Hearing aids can cost a bundle, and insurance may not cover them. Consumer Reports members who have hearing aids and responded to CR’s 2023 survey about these devices told us they spent, on average, $2,592 out of pocket for a pair of prescription hearing aids. Even over-the-counter hearing aids can be pricey; survey respondents reported spending an average of $936 per pair.
Given the investment, you want to make sure you’re doing everything possible to help your hearing aids last as long as they can. Depending on the type of hearing aid, that could mean about three to five years (if there are no changes in your hearing during that time), according to audiologist Kim Cavitt, AuD.
Here’s how to get there.
Clean Your Hearing Aids
Earwax helps protect the inside of your ears from injury and infection. But it can also clog up the workings of a hearing aid, by embedding itself in your device’s receiver or microphone, for instance.
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And wearing hearing aids may cause some people to produce more earwax. "The goal of earwax in our body is to keep foreign objects away from the eardrum," Cavitt says. When you put a hearing aid in your ear, "some people’s bodies see that as something they need to fight with more wax."
In fact, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), people with hearing aids are at a higher risk for impacted earwax, which occurs when too much wax builds up in the ear.
To keep hearing aids from becoming gummed up with earwax (or other dust or debris), clean them every day. "Regular maintenance is the key," says Susan Anderson, AuD, director of audiological services at the University of Washington.
Your hearing aids probably came with a cleaning brush, but you can also use a toothbrush, Anderson says, to gently clear away earwax or dirt you might see on the device. You’ll also want to open up the battery compartment, if your device has one, and brush away any debris in there. Different devices may have special maintenance instructions and cleaning tools. (If you buy prescription hearing aids, your audiologist or hearing aid specialist can provide additional advice; maintenance instructions for OTC aids should be included in the user manual.)
If your hearing aid has a wax guard or wax trap (as in-the-ear, receiver-in-ear, and in-the-canal types may), these should be replaced regularly so that they don’t get blocked by wax and hamper sound quality. If you wear OTC hearing aids, the user manual should tell you how often to replace them. Manufacturers generally offer replacements for purchase online. For prescription hearing aids, your audiologist or hearing aid specialist should let you know when and how to replace them. He or she may provide replacements, or you can purchase them online.
The AAO-HSN recommends that people who use hearing aids also have their ear canals checked for impacted earwax every three to six months. If you struggle with earwax buildup, use only safe methods for handling it at home. Do not use risky and ineffective tools, such as earwax candles.
Keep Your Hearing Aids Dry
Liquid is a hearing aid’s enemy. Because the inner workings of the device must be partially exposed to the elements in order to pick up sound, moisture can easily get inside and damage the hearing aid.
When you visit spots like swimming pools and saunas, keep your hearing aids in a protective case. "Always ask yourself, would you take your phone there?" Cavitt says.
As a habit, when you’re getting ready in the morning, don’t insert your hearing aids until you’ve finished your cleaning and grooming routine. This will help prevent the devices from being splashed with water. (Contact with hair products, such as hair spray or gel, can also damage them.)
Don’t store your hearing aids in the bathroom, either—steam from the shower can seep into a device, and there’s plenty of opportunity to accidentally drop one into water, says Cavitt.
In fact, it’s best to keep hearing aids in what’s called a dry storage kit, dry aid kit, or dry box at night. These may be simple (just a container and desiccant) or more sophisticated (an electronic device that circulates air around the aid). If you don’t have a dry storage kit, ask your audiologist or check the website where you bought your OTC aid. You can also check stores that sell hearing aid accessories online or in person, such as pharmacies.
If your hearing aids get wet, use the dry storage kit to dry them. Don’t use a hair dryer or put your hearing aid in the microwave or oven—that will damage the device.
For safety’s sake, Cavitt recommends keeping your hearing aids in your ears all day, when possible. If you take them out midday and pop them into your pocket, for example, they might end up accidentally going through the wash. Also, be careful to keep hearing aids out of reach of pets, who might chew them up or play roughly with them.
Tips for Troubleshooting Your Hearing Aids
If your hearing aids aren’t performing quite right, the first thing to do is give them a good cleaning, and make sure they’re dry.
Sound that’s intermittent or full of static may be an indication that moisture has gotten into the batteries, says Anderson; in that case, try new batteries. Squealing feedback from your hearing aids is often a sign of excess earwax, so have your doctor check your ears, says Cavitt.
If those steps don’t help, call your audiologist. Defective components may be able to bereplaced in the office. Or, if necessary, the hearing aids can be sent to the manufacturer for repairs, Cavitt says. If you bought your devices over the counter, contact the manufacturer’s customer service department.
Catherine Roberts
Catherine Roberts is a health and science journalist at Consumer Reports. She has been at CR since 2016, covering infectious diseases, bugs and bug sprays, consumer medical devices like hearing aids and blood pressure monitors, health privacy, and more. As a civilian, her passions include bike rides, horror films and fiction, and research rabbit holes. Follow her on X: @catharob.
