital for your abilities to socialise and communicate, as well as integral to your brain health. Here are a few tips for getting used to using your hearing aids:

• Store them somewhere that you are more likely to remember to put them in – by the side of your bed near your alarm clock or in the bathroom cabinet next to your toothpaste.
• Set up a daily alarm/reminder on your phone to put them in
• Ask your family members to remind you

If you do forget your hearing aids and can’t get home to retrieve them, let someone in your party know so that they can advocate for you if necessary.

If you want to know a little more about hearing aids or you would like a hearing test, please get in touch with our teams at any of our state-of-the-art clinics.  We offer finance and have exceptional audiological skills so you will always be in safe hands.

Get in touch today!