Dry out your hearing aids in 8 simple steps
You’ve accidentally jumped into a pool, the shower or maybe you were caught outside in a rainstorm while wearing your hearing aids. Now your hearing aids are all wet! Don’t worry, most hearing aids are able to withstand some moisture. We know that hearing aids are a big investment and replacing them may not be an option. Try these steps to dry out your hearing aids first.
What NOT to do:
Never place your hearing aids in a microwave or convection oven of any sort to dry them out. The high heat can damage your hearing aid worse than a quick dip in the water. Not to mention it could melt some of the parts inside your hearing aid. Microwaves also react to the metal in your aids causing them to catch fire. You might be surprised by how tough your hearing aids are, it is not necessary to just assume that they are broken. Give them a chance to dry out first and then send them in for repairs if they need it.
What you can do First:
1.) Take the battery out and dispose of it immediately. A wet battery can start to corrode and cause more damage to the hearing aid then the water. It is best to use a clean and dry batter in your hearing aid once you have completed the drying process.
2.) Remove the hearing aid from the water as soon as possible. The less amount of time it is in water the better the chances are of being able to dry it out. If your hearing aid was immersed in dirty, soapy, or salty water you should rinse off the hearing aid before starting the dry out process. Only do this after you have taken out and disposed of the battery.
3.) If you have hearing aids with a tube, close the battery door and remove the tube. Dry the parts off with a towel. Gently shake the hearing aid with the battery door open to try to get the rest of the water out. Compressed air is also a great option to blow the moisture from the tubing on your aids.
4.) To dry out the hearing aids you can use a hair dryer or a small fan. It is extremely important to not use heat on the hearing aids, so if your hair dryer has a cool setting use that, as well as keep some distance from the hearing aid. While this step will speed up the process of drying out your hearing aid if you are worried about using too much heat just skip this step.
If that doesn’t work:
5.) Placing a cell phone that has been submerged in water into a bowl of rice is something we’ve all heard about. Did you know that you could also use the same method to dry out your hearing aids? Take about one cup of uncooked rice and place it in a container and set your hearing aids on top of it. The rice works as a dehumidifier and will help to draw out the moisture in the hearing aids.
6.) This is the easiest step, you just leave it out to dry! Depending on how wet the hearing aid was you will need to leave it out and the battery door open for one to two days. It is best if you have a dehumidifier box to place the hearing aids in. This will speed up the drying time considerably.
7.) Once you think your hearing aids are completely dry you can place a new battery in and try it out. You can also use the cleaning tools that came with your hearing aids to make sure all the water and residue is completely cleaned up.
8.) If your hearing aids do not come back on, you can always let them dry a little longer, just make sure you take the battery out of them.
Contact your hearing aid specialist:
The best way to dry out your hearing aids will always be to use the special dehumidifiers that are made for hearing aids. These are specially built to dry out hearing aids. There are many different dryers that can vary in prices. These devices are are worth investing in to prolong the life of your hearing aids.
There are a few signs that your hearing aid has been damaged by exposure to water that you should keep an eye out for. If you are having your sound quality fade in and out or if it sounds distorted and full of static. Hearing aids should never stop working and then start again several times if you have a good battery in them. You may also start to notice rust or corrosion developing on your battery terminals. If any of this is happening it could be a sign that your hearing aids did not get dry enough before starting to wear them again.
Don’t let a pair of soggy hearing aids cause you to miss out on life’s important events. Let one of our professionals at Hearing Connect help get you on the road to better hearing today.