I wasn't surprised when I learned I had a hearing loss. My father was hard of hearing, my aunt was hard of hearing, and my brother was hard of hearing. Since my insurance plan doesn't cover the cost of hearing aids, I paid for them, a staggering $4,200. To protect my investment, I bought an insurance plan.
Having things in my ears felt odd and it took me several months to become used to the aids. During this time, I learned how to care for them. Here are some of the things I do.
1. Buy batteries in bulk. I buy mind at a discount store and load up to avoid extra trips.
2. Use a drying jar or dehumidifyer. My aids came with a drying jar. At night, just before bed, I open the battery chambers to let air in, put them in the jar, and screw on the lid. Experts say this drying prolongs the life of your aids.
3. Clean regularly. I also received a cleaning tool with a brush on one end and a wire circle on the other. It's a fragile tool and, after the wire is bent, I get free replacements from the store.
4. Pay attention to microphone screens. According to "Take Care of Your Hearing Aids, So They Can Take Care of You," an article on the Healthy Hearing website, microphone screens can become clogged. A clogged screen won't pick up sounds clearly, so I use the brush to keep the holes open.
5. Avoid water. Unfortunately, preoccupied people can forget they are wearing ear gear and wear aids in the shower. To keep this from happening I follow a routine. Just before I get in the shower, I remove the aids and set them on top of my drying jar.
6. Be careful with hair products. This advice comes from "Hearing Aid Care Made Simple: Top 10 Tips to Care for Your Ear Gear," published on the Healthy Hearing website. Remove your aids when you use hair products. Hair spray, for example, may clog the microphone screen.
7. Use a protective case. I carry a small quilted case and it use it for new and spent batteries. If I'm caught in a downpour, I put my ear gear in the case.
8. Check the weather. If you're going to water the lawn, it may be wise to leave your ear gear in the house. Don't ever leave your gear in the car during extremely hot weather.
9. Plan for repairs. I purchased my ear gear from the Mayo Clinic store. According to the technician, most aids need to be repaired once a year.
10. Get your hearing checked. Hearing can change over time. During my yearly physical exam I discovered I needed two aids, not one. What a jolt!
After investing so much money in ear gear, I want to protect my investment. These tips help me do that and should make my gear last as long as possible.
Copyright 2011 by Harriet Hodgson
harriethodgson.com harriethodgson.com
Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 30+ years. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from Amazon.
Centering Corporation published her 26th book, "Writing to Recover: The Journey from Loss and Grief to a New Life" and a companion journal. The company also published her latest book, "The Spiritual Woman: Quotes to Refresh and Sustain Your Soul."
Hodgson has another new book out, "101 Affirmations to Ease Your Grief Journey: Words of Comfort, Words of Hope," also available from Amazon. Please visit her website and learn more about this busy author and grandmother.