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March 20, 2020How to clean your hearing technology
As washing our hands and covering out mouths become more important by the day, it’s also important to remember to clean our hearing technology, especially if other people are coming into contact with them.
Hearing aid boots, hearing aid accessories like the Phonak Roger Pen, and other shared microphones can also pick up germs, which come in close contact to the user’s face. To protect ourselves and our loved ones against germs and viruses such as COVID-19, here are some steps you can take to ensure your hearing technology is safe and disinfected.
How to clean your hearing technology
- While holding in hands, gently brush the hearing aid clean
- Gently separate the earmold from the hook
- Brush the earmold
- Use wax pick or similar device to remove excess debris
- Gently wipe down the hearing aid with a soft cloth or certified cleansing wipe.
Watch: How to clean a hearing aid
Disinfectant Cleansing Wipes for Hearing Aids
How should you clean your hearing aids? Phonak recommends disinfectant solutions that are water-based and do not contain strong oxidizing agents including hearing aids and hearing devices. Also, normally Phonak recommends that behind-the-ear hearing aids are cleaned every two days. It is suggested that in-the-ear hearing aids are cleaned daily.
During this period of heightened concern, daily cleaning of hearing aids may be appropriate. Additionally, you may want to wipe down technology each time it is handled by a different person.
“Traditionally, Phonak recommends that BTE hearing aids are cleaned every two days and ITE hearing aids are cleaned daily.”
Cleaning shared hearing technology
If multiple people (teachers, students) are sharing one transmitter, in addition to using the C&C wipes or another appropriate disinfectant, hand washing will continue to be critical.
Even if the transmitter isn’t being shared amongst many adult speakers, increased sanitization is wise. (When my daughter was in kindergarten, she would put her mouth on the transmitter. Imagine a little kid with any microphone they just can’t seem to help putting their mouths on the microphone to sing.) Quick wiping it off after the children handle the mic or use the Small Group mode function is important.
If you are a parent or otherwise unable able to acquire Phonak C&C wipes, 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes (such as Clorox Wipes) have not shown damage to other personal consumer goods, such as Apple products. (At the time this article was authored, this solution was not officially endorsed by Phonak.)
A few additional tips when cleaning your hearing devices:
- Avoid excessive wiping
- Unplug any cable from the technology
- Don’t get moisture in the openings; don’t submerge in liquid; keep liquid away
- Do not use aerosol cleaners, bleach, or abrasives
Read more: 10 care tips for your child’s hearing aid
