Storage Tips to Keep a Variety of Hearing Aid Styles in Tip-Top Shape

Your hearing aid was a considerable investment, so it makes sense that you would want to keep your device working for as long as possible. In addition to regular cleaning, inspections, and maintenance, the way you store a device can have a big impact on how well it works—or whether it will work at all.

How to Store BTE Hearing Aids

Most people with behind-the-ear (BTE) devices know that keeping their hearing aids as clean and dry as possible is key to proper performance. There are many different options for storing your devices, some of which can do more harm than good:

• On the nightstand. While this allows easy access to your device, there’s always the risk of brushing your hearing aid onto the floor, exposing it to sunlight and debris, and losing the batteries if you have removed them for the night.
• In a drawer. Most people will choose to put their hearing aids in a nightstand or sock drawer when they go to bed at night. This is a great option, as it places them within arm’s reach, out of the sunlight, and prevents you from accidentally knocking them onto the floor.
• In a hearing aid dehumidifier. A dehumidifier offers all the benefits of a drawer, but with the added bonus of keeping the aids dry throughout the night.
• In uncooked rice. A bowl of uncooked rice can serve as a low-cost alternative to a dehumidifier. Patients can place their hearing aids in the rice overnight, which will draw moisture away from the device.
• In the car. It is never a good idea to leave your hearing aid in the car. Delicate electronics do not respond well to extreme temperatures, and the humidity in a car is not regulated once the car has been turned off.

Special Precautions for ITE Hearing Aids

Patients with in-the-ear (ITE) devices face unique challenges when it comes to handling and storing hearing aids. Since the devices are much smaller, they are easier to misplace and harder to disassemble if they need to be dried out. When storing an ITE device, consider the following:

• Pets and children. Small devices can look like candy or treats to children and pets (and so can hearing aid batteries). Make sure your device is stored a few feet from ground level and kept securely away from easy access when kids and pets are around.
• Small storage. It can be easy to lose your ITE device even if is placed in a drawer, since these hearing aids are small enough to fall to the bottom. A smaller box, such as a jewelry box or well-ventilated cubby, will keep your device away from harm and at your fingertips.
• Traveling. If you have trouble keeping your devices safe when you take a trip, you could benefit from a hearing aid dryer and freshener. This is a lightweight, hard-shelled case with built-in moisture control, keeping your hearing aids safe and dry when you’re on the go.

Do you want to see all the options available for hearing loss patients? Call us today to speak to one of our hearing care professionals, or visit our nearest office to see our wide range of hearing aid devices.