About one in five El Paso residents has hearing loss to some degree. For the majority of these individuals, hearing aids offer a solution that helps them reconnect with friends and loved ones and enjoy a higher quality of life. Making sure your hearing aids continue to suit your needs is an important step in keeping your communication abilities strong, and preventing health complications associated with your impairment.
Keeping Hearing Aids in Good Condition
If you’re already wearing hearing aids in El Paso, you’ve taken that important first step in reconnecting with your world. It’s essential to keep your hearing aids in good working condition not only to ensure they last a long time, but to help prevent against some of the health complications associated with hearing loss.
Your El Paso audiologist recommends regular cleaning and routine maintenance to keep your hearing aids operating effectively. Wipe them down with a soft, dry cloth on a daily basis and don’t use liquids—these can cause damage. Change the wax filter and clean the microphone and other hard-to-reach spots with a cleaning tool or soft brush. Take them in to your audiologist in El Paso once or twice a year for a “clean-and-check.” This will allow them to spot problems early and ensure your devices are still meeting your hearing needs.
Despite your most diligent efforts, at some point you’ll need to replace your hearing aids. Like all sophisticated electronic products, eventually they will need upgrading. The extreme environment of our ear canals subjects them to moisture, heat, earwax and debris on a daily basis. Most hearing aids have a lifespan of 5-7 years. Even if they are still working fine after that time, your hearing needs might have changed, or you might be tempted to purchase a hearing aid taking advantage of the latest technology.
Knowing When to Upgrade
Your El Paso audiologist says you should consider upgrading your hearing aids when one or more of the following conditions apply:
- Your current hearing aids are more than five years old
- Your hearing aids have visible damage or don’t work as effectively as before
- Your hearing aids have been repaired once or more
- Your hearing loss worsens, and your current hearing aids are no longer sufficient
- New technology is available to better address your specific hearing needs
Non-English speakers who are deaf or hard of hearing encounter unique barriers to finding the care they need to treat their hearing loss. Your El Paso audiologist recommends visiting the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) registry to locate a public interpreter . The Texas Department of Health and Human Services also provides a list of contracted interpreters to help assist in hearing health care.