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Maintenance & troubleshooting

Hearing aid maintenance is important for well-functioning and long-lasting hearing aids. Even though hearing aids are very durable and can withstand the stresses of daily use, hearing aid maintenance is necessary to make sure you’re getting the best sound quality and longevity out of your devices.
Care and maintenance
Daily
  • Remove your hearing aids when applying cosmetics, perfume, aftershave, hair spray and suntan lotion as they may get into the hearing aid and cause damage.
  • Clean your hearing aids using a soft cloth, tissue or proper cleaning tools to remove earwax, grease or moisture. Do not use water or solvents as these can damage the hearing aids. 
  • Store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place when not in use and leave the battery pack open to preserve battery power.
Regularly
  • Use a damp cloth to clean the receiver tube and receiver dome.
  • Do not use a direct source of water when you’re cleaning the receiver tubes or the receiver domes.
  • Contact your hearing care professional for replacement components when they become stiff, brittle or discolored.
Other tips
Keep your hearing aid clean and dry:
  • Never immerse hearing aids in water or other liquids or wear while showering, swimming, in heavy rain or in a moist atmosphere such as a steam bath or sauna.
  • Leave wet hearing aids to dry with the battery out and the battery door open.
  • Put the hearing aid and battery in a sealed container together with a drying agent (dessicator) overnight. Don’t use the hearing aids until completely dry.
  • Don’t leave your hearing aids in or near direct heat or sunlight.
  • Avoid rough handling of hearing aids or dropping them on hard surfaces or floors.
  • Read the instructions for your hearing aids or contact your hearing care provider for additional hearing aid maintenance instructions.
Pair of ReSound  hearing aids on a table.
Hearing aid troubleshooting
Despite proper care, you may still experience issues with your hearing aids. Troubleshoot some of the most common hearing aid problems.

Cause Possible remedy 
  •  Device not turned on
  • Turn on device
  • Battery is dead 
  • Replace battery 
  • Battery improperly inserted
  • Reinsert battery properly 
  • Blocked wax filter 
  • Consult your hearing professional. Or, if you have been instructed to do so, change the wax filter 
  • Broken microphone or microphone tube
  • Consult your hearing care professional

 

Cause Possible remedy 
  • Weak battery
  • Replace battery
  • Poor fitting microphone tube 
  • Consult your hearing care professional
  • Hearing instrument is damaged
  • Consult your hearing care professional
Cause Possible remedy 
  • Hearing aid not properly inserted
  • Reinsert carefully
  • Microphone not properly seated
  • Reseat carefully 
  • With telephone use
  • Review proper telephone use 
  • Instrument settings not at optimum
  • Consult your hearing care professional 
Cause Possible remedy 
  • Hearing aid not properly inserted
  • Reinsert carefully
  • Microphone not properly seated 
  • Reseat carefully 
  • Blocked wax filter 
  • Consult your hearing professional. Or, if you have been instructed to do so, change the wax filter 
  • Instrument settings not at optimum 
  • Consult your hearing care professional 
  • Excessive ear wax 
  • Consult your physician 
  • Change in hearing 
  • Consult your hearing care professional 
Still need help?
If these remedies don’t work for you or if you experience other issues that aren’t addressed here, contact your hearing care professional. 
ReSound hearing care professional interacting with a patient during an appointment.