While you may find it unsightly, earwax plays an important role in the health of your ear. It protects the skin in the ear canal, traps debris and bacteria and lubricates the ear to prevent it from becoming dry and itchy.
Even so, too much of a good thing isn’t always helpful. If you wear hearing aids, earwax can become impacted in them, affecting the sound quality. In order to help keep you hearing your best, we’ve compiled some tips for cleaning wax out of your hearing devices.
Get a Hearing Aid Cleaning Kit
Some audiologists provide cleaning kits with the purchase of a hearing aid. If yours didn’t, you can pick one up at The House Institute Hearing Health Centers or drug stores like Brent-Air Pharmacy. These kits range in price from about $7 to $45 and contain a variety of tools, including a soft cloth, brush, wax pick/wire loop, battery magnet, battery door opener and tube and vent cleaner.
Visually Inspect Your Hearing Aids
Before you start cleaning your hearing aids, take a good look at them to identify areas in need of some TLC. You should be able to spot places where wax is accumulating. To remove it, first use a soft, dry cloth or a brush; if the wax is stubborn, use the wax pick/wire loop.
Replace the Filters & Wax Guards
Most hearing aids come with some sort of filter or wax guard, which can be easily removed and replaced by the wearer. The lifespan of these parts varies, as the amount of earwax produced varies from person to person. Be sure to inspect these pieces daily and replace them as needed.
Check the Earmold/Sound Bore
Sound enters your ear via the earmold or sound bore. Be sure to inspect these parts daily as well. If you notice earwax, use the brush or wax loop to gently remove it. If you have a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid with an earmold, you can remove and wash the earmold with soapy water; be sure it’s completely dry before putting it back on.
Clear Out the Tubing
BTE hearing aids also have tubing that can become clogged with wax. If there’s wax in your tubing, use a small flexible wire or air blower to dislodge it.
For more information about caring for your hearing aids or to schedule an appointment with an audiologist, call The House Institute Hearing Health Centers today.