Most people are not aware that, according to research conducted at Johns Hopkins University, untreated hearing loss is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and the onset of dementia. Failing to address hearing loss can also contribute to depression, anxiety, stress, balance disorders, and a variety of other negative health conditions.

Because of the potential consequences hearing loss can have on your overall health and quality of life, regular hearing assessments should be a top priority, especially if you are over the age of 50.

Though there are a number of reasons that people put off having their hearing tested, one of them is not understanding what takes place during a comprehensive hearing assessment. Our objective in this blog post is to help demystify the process.

The 3 Most Common Causes of Hearing Aid Problems

Before we get into the essential care tips, let’s take a moment to understand the three most common causes of hearing aid problems that require repair or replacement.

Moisture is your hearing aid’s worst enemy. It causes corrosion in the battery compartment or on other electrical connections, and it can cause your hearing aid to short out.

Built-up earwax and debris not only block the microphone or receiver, which causes poor sound quality and/or whistling, but they can also trap moisture and cause the same issues mentioned above.

Some parts are faulty, but most broken or damaged parts are the result of dropping your hearing aids, exposing them to temperature extremes, handling them roughly, or failing to clean and maintain them properly.

1. Avoid Your Hearing Aid’s Worst Enemy

Modern hearing aids are designed to help prevent moisture from getting in, but they are not entirely waterproof. You can help avoid moisture issues and the damage they cause by following a few essential tips.

2. Daily Cleaning Helps Prevent the Buildup of Earwax and Debris

Your best solution for preventing most of the problems your hearing aids might have involves keeping them clean. This requires a daily commitment in order to ensure that earwax and debris don’t cause them to malfunction.

Follow the directions of your hearing aid provider or refer to How to Clean Your Hearing Aids. Here are some important things to keep in mind while you’re cleaning your hearing aids:

3. How to Prevent Component Damage

Your hearing aids are sophisticated electronic instruments, so they need a lot of TLC in order to perform in the way they were designed. Here are some ways you can help provide that TLC.

4. Keep Up With Scheduled Maintenance

Most people are pretty good about keeping up with scheduled maintenance on a new car. The same commitment is necessary to ensure that your hearing aids perform their best.

Every six months, your hearing aids should be brought in to your hearing aid provider to ensure that they are performing as designed. A scheduled maintenance appointment typically includes:

Protect Your Hearing Aid Investment with Smiles from Ear to Hear

Your hearing aids not only help you hear better, but they have the potential to help improve your overall health by preventing depression and anxiety, cognitive decline, balance disorders, and other negative health issues. Ensuring that your hearing aids are performing at their highest level is an important part of the hearing care we provide at Smiles from Ear to Hear.

Feel free to contact us for troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and additional essential care tips by filling out and submitting the adjacent form.