Hearing & Balance Doctors

Hearing Aid Tip Of The Month: Should You Be Using Alcohol Wipes On Your Hearing Aids?

Be sure to ask our audiologists about non-alcohol disinfectant wipe to make sure the ones you buy are right for your hearing aids

Hearing Aid Tip Of The Month: Should You Be Using Alcohol Wipes On Your Hearing Aids?

by | Jun 4, 2018 | Hearing Aids, Patient Resources, Tips

Keeping your hearing aids clean will not only allow your hearing aids to stay in top operating order, but it will also lengthen their lifespan as well as help you avoid ear infections. To achieve this desirable result, some hearing aid users want to try various things to clean their hearing aids. However, there are some types of cleaners, such as alcohol wipes, which will damage your hearing aids as you attempt to use them to clean your hearing aids.

Alcohol Wipes And Other Solvents Damage Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are made with small, flexible parts so they can fit comfortably in the ears. These somewhat delicate parts are vulnerable to harsh cleaners and alcohol-based cleaners, which can break down the plastics and corrodes the metals on hearing aids. So, to avoid damaging your hearing aids, avoid using alcohol wipes on your hearing aids as you clean them.

There are wipes specially formulated for use in cleaning hearing aids which you can use. Be sure to ask our audiologists about non-alcohol disinfectant wipes to make sure the ones you buy are right for your hearing aids.

Work With Our Audiologist On Maintaining Your Hearing Aids.

Tools You Should Use On Your Hearing Aids

Along with non-alcohol-based wipes on your hearing aids, there are other tools which are safe to use on your hearing aids. Wipes alone will not keep hearing aids clean, so you will need these hearing aid tools to keep your hearing aids in good order.

  • Hearing aid brush – This tool is a small bristled brush, often with a magnet on the end. Use it to brush the case of the hearing aid free of earwax.
  • Vent cleaning tool – Many small openings are found all over a hearing aid and a vent cleaning tool is perfect for cleaning earwax out of these openings.
  • Battery door opener – Opening the battery door can be tricky, so this tool allows hearing aid battery doors to be easily opened.
  • Dehumidifier – Moisture can build up as hearing aids are used, so using a dehumidifier can be used to dry out hearing aids and keep them from corroding.
  • Soft cloth – If you prefer not to use a disposable wipe, you can use a soft cloth to clean the outside of your hearing aids.

If you are unsure which hearing aid tools you need to upkeep your hearing aids, our audiologists will be happy to guide you to the necessary tools for your particular hearing aid model.

Extend Your Hearing Aids’ Lifespan With Quality Care

Regular hearing aid maintenance will extend the life of your hearing aids. Along with your regular at-home care, it is important to have your hearing aids maintained by our professional hearing specialists. They will be able to replace damaged or worn-out parts as well as monitor your hearing to ensure your hearing aids are still strong enough to help you.

To work with our audiologist on maintaining your hearing aids or access other hearing-related services, contact us for an appointment today.

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Dr. Ryan Whitaker

Dr. Whitaker joined Hearing & Balance Doctors of Utah in 2009. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brigham Young University in 2005 with his Bachelors of Science in Audiology and Speech Pathology. He then received his Doctor of Audiology from the University of Arizona where he minored in Cognitive Neuroscience (the study of how people perceive sound). While at the University of Arizona, he specialized in evoked potentials, specifically researching Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials and the Acoustic Change Complex. He gained clinical experience at Tucson Ear, Nose, and Throat; St. Joseph’s Hospital Balance Center; Arizona Hearing Specialists; and the Center for Hearing Impaired Children. Dr. Whitaker was raised in Orem, Utah with three older sisters and a younger brother (who is also an audiologist). His grandfather was a cartoonist for the Walt Disney Studios where he drew Donald Duck and many characters in Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland before starting the BYU Motion Picture Studio. Dr. Whitaker is married and has three sons. He is passionate about college football and also enjoys hiking in Southern Utah, reading, and traveling. He has traveled extensively through South Asia including Thailand, India, Nepal, and a church mission to the Philippines.

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