subject: Six Ways To Accidentally Lose Or Damage Your Hearing Aid [print this page] A hearing aid is a very small auditory support device that can fit between the pinch of one's index finger and thumb. So, it is no wonder that many patients who have experienced sudden auditory loss or are facing recent diagnosis occasionally have a hard time keeping up with their devices. This is particularly possible with younger patients, who can be tired or distracted.
There are three ways that one can misplace a hearing aid. First, they are specially fitted to each patient so they won't fall out, but if it is taken out before a casual nap on the sofa, the patient may have a hard time relocating it when needed. Second, some new patients may attempt to clean their small devices above the sink or while walking past their toilet and unintentionally drop it inside. A user should try to avoid water near their equipment because these accidents can be costly. Third, as patients are advised to turn off and even remove a device when it is not in use, this can often lead to placing its storage container someplace other than home or its common spot and not being able to access it when needed later.
There are also three additional ways that a hearing aid can become damaged. Accidents happen and flinging the device onto a hard surface can damage its functions. Dropping and stepping on a device unnoticed can damage its functions. Similar to losing one's device to the sink, for example, exposing your device to water will definitely damage its functions.
There are, however, ways of preventing loss or damage. Above are brief examples of ways that some hearing aid recipients lose or damage their devices, but this does not have to be you. You remember each day that when you take it out of your ear that you must put it in the same spot. You remember that before putting it away, you must inspect it and clean the various parts. You remember each day that when you retrieve your device to position it and start your day that the battery contacts must be cleansed and that it is important to know from the last time you replaced your battery whether or not it will last throughout the day ahead.
Owning and depending upon a hearing aid device is a responsibility to your own auditory function. It is up to you to keep your device working at optimum level. Having to repeatedly replace them or go without their use for days or weeks at a time between fittings and reordering can be a hassle. In the end, it is worth it to perform regular care on the ones you have rather than new ones all the time.
