You can have the latest hearing aid technology and spend thousands of pounds on your hearing aids, but if the wax filter is blocked, the hearing aid may still sound weak, muffled or stop working altogether.
In fact, one of the most common reasons people come back to us saying “my hearing aid isn’t working” is simply because the wax trap or wax filter has become blocked.
Earwax can easily block the sound outlet of a hearing aid. When this happens, the sound cannot come through properly. Changing the wax guard or wax trap often restores the hearing aid immediately without any need for repair.
Regular cleaning is therefore one of the most important parts of hearing-aid care. If wax is building up in the ear canal itself, professional ear wax removal can help too. We usually recommend giving the hearing aids a quick clean every day and checking the microphones and sound outlet for wax or debris. The microphones are just as important — if sound cannot enter the hearing aid clearly, it cannot come out clearly either.
As a general guide, we recommend changing the wax traps around once a month, although this varies from person to person. Some people naturally produce more earwax and may need to change them more frequently, while others may need to change them less often.
A small amount of regular maintenance can make a big difference. Brush the hearing aids gently, keep the microphone openings clear, check the wax filters regularly and make sure the devices stay clean and dry.
The technology inside modern hearing aids may be incredibly advanced, but good performance still depends on something very simple:
Keeping them clean.