Hearing Aid Care Guide
Your hearing aids are an investment in your quality of life. A little daily care goes a long way toward keeping them working their best — and lasting years longer.
By Lilly Seay · Updated March 2026
Daily Cleaning Routine
A few minutes each evening keeps your hearing aids performing at their best. Make this part of your nightly routine — just like brushing your teeth.
Remove oils, sweat, and moisture from the entire surface. Never use wet wipes, water, or cleaning sprays unless specifically designed for hearing aids.
Use the small brush or wax pick that came with your hearing aids. Gently clear wax from the receiver opening and any vents. Brush away from the device so debris falls out, not in.
If your hearing aids use disposable batteries, opening the battery door lets moisture escape and preserves battery life. For rechargeable models, place them in the charging cradle.
Avoid bathrooms (too humid) and windowsills (too hot). A nightstand drawer or a hearing aid dehumidifier is ideal. Keep them out of reach of pets — dogs love chewing on hearing aids.
Weekly Deep Clean
Once a week, take a closer look at the parts that daily cleaning might miss. This is where you catch small problems before they become big ones.
Use the thin wire loop or brush from your cleaning kit to carefully clear each vent and microphone port. Blocked ports muffle sound and can make your hearing aids seem like they're failing.
Look for cracks, discoloration, or moisture droplets in the tubing. Yellowed or stiff tubing should be replaced — your audiologist can do this in minutes. Moisture in the tube can be blown out with a puffer tool.
Wax guards protect the receiver from earwax damage. If yours look discolored or clogged, swap them out. Most brands include a simple tool that pops the old one out and clicks a new one in.
Even if you live somewhere dry, your body produces moisture. A desiccant jar or electronic dryer overnight draws out trapped humidity that causes corrosion and static over time.
Care Tips by Hearing Aid Type
Different hearing aid styles have different cleaning needs. Here's what to pay extra attention to based on your type.
BTE (Behind-the-Ear)
- Disconnect the earmold from the hook for separate cleaning
- Earmolds can be washed with mild soap and warm water — dry completely before reattaching
- Inspect tubing weekly for cracks, moisture, or hardening
- Use a puffer tool to blow moisture out of the tubing
- Never submerge the actual hearing aid body — only the earmold is washable
RIC (Receiver-in-Canal)
- The receiver sits in your ear canal, so wax buildup is the biggest threat
- Replace wax guards frequently — these take the brunt of earwax exposure
- Check the thin wire connecting the body to the receiver for damage
- Replace domes (the soft tips) every 2-3 months or when they lose their shape
- Keep the microphone ports on the body unit clean and clear
ITE / CIC (In-the-Ear / Completely-in-Canal)
- These sit entirely in your ear, so they get the most earwax and moisture exposure
- Clean the opening and vents thoroughly each day
- Use the wax pick carefully — the components are packed tightly in a small shell
- A dehumidifier is especially important for these styles
- Have your audiologist professionally clean them every 3-6 months
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Before heading to the audiologist, try these quick fixes. Most hearing aid problems have simple solutions you can handle at home.
No Sound
- Dead battery: Replace with a fresh battery or make sure the rechargeable is fully charged. Wait 1-2 minutes after peeling the tab on a new zinc-air battery.
- Blocked receiver: Check the receiver opening and wax guard. If the wax guard is clogged, replace it.
- Wax buildup: Use your brush to clear visible wax from all openings and vents.
- Hearing aid is off: Make sure the battery door is fully closed or the device is powered on.
Whistling / Feedback
- Poor fit: Reinsert the hearing aid to make sure it's seated properly. Your ear shape can change over time, so you may need a new earmold.
- Earwax blocking the canal: If wax is preventing sound from entering your ear, it bounces back and causes feedback. See your doctor for wax removal.
- Loose tube or dome: Check that the tubing, dome, or earmold is securely attached. A loose connection leaks sound.
- Volume too high: Try reducing the volume slightly. If you need it that loud, your hearing may have changed — time for a hearing test.
Weak or Distorted Sound
- Low battery: A dying battery often causes weak or distorted sound before cutting out entirely.
- Clogged wax guard: This is the number one cause of gradually decreasing volume. Replace it and see if sound returns to normal.
- Wrong program: You may have accidentally switched to a different listening program. Cycle back to your default setting.
- Blocked microphone: Debris, lint, or moisture on the microphone port reduces what the hearing aid picks up.
Moisture Damage
- Symptoms: Static, intermittent cutting out, or complete failure after sweating or humidity exposure.
- Immediate fix: Remove the battery, open all doors and compartments, and place in a dehumidifier or a sealed bag with desiccant packets for 24-48 hours.
- Prevention: Use a hearing aid dryer nightly, remove hearing aids before showering or heavy exercise, and consider sweatbands or hearing aid covers for active lifestyles.
- When to seek help: If drying doesn't restore function, internal corrosion may require professional repair or replacement.
What NOT to Do
These are the most common mistakes that shorten hearing aid life or cause damage. Avoid these and your hearing aids will thank you.
Hearing aids contain sensitive electronics. Even a small amount of water in the wrong place can cause permanent damage. Only use a dry cloth or hearing-aid-specific cleaning products.
Hairspray, gel, and other styling products can clog microphone ports and damage the finish. Put your hearing aids in after styling your hair, and take them out before applying products.
Never leave hearing aids in a hot car, near a heater, or in direct sunlight for extended periods. Heat warps plastic components, degrades batteries, and can damage internal circuitry.
Pins, needles, and toothpicks can puncture microphone membranes or push wax deeper into the device. Always use the tools provided by the manufacturer or your audiologist.
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Keep Your Hearing Aids Working Their Best
Why Proper Care Extends Hearing Aid Life
Hearing aids are precision electronic devices that live in one of the harshest environments imaginable — your ear canal. Between earwax, sweat, humidity, and daily handling, they take a beating. The difference between a hearing aid that lasts 3 years and one that lasts 7+ years almost always comes down to care. Daily cleaning prevents wax from reaching internal components. A dehumidifier draws out moisture that corrodes circuits. Regular wax guard changes keep the receiver clear. These small habits add up to thousands of dollars in avoided repairs and replacements over time.
Common Hearing Aid Problems and Fixes
The vast majority of hearing aid issues have simple causes. Sound going quiet? The wax guard is probably clogged — a 30-second swap fixes it. Whistling? The dome or earmold isn't seated right, or earwax is blocking your canal. Complete silence? Check the battery first, then the receiver opening. Static or cutting out? Moisture is the likely culprit. Before scheduling a repair appointment, run through the basics: battery, wax guard, fit, and moisture. You'll solve the problem at home more often than you'd expect.
When to Visit Your Audiologist for Repairs
Some issues are beyond home troubleshooting. If your hearing aid has physical damage — a cracked case, broken battery door, or damaged tubing that won't stay connected — it needs professional attention. Persistent feedback after reinserting and cleaning may mean your ear shape has changed and you need a new mold. If sound quality has gradually declined despite fresh batteries and wax guards, the receiver may be failing. Most audiologists recommend a professional cleaning and check-up every 6 months, even if everything seems fine. They have tools to deep-clean and test components you can't access at home.
Questions & Answers
You should wipe down your hearing aids every day after you take them out. A quick once-over with a soft, dry cloth removes oils, moisture, and earwax before they build up. Once a week, do a deeper clean — check the vents, microphone ports, and wax guards. Consistent daily care prevents the kind of buildup that leads to repairs.
It depends on the manufacturer, but in general, avoid alcohol wipes on the shell and especially the microphone and receiver openings. Alcohol can dry out and crack certain plastics and coatings over time. Instead, use a soft dry cloth or wipes specifically designed for hearing aids. If your hearing aids are particularly dirty, ask your audiologist for a recommended cleaning solution.
Most hearing aids last 5 to 7 years with proper care. Some people get even longer out of theirs. The biggest factors are daily cleaning, moisture management, and regular professional check-ups. Hearing aids that are stored in a dehumidifier at night and cleaned daily tend to outlast those that aren't by a significant margin.
A hearing aid dehumidifier is a small container or electronic device that draws moisture out of your hearing aids overnight. Moisture is one of the top causes of hearing aid failure — it corrodes internal components and can cause static, cutting out, or complete malfunction. If you live in a humid climate, sweat a lot, or just want to maximize the lifespan of your devices, a dehumidifier is absolutely worth it. Basic desiccant jars cost under $10, and electronic dryers run $30-$100.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing wax guards every 1 to 3 months, but it really depends on how much earwax you produce. If you notice your hearing aids sounding quieter or muffled, check the wax guard first — a clogged guard is the most common cause of reduced volume. Keep a supply of replacements on hand so you can swap them out as soon as you notice buildup.
Whistling (feedback) usually means sound is leaking out and getting picked back up by the microphone. The most common causes are a poor fit (your ear shape can change over time), earwax buildup blocking sound from going into your ear canal, or a loose tube or dome. Try reinserting the hearing aid, cleaning any visible wax, and checking that the dome or earmold is seated properly. If it persists, visit your audiologist — you may need a new earmold or a fit adjustment.
Take care of your hearing aids — and yourself
A few minutes of daily care keeps your hearing aids working their best for years to come. And for the moments when you need extra help hearing, Hearing Buddy has your back.
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